Release of Patient Information

UC Davis Health System recognizes that media — print and broadcast — are vehicles of public education and that the media have a community responsibility to keep the public informed. UC Davis cooperates in providing accurate and appropriate information while protecting the confidentiality of its patients.

Who can release information?

Requests for one-word conditions on patients who are listed in the Patient Directory shall be released to news media, family, friends, neighbors, employers and other members of the public who inquire and have the patient's name. The hospital operators determine if a patient's general information can be released and transfer all requests to the appropriate nursing unit. The Nursing Supervisor on duty responds to inquiries made in the late evenings, nights, weekends and holidays. Inquiries beyond the one-word condition are directed to the Department of Public Affairs, 734-9040 during regular business hours, and to the public affairs staffer on call through the hospital operator.

What information can UC Davis release?

UC Davis is bound by federal and state regulations and policies that limit public access to some information. UC Davis protects the privacy and confidentiality of the patient and their medical records. No information will be released to the media under the following conditions:

• The patient is a victim of sexual abuse;
  
  
• The patient is a victim of child abuse;
  
  
• The patient is receiving treatment for a psychiatric disorder;
  
  
• The patient is receiving treatment for chemical dependency;
  
  
• The patient in incapacitated and their physician has determined that release of information is not in the best interest of the patient;
  
  
• The patient has specifically requested that their health information be withheld from the media;
  
  
• The inquiry does not include the patient's name.

Patient Condition Classifications:

• Undetermined: The patient is in the process of receiving physician assessment.
  
  
• Good: Vital signs (heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, temperature) are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable. Indicators are excellent.
  
  
• Fair: Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. The patient is conscious but may be uncomfortable. Indicators are favorable.
  
  
• Serious: Vital signs may be unstable and perhaps not within normal limits. Patient is acutely ill. Indicators are questionable.
  
  
• Critical: Vital signs are unstable or not within normal limits. The patient may be unconscious. Indicators are unfavorable.
  
  
• Deceased: Announcement of death is not made routinely by the hospital. However, news of the death of a patient is public information after the family has been notified or after all reasonable efforts to notify the family have been made. The cause of death should not be reported unless it has been entered on the death certificate by the last attending physician or the coroner.
  
  
• Treated and released: Patient was treated and sent home.

Cases of Public Record

In cases of public record (those reportable to fire, police, sheriff, health department or other public authority), patients have the same privacy rights as all other patients. UC Davis will provide information on patients involved in incidents of public record under the same guidelines listed above. UC Davis may refer media questions to the public entity that makes the hospitalization part of the public record.

Beyond the "One Word"

Media may have further access to or information about a patient when the patient has given written authorization. The following activities require written authorization from the patient or the patient's personal representative:

• Providing any statement beyond the one-word condition;
  
  
• Confirmation of the patient's age, gender, extent of injuries, admission date and discharge date;
  
  
• Taking photographs;
  
  
• Interviewing patients

Photographs and Interviews

Permission to photograph or interview a patient at UC Davis may be given when:

• The physician in charge of the case feels the patient's condition shall not be jeopardized, and
  
  
• The patient (parent or guardian when the patient is a minor) signs an Authorization for Training, Media, Public Communications, Fundraising or Marketing Purposes form. The original form must be placed in the patient's permanent medical record.

Media should not contact patients directly. Requests must be made through the Public Affairs Department (Nursing Supervisor on evenings, weekends and holidays). UC Davis may deny the media access to the patient if it is determined that the presence of photographers or reporters would aggravate the patient's condition or interfere with patient care, or if the patient refuses the interview.

For help with breaking news after hours, contact the UC Davis Health System operator at (916) 734-2011 and ask for the public information officer on call. A public information officer is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Return to Public Information Officers