Patient Information and Condition Reports
Contact information:
The Office of Public Affairs at Arizona Health Sciences Center works hand-in-hand with University Medical Center, providing 24-hour assistance to members of the media on stories relating to UMC and all of AHSC. Please call (520) 626-7301 for assistance, and we will do our best to help you.
If you need to reach someone in public affairs after business hours, call the UMC switchboard at (520) 694-0111, and ask the operator to page the public affairs staff member on-call.
If you are seeking a condition report on a patient after hours, please call the UMC switchboard at (520) 694-0111 and ask for the clinical supervisor, also known as the "clin supe."
Please note that a separate public information office serves University Physicians Healthcare Hospital and Clinics.
Patient Information and Condition Reports
Patient Privacy
We are committed to maintaining our patients' rights to privacy. Under federal privacy regulations, we may disclose a patient's location in the hospital and a one-word condition report to any person who asks about the patient by name and if the patient does not object. If you do not have the patient's name, UMC cannot provide a condition report. We cannot disclose any further information about patients without their written authorization.
In rare cases, some patients request that their hospitalization remain completely confidential, and we will respect their wishes. In these cases we are unable to confirm, or deny, that the patient is at UMC.
Assault Cases
In assault cases where the perpetrator is still at large, we ask that the media not identify University Medical Center as the hospital where the victim is being treated. This is for the protection of our patients and staff. Most reporters simply state, for example, "John Doe was airlifted to a local hospital, where he was reported in fair condition."
Interviewing or Photographing Patients at UMC:
Please contact the Office of Public Affairs before coming to UMC or contacting UMC patients, physicians or employees for a story.
Patient Conditions
By law, we are permitted to give only a one-word description of a patient's condition unless we have the patient's written authorization. Here are the five commonly used patient conditions outlined by the American Hospital Association:
UNDETERMINED: Patient awaiting physician assessment.
GOOD: Vital signs are stable and within normal limits, patient is conscious and comfortable. Indicators are excellent.
FAIR: Vital signs may be 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 is acutely ill. Indicators are questionable.
CRITICAL: Vital signs are unstable and not within normal limits. Patient may be unconscious. Indicators are unfavorable.
Media Parking
If you are at UMC on assignment, we will waive the parking fee if you park in the visitors' garage – just ask a public affairs staff member to sign your parking ticket.
In a Disaster or Mass-Casualty Situation:
If necessary, the Office of Public Affairs may establish a briefing center for the media in Room 2920 of the Arizona Cancer Center. The hospital itself may be "locked down" or off limits for security reasons.
Please follow the instructions of UMC security or public affairs staff about parking in a disaster situation. Media vehicles must not obstruct the hospital's entryways, roads or parking lots near the emergency department or Trauma Center.