Concord Hospital welcomes media interest and inquiries and actively encourages coverage of its activities and operations. The Concord Hospital Public Affairs Department is committed to being a responsive and reliable source for the media. All request for interviews, expert options, background information, or patient conditions, should be placed through public affairs. Our dedicated staff will expedite these requests and work to meet media deadlines. The department's business hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please use the following extensions during business hours:

After hours, dial the hospital operator at (603) 227-7000 ext.0 and ask for the nursing supervisor.

Contacts:

Topics: Organizational Issues, Fundraising, Philanthropy,
PPhone: (603) 415-6624
E-mail:CHTrust@crhc.org
Fax: (603) 230-6049

Topics: Breaking News, Patient Conditions, Health Statistics or Trends, The Business of Healthcare, Healthcare Technology, Special Events
Phone: (603) 227-7000 ext. 4215
E-mail:PublicAffairs@crhc.org
Fax: (603) 228-7026

Topics: E-healthcare, Concord Hospital Web site, Intranet and Internet Technology in Healthcare
Phone: (603) 230-1167

Topics: Brand Protection, Logo and Photo Requests, Graphic Identity
Phone: (603) 227-7000 ext. 3006 or 2703
E-mail:PublicAffairs@crhc.org
Fax: (603) 228-7026

Media Resource Guide

Concord Hospital provides a safe and secure environment for patients and their loved ones, and we are committed to protecting their right to privacy. Patient conditions and information will only be released by authorized hospital personnel according to established policies. While our intent is to inform you, the media, of newsworthy events and to maintain open communication, this process will be carried out in a manner that respects the best interest of our patients.

To manage our responsibilities, the public affairs department follows the general guidelines set forth by the American Hospital Association, incorporating our own interpretation of those guidelines in less routine cases.

Requesting a Patient Condition

Only the conditions of publicly reportable patients will be released. Publicly reportable patients are those involved in an incident that is a matter of public record and reportable to public authorities (i.e., police, Medical Examiner or public health officer). The media must provide Concord Hospital with a patient's full name in order to receive a condition report. The exception to this involves mass casualty incidents.

As long as the caller provides a patient's full name, we give out a one-word condition, unless the information is damaging, embarrassing or may endanger the patient (rape, stalking, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, psychiatric treatment, etc.) or unless the patient has “opted out” on his/her registration/admission form. We do not give out the location (room/unit) of the patient or the nature/type of injuries.

Patients Under 18

Patients under the age of 18 are considered minors. Concord Hospital can only release the conditions of minors with the written consent of their parents or guardians.

Definition of Conditions

• Undetermined: Patient is awaiting physician and/or assessment.
• Treated and Released: Patient has received treatment and has been released.
• 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 is acutely ill. Indicators are questionable.
• Critical: Vital signs are unstable and not within normal limits. Patients may be unconscious. Indicators are unfavorable.
• Treated and Transferred: Patient has received treatment and has been transferred.
• Death: Confirmation of death can be provided once the deceased's next of kin have been notified.

Major Event or Disaster

When there is a major incident (declared or undeclared disaster) and several or many patients are in the Emergency Department, we cannot release names. We can release the types or nature of the injuries and how many people are involved. Public affairs works with the emergency department, security, and nursing supervisors to update the media as much as possible, while keeping them in a supervised setting. If an incident of bioterrorism or mass infectious disease occurs, a representative of the NH Department of Health & Human Services becomes the spokesperson.

Photographs, Interviews & Tours

The public affairs department coordinates all media related hospital tours, and all patient related photographs and interviews.

Requests To Use Concord Hospital's Logo

Concord Hospital's logo is the property of Concord Hospital and may not be reproduced or copied for any purpose without the written consent of Concord Hospital. The Concord Hospital Public Affairs Department is the appropriate contact for authorizing the use and release of Concord Hospital's logo. When consent is given, the logo is to be used in accordance with Concord Hospital graphic identity standards.

Requests for electronic files of the hospital's logo should be sent to Doreen St. Laurent or Shawna Sample-Garcia. All requests should include the requester's name, company and contact information, as well as an explanation of the intended use of the logo and any file requirements. (e.g. black and white or color, file format, etc.)