University Community Health's Expectations of the News Media
Respect
Reporters and other representatives of the media have the responsibility to respect a patient’s physical, mental and emotional rights to privacy, and to cooperate with University Community Health to ensure those rights are protected. Therefore, reporters should only request information from authorized University Community Health representatives. News media representatives should also be familiar with HIPAA regulations concerning the unauthorized use of medical information.

Reporters, photographers and television crews should realize that, at any time, University Community Health personnel may request interviews be terminated or relocated based on the health or comfort of the patient or other nearby patients. In instances where a patient is being photographed in his/her room (as in the case of a feature or human interest story or interview), news photographers should not include any other patients in the picture or video, unless they also have signed an authorization form agreeing to such publicity, as their hospitalization is a private matter.

Consent
Prior to entering and/or visiting patient care areas of the hospital or other University Community Health settings, news media representatives have the responsibility to obtain the consent of University Community Health by contacting the Public Relations & Marketing Department (813-615-7395). Photographers and television crews should always attempt to minimize their presence in order not to interfere with patient care or the efficient operation of the hospital.

Patients have the right to initiate their own contacts with the news media. In such cases, news media representatives have the responsibility to notify University Community Health’s Public Relations & Marketing Department so that a signed consent can be obtained from the patient and to ensure a smooth interview process.

Verification
In the interest of accuracy, news media personnel should request hospital information from authorized sources, specifically the Public Relations & Marketing Department. When information regarding University Community Health, its patients or personnel is received from other than the Public Relations & Marketing Department or authorized spokesperson, the reporter has the responsibility of verifying its accuracy.