Welcome to the Meriter Media Relations page. Meriter's most important asset is its people – the employees, physicians, volunteers and patients who breath life into our mission to heal, teach and serve. Our goal is to share the wonderful stories that take place within our walls and out in the community, as we all strive to live the Meriter mission, while respecting our patients' right to privacy. Links to much of the necessary background for articles on any of the Meriter entities are contained on this page. For more information or assistance in setting up interviews, please contact Mae Knowles. Media Relations Contact Mae Knowles Phone: (608) 417-5622 Pager: (608) 559-2066 (Media is encouraged to use pager, especially if on deadline.) E-mail: mknowles@meriter.com

Beyond Productions, from Sydney Australia, shoots a re-creation of a rare surgical called EXIT, or ex utero intra partem treatment. The story aired on Discovery Channel's "Medical Incredible."

Need a Condition Report?

HIPAA, a federal law that took affect in 2003, affects the release of patient information by hospitals and healthcare providers. Information on a patient's condition may not be released unless the name of the patient is provided by the requestor. A hospital may not release the names of patients. Patients may choose to exclude themselves from the hospital directory, in which case no information is allowed to be released.

If the patient is in the directory we will provide one of the following one-word condition reports listed from most severe to least:

• Critical
• Poor
• Fair
• Good

You can call Mae during office hours through the channels listed above. Nights and weekends, call (608) 417-6000 and ask for the Nursing Administrative Coordinator (NAC).

Facility Access

• On-duty reporters/photographers in patient care areas must be accompanied by Meriter Media Relations or a designated hospital representative.
• Written patient consent will be secured prior to interviews, photographs or videotaping.
• The news team will agree to stop taping, photographing or interviewing at any time upon the request of the patient, physician, nursing staff or a staff member from Media Relations.
   

4/22/2008