Media Policies

To request an interview with a physician or a patient at Witham Health Services, please contact MaryBeth Searles, director of marketing and public relations at 765-485-8107.  

We will help you navigate the hospital campus by helping identify physicians, staff or families appropriate for your story; identify the appropriate clinic space, outdoor location or conference room to conduct your interview. We do require that any journalist and/or news photographer visiting the hospital be escorted by a member of the marketing team while on the medical campus. 

To protect patient privacy under the HIPAA law, we will only authorize the release of a one-word patient condition without signed consent, provided the requesting reporter has the patient's first and last name, and provided the family has not opted out of the hospital directory. 

The following are the official hospital conditions, as defined by HIPAA: 

Undetermined - Patient awaiting physician assessment. 
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. 

Additionally, we require the parent of any patient under 18, or a patient who is over 18, to sign a consent/photo release form before granting an interview, releasing medical information, or being photographed.