The staff and physicians at Bassett Healthcare are committed to sharing information and working with the media to educate the public on topics related to health and healthcare. The Public Relations Department welcomes the opportunity to serve as a media resource with the assistance from Bassett's knowledgeable medical and scientific staff, to provide background information, expert interviews and commentary on healthcare issues. All media calls should be channeled through Public Relations.

To protect the privacy of our patients and their families, Bassett policy requires a staff member from Corporate Communications to accompany all reporters, video crews and photographers visiting the facility for business purposes.

If you have questions regarding a news release or to arrange an interview with a provider during business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. contact us by phone at 607-547-3914 or e-mail: public.relations@bassett.org.

After office hours, please call the hospital's main number, 1-800-BASSETT (1-800-227-7388) and ask to speak to the media representative on call.

Contact Information:

Department of Marketing and Corporate Communications
Bassett Healthcare
One Atwell Road
Cooperstown, NY 13326
Phone: 607-547-3914
FAX: 607-547-6994
Email: public.relations@bassett.org

Patient Information

Patient Condition Guidelines
Media representatives may obtain a condition report on patient at Bassett Healthcare, by calling Corporate Communications at (607) 547-3914. If you leave a voice mail message, please remember to include your name, media organization, phone number and first and last name of the patient.

Hospitals and health systems are responsible for protecting the privacy and confidentiality of their patients and patient information. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) mandates regulations that govern privacy standards for healthcare information.

Bassett Healthcare will provide all patients upon admission an option regarding inclusion in our facility patient directory as required by federal law. Patients will be asked in the admission/registration process if they would like to opt out of the facility patient directory.

• If a patient chooses to opt out of the directory, no patient condition can be provided.
• If a patient chooses not to opt out of the directory, only a one-word condition will be provided when the condition of an individual is requested. The correct first and last name must be provided by the media agency in order to expedite condition information. Patients must give written permission to be interviewed, photographed or for issuing written statements about his/her condition.
• The HIPAA patient privacy law will delay your request for conditions on patients arriving in our emergency department as a patient must first be approached about whether or not they wish to opt out of our facility patient directory upon admission as stated above.

A patient's condition will be given as good, fair, serious, critical or undetermined.

• 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 are 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.
• Undetermined -Patient is awaiting physician and/or assessment

Release of Patient Information
Patients of public record are those patients whose cases include information reported by public authorities like the police, patients who have been placed under arrest, or any person brought to the hospital by the fire department or any law enforcement agency. Prisoners are not considered public record patients.

• The media must have the patient's correct first and last name before any information can be released. Only a one-word condition will be released. HIPAA regulations apply.
• Requests for information on circumstances or incidents resulting in a patient's hospitalization will not be provided by the hospital and will be referred to the appropriate public authority.

These guidelines are in keeping with HIPAA guidelines initiated in August 2002 governing patient privacy. Similar guidelines are now in effect at health centers across the country and are enforced at state and national levels. Bassett Healthcare reserves the right to designate access to the property.

Parking for the Media
Media representatives visiting the hospital to conduct interviews are asked to check-in with the Corporate Communications Department at the Harrison House on the corner of Fair and Beaver Streets where there is limited parking. Members of the media may also park in other designated areas and proceed to the hospital's Information Desk. Once there, ask a volunteer to call Corporate Communications at ext. 3914 and request a representative from public relations to escort you.