media guidelines

The marketing communications staff will coordinate all communications between media representatives and Dayton Children’s patients, families, employees, volunteers and medical staff. All information, including news releases, patient condition inquiries, law enforcement or public agency requests, interviews, photographs and videography submitted to the news media concerning Dayton Children’s is managed by marketing communications.

All media requests should be made to our marketing department to ensure the request is handled professionally and with the interests of both the media and the experts at Dayton Children's in mind.

Media inquiries can be made by email or calling 937-641-3666. After hours, call 937-641-3000 and ask for the marketing person on-call.

release of patient information

patient conditions

Patient conditions can only be released to the media if the media has the correct patient name and if the patient's guardian has "opted in" to sharing this information. Condition reports will be given to the media and/or public agency by marketing communications staff using only the following categories and definitions:

1. GOOD - patient’s vital signs are stable and within normal limits. The patient is conscious and comfortable. Indicators are excellent.
2. FAIR - patient’s vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious but may be uncomfortable. Indicators are favorable.
3. SERIOUS - patient’s vital signs are unstable and not within normal limits. Patient is acutely ill. Indicators are questionable.
4. CRITICAL - patient’s vital signs are unstable and not within normal limits. Patient may be unconscious. Indicators are unfavorable.

Note: The term “stable” is not a condition of the patient. It is a qualifier to indicate the state of the condition.

access to the facility

Dayton Children’s requires all media personnel to announce their presence and purpose of their visit at the Information Desk located in the lobby. Media personnel are required to be accompanied by a Dayton Children’s representative at all times. Media personnel discovered unaccompanied on Dayton Children’s premises will be asked to report to the Information Desk until a representative of Marketing Communications can be reached.