Skip to main content Skip to home page
 

News Room

Your comprehensive source for news and information about Deaconess. If you have questions about advertising, community benefit opportunities, sponsorships, or a related topic, please contact the Public Relations Department for assistance.

Patient Relations responds to patient compliments, concerns or other feedback, and is a separate department.  More information is available on their web page. 
 
Media Requests
Deaconess embraces its role as a provider of medical information for the community and makes effective communication a top priority. To help us quickly and efficiently manage requests for patient conditions, interviews, and other information, please follow these guidelines:
 
During Regular Business Hours (Monday-Friday 6 AM to 6 PM)
If you are a member of local, state or national media, call 812-450-NEWS (812-450-6397). (If you are a patient, or calling on behalf of a patient, please contact Patient Relations.) Any voice mail messages left on this line are automatically converted to e-mail messages and sent to all four staff members. This is the fastest way to get a response during the work day.

E-mail news@deaconess.com. Messages sent using this address also go to all four staff members in the department.
 
After Regular Business Hours and on the Weekend
Call 812-450-5000 and ask for the Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON). Our Call Center staff will notify the ADON of your request and he/she will return your call.


Release of Patient Information 
The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), restricts the type of patient information that may be released to the media. To comply with this law and protect the private health information of our patients, please follow this procedure when needing a patient condition.
 
  1. Know the patient’s name. We cannot provide a condition unless you ask for the patient by name.
  2. If the patient is at Deaconess and we have their consent, we will provide a one-word condition from the list below that most accurately describes their current condition. The condition is given to us by a health professional directly involved in the patient’s care.
  • Critical – Vital signs are unstable and outside of normal limits. Patient may be unconscious or on a ventilator. Indicators for survival are unfavorable.
  • Serious – Vital signs are unstable and outside of normal limits. Patient is acutely ill and indicators for survival are questionable.
  • Fair – Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable. Indicators for survival are good.
  • Good – Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable. Indicators for survival are excellent.


Deaconess Logos
If you wish to use a Deaconess logo in your story or report, please choose from the files in the compressed folder below. The Deaconess logo may not be changed in any way. If you have questions regarding logo use, or need additional logos, please contact the PR staff. 

 
Click here to download

Top Back to top