Media Relations

The staff, volunteers, and physicians who work side by side at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital are continually improving the programs and services we provide to our community. We believe it’s important to share our success with the community and to celebrate the ones that make us proud to be in the health care profession and a part of this wonderful community.

It’s our priority to work closely with the media to create a mutually beneficial relationship and support efforts to keep our community informed about health care issues and the latest news about hospital services, technology, celebrations, and successes.

To protect the privacy of our hospital staff, physicians, volunteers, patients and visitors, we request that all media inquiries and interviews be scheduled through the Marketing, and PR department. We’ll work with the media to identify spokespersons appropriate for the topic, ascertain their interest in being interviewed, and coordinate the most optimal time and location to conduct interviews. We’ll also ensure that all release forms are accurately completed and compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

For media inquiries and requests, please contact:

Patrick Moody, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Office (661) 200-1302
Fax (661) 200-1314

After Hours and Weekends A Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital media relations professional is on-call 24-hours a day, seven days a week for urgent media inquiries. The on-call media relations person can be reached at (661) 200-1304.

For non-urgent inquiries and requests, please call the department main number at (661) 200-1300. We will respond as quickly as possible.

Release of Patient’s General Condition and Location In accordance with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), information about a patient’s general condition and location of an inpatient, outpatient or emergency department patient may be released only if the inquiry specifically identifies the patient by name and the patient is not a minor (under the age of 18).

As long as the patient has not requested that information be withheld we can release a one-word description of a patient’s condition to individuals, including the media, who inquire about the patient by name, without obtaining prior patient authorization. The request must include the correct spelling of the patient’s first and last name.

We will use the following terms to describe a patient’s condition:

Undetermined: Patient is awaiting physician and/or 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.

Treated and Released: Under the HIPAA privacy rule, we can disclose, to individuals who ask for the patient by name, that a patient was treated and released. The date of release or where the patient went upon release will not be disclosed.