Media Inquiries

Media On-site Guidelines

Pre-recorded interviews and live remotes inside a ProMedica facility or on ProMedica property must be arranged in advance by contacting the media on-call representative at 419-262-0371. Please note: This contact information is for use by journalists and media representatives only.

In compliance with federal patient privacy policies, members of the news media must be escorted by a member of ProMedica's marketing communications department while inside ProMedica facilities. That includes vestibules, and even filming outside the doors of a facility.

Live remotes outside a ProMedica facility are permitted in appropriate locations. Please contact the media on-call representative to determine a suitable location.

Patient Interviews

Media members who would like to interview and/or photograph patients must submit their request to the media relations team. One of our media relations representatives must be present for interviews and photography/videography sessions. Patients are required to complete one or more consent forms prior to participating.

Patient Condition Requests

Any patient medical information released to the media will be done in strict accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which requires healthcare institutions to safeguard the privacy and integrity of patients and their personal health information. ProMedica will work with the media to provide accurate and timely condition information, while respecting the confidentiality of our patients' medical information and complying with HIPAA's privacy regulations. However, please note that we do not provide condition reports on victims of violent crimes such as shootings, stabbings, assault, sexual abuse and child abuse.

Further, HIPAA prohibits hospitals from providing a patient condition without a full name. If you have the patient's first and last name – and the patient or the patient's guardian has provided a signed consent to release condition information – we may provide a one-word condition description. If the patient or the patient's guardian has opted out of releasing condition information, the media team member cannot provide information about the patient or acknowledge the person is a patient at a ProMedica facility.

To obtain a one-word condition description, please contact the media relations team.

Patient Condition Definitions:

• 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. Undetermined: Patient awaiting physician and assessment.
• Undetermined: Patient awaiting physician and assessment.

Reference Style Guide

The following guidelines will help you properly attribute our health system when referencing us.

ProMedica – Comprised of 10 acute care hospitals, ProMedica Physicians, ProMedica Continuum Services, ProMedica Cancer Institute, ProMedica Heart and Vascular Institutes, ProMedica Wildwood Orthopaedic Institute, ProMedica Transportation Network, and HRI Dental & Vision.

Please do not use ProMedica Health System or ProMedica Physicians Group.

Hospital References:

ProMedica has 10 acute care hospitals in northwest Ohio and southern Michigan.

• ProMedica Bay Park Hospital
• ProMedica Charles and Virginia Hickman Hospital
• ProMedica Defiance Regional Hospital
• ProMedica Flower Hospital
• ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital
• ProMedica Memorial Hospital
• ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital
• ProMedica Russell J. Ebeid Children's Hospital
• ProMedica Toledo Hospital (first reference); Toledo Hospital (subsequent references)
• ProMedica Wildwood Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital, a division of ProMedica Toledo Hospital

If you have questions about ProMedica style guidelines, please call 419-262-0371.

ProMedica Brand Guidelines

Please follow the guide below for our brand standards.