News & Events
Corporate Guidelines
Media Relations Guidelines
519.436.2501
This summary of CKHA's policies will help news media and others to obtain prompt answers to their inquiries. We place a high value on both cooperation with the media and our duty to protect our patient's privacy and confidentiality.
Responsibility to Patients
CKHA's first responsibility is to respect and protect the rights and wishes of our patients. CKHA has the obligation to protect patient privacy and confidentiality and a responsibility to prohibit members of the news media from interviewing or taking photographs/ videotape of patients and employees, without appropriate consents
Release of Patient Information
No information about patients will be released without the patient or substitute decision maker's written permission.
Designated Spokesperson
- In matters of corporate policy: President/CEO. In his absence, he will delegate responsibility to one of the senior administrative staff.
- In matters related to governance issues: One of the Chairs of the Boards of Directors
- In general news matters: Communication Department, 519.437.6065.
- In specific department or service matters: The appropriate vice-president, physician leader, or program manager.
- In matters related to fundraising: The President of The Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance
After hours, call switchboard and request that the Admin on-call designate return the call.
Media Contacts
Requests from the news media will be answered as quickly as possible. If the designated spokesperson does not have the requested information, he or she will request the reporter's name and telephone number, promise to call back as soon as possible, and do so.
All media inquiries are to be directed to the Communications Department between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday. This includes media request for patient conditions, requests for interviews, reactionary quotes from CKHA, follow-up to News Releases, and requests for on-site visits of any nature.
After hours patient condition updates are to be directed by switchboard to the nurses' station. All other after-hours media inquiries are to be directed to the Administrator on call. Media may make direct inquiries of physicians and surgeons. However, the media come under the constraints of this protocol when they enter the hospital to visit medical staff or their patients.
When information will not be released nor Media Access facilitated
CKHA will neither facilitate media access nor provide information to the media (including not confirming that a person is a patient at CKHA) when doing so:
- violates or appears to violate a law
- interferes with a police investigation or the function of a court.
- has or is likely to have an adverse affect on the patient, the judgement of a physician or other person involved in the direct health care of the patient
- is contrary to the patient/family wishes
Condition of Patient
Only the following terms can be used to describe the patient's condition, only after consent is received.
STILL BEING ASSESSED… Patient is being examined in the Emergency Department or undergoing test(s).
GOOD… Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable. Indicators are excellent.
FAIR … Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious but may be uncomfortable. Indicators are favorable.
SERIOUS … Vital signs may be unstable and not within normal limits. Patient may be unconscious. Indicators are unfavorable.
CRITICAL… Vital signs are unstable and not within normal limits. Patient may be unconscious. Indicators are unfavourable.
DECEASED … Media may be informed of the death of a patient whose case has been a matter of public record. This information will only be disclosed after the Nursing staff has confirmed that the patient's substitute decision maker and family have been informed of the patient's death.
DISCHARGED … Media may be informed of the discharge of a patient whose case has been a matter of public record. As with the patient condition updates above, this information is to be released as one word. No other information, including the date of discharge, is to be given.
Media in the Hospital Campuses
Members of the news media must be greeted and escorted by a Communications Department staff member, management or delegate when interviewing or photographing on the hospital premises. Media representatives are asked to contact the Communications Department on weekdays between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm to make these arrangements. Any request by the news media to visit restricted areas must be cleared in advance through the Communications Department so that appropriate arrangements may be made. Upon granting permission to the media to be present on the premises, Security will be notified.
Interviews and Photographs
When reporters request photographs of or interviews with a patient, the Alliance must first obtain the permission of the patient or the patient's substitute decision maker and obtain a signature on a consent form.
Communication Department
The CKHA Communications Department is committed to working cooperatively with the media. Our role is to assist you in the following ways:
- Accessing sources to provide reactionary quotes to news stories and events
- Arranging on-site media interviews with physicians, staff, and patients
- Providing patient condition status updates
- Issuing media releases and serving as information contacts for stories
- Organizing media conferences
- Assisting in the development of story ideas
- Publishing “Board Highlights” following Board meetings
- Providing a monthly “Media Calendar” highlighting newsworthy issues and event
References: Admin Policy # 3-011
Public Hospitals Act
Coroners Act
Health Protection & Promotions Act
We acknowledge London Health Sciences Centre for assisting in the development of this brochure