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Media Interviews
Non-crisis and crisis events
Whether you've got a non-crisis related interview request, or are covering a crisis, the way to work with MeritCare's Media Relations & News staff and our House Adminstrators is the same. Following is the information you need to know.
Where to start:
- MeritCare's Media Relations & News department, or MeritCare's House Administrative team must be sole initial contacts for all information going to or coming from the media. The Media Relations department oversees all interview, photograph/filming requests, etc. The House Administrators are in charge of the facility nights and weekends.
- MeritCare's Media Relations & News department, or MeritCare's House Administrative team must also coordinate and be present for all interviews, photographs and filming.
- Media should not directly contact providers, patients, families or staff.
- Media must give MeritCare's Media Relations & News department or MeritCare's House Administrative team advanced notice of their interview or photograph/filming requests. Doing this will ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible — that reporters obtain the information and visuals they want and that MeritCare's needs are met, which includes not interfering with patient care, obtaining appropriate consents, etc.
Media Relations staff present at interview:
- To ensure that all media interactions go well, a member of the Media Relations & News staff or a House Administrator must accompany media representatives when on MeritCare properties.
- Media seeking information from one of MeritCare's regional sites should contact that sites manager by calling (800) 437-4010.
Consent:
- In order to photograph and/or interview a patient, staff has to obtain the patient or his immediate family's written consent.
- The patient's primary doctor may grant or decline permission to interview and/or photograph a patient if they feel it would interfere with the patient's well being or interfere with their care. Often these circumstances are temporary, and frequently approval is given once a patient's condition changes.
Access restrictions:
- MeritCare's goal is to allow media as much access to it's facilities as possible while protecting the privacy of our patients. Patients and their medical information are protected under law, HIPAA. Therefore, the news media must make a request to be on our property each time they are here. (Hospitals are bound by state and federal laws as well as hospital/health system policies and regulations that restrict public access to all service areas and departments in the facility.) Media do have the right to be on the sidewalks that surround our facilities.
- There are certain areas within MeritCare where media are typically not allowed; these include the adult intensive care unit, pediatric intensive care unit, cardiac intensive care unit, and the psychiatric unit.
- There are also certain areas within MeritCare that are highly sensitive. In these instances, advance notice from the media and coordination work by staff is imperative. Areas include the neonatal intensive care unit, the emergency center. the operating rooms and the cardiac catheritization rooms.
Media Contact Information
Weekdays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
(701) 234-2000 or (800) 437-4010, please ask to page media relations at #1715
Weeknights/Weekends/Holidays
(701) 234-2000 or (800) 437-4010, please ask to page the House Administrator
Condition Reports
Weekdays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
(701) 234-6586 or (800) 437-4010, ext. 6586
Weeknights/Weekends/Holidays
(701) 234-2000 or (800) 437-4010 and ask to page the House Administrator
E-mail: news@meritcare.com