Federal regulations contained in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) restrict the amount of information we can release about a patient to a single, one-word condition and the patient's general location in the hospital. If a member of the news media provide a patient's first and last name, we will be able to provide you with that patient’s condition as defined below:

• Undetermined: The patient is awaiting physician assessment.
• Good: Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. 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.
• Death: In most cases, we can confirm the death and time of death of a patient after his or her next of kin has been notified.

Some patients may be designated for no release of information (NRI). NRI status may be requested by the patient, the patient's family, law enforcement agencies or hospital staff. We will not release any information about an NRI patient, nor confirm that the patient is being treated at one of our facilities.

As a private entity, Mount Carmel is not obligated to release any information about patients. We do so in a spirit of cooperation and in the public interest. We ask that our rights and those of our patients are respected.