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Media Guidelines

At The Ottawa Hospital we recognize our responsibility to the news media to provide information of public interest. However, we must balance the media’s interest with our responsibility to protect patients’ rights to privacy and confidentiality, including the right not to be interviewed or photographed without their written consent. Media Guidelines

The Ottawa Hospital welcomes requests from news media and strives to answer all calls promptly. All media inquiries including request for interviews with patients, staff, physicians, volunteers and for visuals (interior or exterior) of the hospital must be directed to Media Relations.

To Reach Media Relations:

During regular office hours: 613-737-8460
Urgent media requests after hours: 613-722-7000

Note: On weekends, after hours and during statutory holidays, our clinical and corporate offices are closed and medical experts are not available. Please leave a message with Media Relations and we will follow up on your request the next business day.

Media Access to The Ottawa Hospital

In order to protect patient confidentiality, all members of the media must be escorted by a member of Media Relations (or delegate) when on hospital property.

Unescorted media will be asked to leave the premises by Security.

All members of the media should identify themselves and the news outlet they represent once they arrive in hospital.

Things to keep in mind:

Being in hospital is a stressful time for our patients and their families. The Ottawa Hospital’s first priority is to provide compassionate, quality care to our patients and support families during their time of need. Patients and family may not wish to have media involved and we ask that media please respect their wishes.
Staff and physicians have the right to refuse requests from media.
Media Relations will coordinate patient interviews in hospital with clinical staff. All patients must sign a consent form prior to their participation in media events. Media relations will be present during the duration of the interview.
The Ottawa Hospital will try to provide experts on various topics but our experts may not be available within given the time frame.
Our health care professionals can not comment on a specific patient even with patient consent.

Patient Condition Updates

During regular business hours, please call Media Relations at 613-737-8460.

After hours, please call 613-722-7000 and ask for the Clinical Coordinator of the campus in question.

Condition updates can only be provided if the reporter provides the full name and correct spelling of the patient in question. Media Relations is bound by the Personal Health Information Protection Act. As such, patient condition is the only update that can be provided to media: The reason for hospitalization, nature of illness or injury and course of treatment cannot be released by TOH.

Patients or their next-of-kin have the right to refuse to have updates provided to media. In these situations, media relations cannot confirm the patient’s presence in hospital or provide their status.

Patient Condition Definitions

Satisfactory	Vital signs are stable* and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable. Making favourable progress.
Fair	Vital signs are stable* and within or close to normal limits. Patient is conscious. Patient may have minor complications.
Serious	Acutely ill. Vital signs may be unstable* and not within normal limits. Patient may be unconscious. There are major complications.
Critical	Vital signs are unstable* and not within normal limits. There are major complications and indications are unfavourable.

* Note: The terms "stable" and "unstable" are only a description of a patient’s vital signs which includes temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure.