Media Information

Press and media outlets are encouraged to contact our Media Relations team regarding story ideas and other opportunities. To reach all Media Relations professionals simultaneously any day/any time, please send an email to MediaRelations@OrlandoHealth.com . We will all receive the email and the appropriate person will respond right away.

For all other non-media inquiries, please refer to our Contact Us page.

After normal business hours, on weekends and holidays, one media relations manager will be on-call. If you want to reach that person by telephone instead of email, please call the main hospital number at (727) 823-1234 and ask for the on-call media relations manager.

Communications Policies

The Orlando Health communications team understands the needs of the media in serving the community, and we will work to best meet those needs. However, because the well-being and privacy of our patients are our top priorities, we have established the following standards to best align those priorities with media requests.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Respecting a patient’s right to privacy and confidentiality, if he or she wishes, is an essential aspect of our responsibility in caring for all our patients. As such, Orlando Health requires that all media requests are made directly to our media relations team. We will promptly review all requests and determine the appropriate response. A member of our team will coordinate all arrangements, including interviews, photographs or video, and will accompany any media while on the Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital campus. Any additional information is provided only with patient consent.

Hours of Availability

Our regular office hours are Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. For a standardized, one-word patient condition report, please email MediaRelations@OrlandoHealth.com.

Patient Conditions After Hours

For information on a patient condition after hours, call the main hospital number at (727) 823-1234 and ask for the on-call media relations manager or send an email to MediaRelations@OrlandoHealth.com .

HIPAA Regulations

The privacy standards included in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) place limitations on a hospital’s ability to release information about patients to the media. Orlando Health protects the privacy and confidentiality of our patients and their medical information as mandated by federal law. In order to receive a condition report, a media representative must supply the patient’s full name. HIPAA does not allow the release of details on the nature and description of a patient’s injuries, or personal information such as age/date of birth or home address.

One-Word Patient Condition Reports

A patient condition report is a concise description of a patient’s medical status. Orlando Health follows The American Hospital Association’s recommendations for one-word descriptions of a patient’s condition. Note the “stable” is not a condition report and should not be used alone or in combination with other condition reports.

• Treated and Released: Patient was treated at facility and released.
• Undetermined: Patient is awaiting assessment or is being evaluated by a physician.
• No Information: No information is or will be available on patient.
• 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. Patient may be unconscious. Indicators are unfavorable.