Media Policy

University Community Health Media Policy
As a regional provider of acute health care services, a major employer, and a leader in the Tampa Bay medical community, University Community Health is committed to disseminating newsworthy information to the public, via the media (print, television and radio) in an accurate, timely manner. Information will only be provided if HIPAA regulations are not violated.

In order to effectively communicate with the public, University Community Health places a high priority on maintaining a positive, professional working relationship with members of the news media. Therefore, University Community Health pledges to maintain a proactive relationship with representatives of the news media. The result of a positive working relationship will serve the interests of both University Community Health and the news media by providing the news media with sound information for their story, and University Community Healthwith a positive image of leadership and responsiveness to community needs and concerns.

All media inquiries to University Community Health or news reporters appearing on any of the four campuses are referred to the Public Relations & Marketing Department. Weekdays during normal business hours from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., news media representatives are to call (813) 615-7395 or (813) 615-7202. For requests before or after normal business hours and on weekends and holidays, media representatives are to call (813) 971-6000 and will be referred to the Public Relations and Marketing department personnel "on-call."

Personnel in the Public Relations and Marketing department provide 24-hour "on-call" coverage for the purposes of responding to news media inquiries. The Public Relations & Marketing representative will facilitate the quickest response for the news media representative because he or she has access to information and is equipped to facilitate interviews and/or filming requests.

Depending on the nature of the story, the Public Relations & Marketing representative will either gather the requested information and respond directly to the news media representative, or consult with administration regarding the naming of a source or spokesperson. The Public Relations & Marketing representative will then respond to the news media representative and be present for an in-person interview or included on a conference call for a phone interview along with the designated spokesperson.