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Media Guidelines

General Information

  • When referencing the pediatric health system, please use the following: Riley Children's Health
  • When referencing the downtown hospital, please use the following: Riley Hospital for Children
  • When referencing IU Health North Hospital, please use the following: Riley Children's Health at IU Health North

    Interview Guidelines

    A member of the IU Health Public Relations may deny the media access to a patient if it is determined the presence of a photographer or reporter will aggravate the patient’s condition or interfere with the appropriate clinical care.

    When seeking patient and/or staff interviews:

    • Media must arrange and coordinate all interviews and photo shoots with IU Health patients and staff in advance (including IU Health Methodist Hospital, Riley Hospital for Children and IU Health at University Hospital) through IU Health Public Relations. Patient families do not have the authority to invite media to the hospital or to a clinical appointment.
    • Media must be met by a Public Relations representative in the hospital lobby or otherwise specified location, and escorted to the interview location. This includes interviews that may have been arranged through patient families.
    • Film crews, photographers and reporters must ALWAYS be accompanied by a member of Public Relations while on IU Health properties to ensure confidentiality, privacy and sensitivity to patients and their families.
    • Patients who agree to be interviewed or filmed must sign a ‘Photography and Recording Consent’ form. If a patient is under 18 years of age, a legal guardian must sign on his or her behalf.

    Media Seeking Patient Information

    When seeking patient information:

    • Media must contact a member of the Public Relations staff to obtain a one-word description of a patient’s condition. In accordance with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA), the patient MUST be listed in the hospital directory. A member of the Public Relations staff will use the following terms to describe a patient’s condition after a first and last name of the patient is provided:
      • Undetermined: Patient’s condition is being assessed and medical staff has not yet assigned a condition.
      • Good: Vital signs such as pulse, temperature and blood pressure are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and may be comfortable. Outlook for recovery is good or excellent.
      • Fair: Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious but may be uncomfortable or have minor complications. Favorable outlook.
      • Serious: Vital signs may be unstable and not within normal limits. Patient is acutely ill. There is a chance for improved outlook.
      • Critical: Vital signs are unstable and not within normal limits. Patient may not be conscious. Questionable outlook. Death may be imminent.
      • Treated and Released: Patient received treatment but was not admitted.
      • Discharged: Patient has been released.
    • Media may obtain patient information after hours by calling the IU Health operators at 317.962.5500 and asking for the on-call Public Relations representative to be paged.