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The Public Information staff has assembled the following tips to help news media representatives find out more about Carolinas HealthCare System and better work with us.
Contacting Public Information Staff at CMC
For information related to a story, contact a member of the public information team during regular business hours (M-F, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m) at 704-355-3141. Our experienced professionals understand the news gathering business, the need for accuracy and the importance of meeting your deadlines.
A public information staff member is on-call 24/7. During non-business hours, please dial the main hospital phone number, 704-355-2000, and ask for the public information officer on call to be paged. You will receive a return call promptly.
Patient Condition Reports
A one-word condition report on a patient may be obtained during regular business hours by calling 704-355-3141 and asking for a public information staff member. After business hours, please call the nursing administration office at 704-355-2350. You MUST provide the name of the patient (spelled correctly) for us to check if the name appears in the hospital directory. We cannot provide any information if the name is not found in the directory. For further details, please read our HIPAA Regulations guide on this website.
Requests for Interviews
Our public information staff can help arrange interviews with administrators and medical staff at Carolinas Medical Center, or with patients/family members while they are at the hospital.
To request an interview with a member of the hospital staff please call public information at 704-355-3141 and provide as much information as possible about the subject of your story, so we may find the most appropriate expert. A list of anticipated questions is always helpful, so that our staff experts can properly prepare. Also, providing as much lead time as possible is appreciated to help coordinate schedules.
Requests for interviews with patients/family members will require you to provide us with the name of the patient. We will check our hospital directory to see if the name is listed. If so, we will contact medical personnel serving the patient and ask them to relay your request. If the patient/family member agrees to an interview, we must obtain a signed privacy release form prior to the interview. We will meet you at the designated media parking area and escort you to a location most convenient to the patient/family member. Absent an extraordinary circumstance, interviews with patients/family members are facilitated only during weekday business hours.
Live Shots
When appropriate, you may use Carolinas Medical Center as a location for a live shot. However, this must be approved by Public Information. To do so during regular business hours, please call 704-355-3141 to let us know the approximate time you plan to arrive so we can alert hospital security. Also, while on the premises during normal business hours, you will need a member of the public information team to serve as an escort.
During non-business hours (for example, a live shot for the 11 p.m. newscast), you may also be on-site, but, absent a media relations escort, you will not be able to enter the hospital. To alert us during non-business hours, call 704-355-2000, ask for the paging operator and request the public information officer on call be paged. We will contact Security to let them know when you will arrive.
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