Media Lounge

UHS is the Southern Tier’s largest and most comprehensive provider of healthcare services. Locally owned and not-for-profit, UHS is governed by a Board of Directors composed of people who volunteer their time and live in the communities we serve.

Founded in Greater Binghamton in 1981, UHS was formed through the consolidation of three long-established community hospitals. Over the years it has grown to encompass four hospitals, a home health agency, long-term care services and physician offices at many locations in Broome and surrounding counties. Devoted to high-quality, patient-centered care, the people of UHS pledge: We listen. We show respect. We give hope. Our mission is simply stated as “Ministrare,” the Latin word for “To Serve.”

The members of the UHS System are: UHS Hospitals (UHS Wilson Medical Center and UHS Binghamton General Hospital), UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital and UHS Senior Living at Chenango Memorial Hospital, UHS Delaware Valley Hospital, UHS Home Care, and UHS Senior Living at Ideal. The affiliates of UHS are the UHS Medical Group and the UHS Foundation.

For more information about the care, service and economic impact that UHS has on our community, click on these resources:

• Leadership & Performance
• UHS Foundation Annual Report

A Statistical Overview of United Health Services

The leaders of UHS believe in the value of public information and welcome the opportunity to work with the news media in ensuring that the community is kept well-informed about healthcare in an accurate, clear and responsible manner.

At the same time, the safety, care and well-being of our patients and residents must always remain our primary responsibility, and this includes maintaining every patient’s and resident’s right to privacy and confidentiality, in accordance with the law and with the person’s wishes.

All media requests for information must first come to the UHS Communications & Marketing Department. During regular business hours, please contact Carrie Davis, Vice President, Communications & Marketing, UHS and UHS Hospitals, by phone at 607-762-2804 or by e-mail at carrie.davis@nyuhs.org. After hours and on weekends, contact the main number of the hospital associated with your inquiry and your message will be relayed to Communications & Marketing.

While in the hospital or otherwise on the property of any UHS facility, all media representatives must be escorted by a member of Communications & Marketing. Patients must sign a UHS consent form before they can be photographed, videotaped or interviewed.

Unless advance arrangements are made with Communications & Marketing, television crews shooting video or live shots outside any UHS facility must do so from public property, such as a public sidewalk. Please do not block access to hospital streets, entrances or areas designated for patients, or park in areas designated for patients, visitors, ambulances or medivans.

Federal regulations contained in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) restrict the amount of information healthcare institutions can release about a patient’s condition to a single, one-word condition.

If a patient has not requested that information be withheld, and the request for information contains an accurate first and last name, we will generally be able to release the patient’s condition, as noted below:

• Good
• Fair
• Serious
• Critical

The guidelines above are consistent with those of the American Hospital Association and federal law. UHS is not obligated to release any patient information. We do so in the spirit of cooperation and in the public interest. We ask that our rights, and those of our patients, be respected.

Under new HIPAA regulations, hospitals may maintain a directory that may only include a patient's name, general condition, and religious affiliation. The hospital has a responsibility to tell patients what information will be included in the hospital directory and to whom that information will be disclosed.  The hospital may inform the patient of this information verbally or in writing. The patient has the option to expressly state that he or she does not want information released—including information confirming his or her presence in the facility.

If a patient does not object to this information being included in a hospital directory, a reporter asking for the patient by name can be privy to the general condition of the patient.  If media does not ask for the patient by name, no individual identifiable information about the patient may be disclosed. If HIPAA privacy standards are met, general-condition information may be provided that does not communicate specific information about the individual. The following one-word descriptions of a patient's condition will be released:

Still Being Evaluated/Assessed:  Patient awaiting physician and assessment.

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.

Treated and Released:  Patient received treatment but was not admitted.

Treated and Transferred:  Received treatment.  Transferred to a different facility.

Although a hospital may disclose that a patient was treated and released, it may not release information regarding the date of release or where the patient went upon release without patient authorization. Information in the directory (i.e. general condition) may be released only if the media or the public asks for the patient by name and only if the patient has not objected to or restricted the release of such information.  If a patient is unable to communicate for the purpose of objecting to or restricting the use of directory information, such information can be released only if any past preferences are known and disclosure is in the best interest of the patient, in the professional judgment of the medical services provider.

The patient's location may be included in the hospital directory to facilitate visits by friends and family as well as the delivery of flowers, cards and gifts.  However, as a matter of policy, the patient's location will not be given to the media. Rather, release of the patient’s location will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure that release of such information will not interfere with patient care, aggravate the patient’s condition or endanger patient privacy or security.  

The following activities require written authorization from the patient:

1. Drafting a detailed statement (i.e., anything beyond the one-word condition) for approval by the patient or the patient's legal representative
2.  Taking photographs of patients
3. Interviewing patients
4. In general, if the patient is a minor, permission for any of these activities must be obtained from a parent or legal guardian

Members of the news media in need of patient condition information Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. should call Communications & Marketing, 607-762-2336.

After business hours, on weekends and holidays members of the media should call the Nursing Supervisor: Wilson Medical Center, 607-763-6000, Binghamton General Hospital, 607-762-2100.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, HIPAA, includes regulations that govern the use and release of a patient's personal health information. More relevant to the news media, HIPAA also limits the kind of information hospitals can disclose regarding patients.

Under new HIPAA regulations, hospitals may maintain a directory that may only include a patient's name, general condition, and religious affiliation. The hospital has a responsibility to tell patients what information will be included in the hospital directory and to whom that information will be disclosed.  The hospital may inform the patient of this information verbally or in writing. The patient has the option to expressly state that he or she does not want information released—including information confirming his or her presence in the facility.

If a patient does not object to this information being included in a hospital directory, a reporter asking for the patient by name can be privy to the general condition of the patient.  If media does not ask for the patient by name, no individual identifiable information about the patient may be disclosed. If HIPAA privacy standards are met, general-condition information may be provided that does not communicate specific information about the individual. The following one-word descriptions of a patient's condition will be released:

Still Being Evaluated/Assessed:  Patient awaiting physician and assessment.
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.
Treated and Released:  Patient received treatment but was not admitted.
Treated and Transferred:  Received treatment.  Transferred to a different facility.

Although a hospital may disclose that a patient was treated and released, it may not release information regarding the date of release or where the patient went upon release without patient authorization. Information in the directory (i.e. general condition) may be released only if the media or the public asks for the patient by name and only if the patient has not objected to or restricted the release of such information.  If a patient is unable to communicate for the purpose of objecting to or restricting the use of directory information, such information can be released only if any past preferences are known and disclosure is in the best interest of the patient, in the professional judgment of the medical services provider.

The patient's location may be included in the hospital directory to facilitate visits by friends and family as well as the delivery of flowers, cards and gifts.  However, as a matter of policy, the patient's location will not be given to the media. Rather, release of the patient’s location will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure that release of such information will not interfere with patient care, aggravate the patient’s condition or endanger patient privacy or security. 

The following activities require written authorization from the patient:

1. Drafting a detailed statement (i.e., anything beyond the one-word condition) for approval by the patient or the patient's legal representative
2. Taking photographs of patients
3. Interviewing patients
4. In general, if the patient is a minor, permission for any of these activities must be obtained from a parent or legal guardian