For Media

Ballad Health is pleased to work with all media.

We are a private, not-for-profit healthcare system, and all of our campuses are private property.

Patient privacy

In order to ensure we are complying with all patient privacy laws, media are permitted on our campuses only with a designated escort from the Ballad Health communications team.

Interviewing patients and team members

Requests for interviews with patients or team members, as well as all video and photographs taken on any Ballad Health property must be coordinated through the communications team.

We understand your deadlines, and we will work with you in securing timely stories and distributing important information to the public.

Media contact

Ballad Health Communications Department 
Media@balladhealth.org
Phone: 423-427-1356

Guidelines for release of patient information

In accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Ballad Health is permitted to disclose patient conditions if media provides the patient's name. Ballad Health will not release information about:

  • Patients who request that no information be released
  • Patients who are determined by law enforcement to be in danger

We are able to provide a patient condition only if the patient is currently listed publicly in our system. If a patient's condtion is not available, we are not permitted to disclose whether the patient has been released or transferred, or if the patient is deceased.

HIPAA is the federal law that establishes standards for the privacy and security of health information. HIPAA's medical privacy regulations govern the use and release of a patient's personal health information, also known as "protected health information," or PHI.