UT Medical Group Media Policy
Overview
UT Medical Group’s (UTMG) Marketing Communications office is the liaison between all media and UTMG. Within the department, the Manager of Public Relations & Publications is responsible for preparing news releases, scheduling media interviews and visits, answering media inquiries, and coordinating public relations with the University of Tennessee marketing staff.
UT Medical Group, Inc. Identity
UT Medical Group has set standards that govern the proper use of the organization’s name for legal reasons and to ensure clear communications. We want to be certain that the public identifies your name with the right organization(s)—not with a competitor or other group that may tarnish our image. It is also important to distinguish our name from the University of Tennessee. When the subject of an interview is clinical, the primary reference should be UT Medical Group—not the University of Tennessee to avoid communication problems for the public. It is confusing and inefficient to patients when they try to contact a UT office for care or an appointment, as UT is a university––not a group practice.
ALWAYS USE:
- UT Medical Group, Inc. – Use on first reference.
- UT Medical Group or UTMG – Either can be used, but only after we have been identified first with our complete name.
NEVER USE:
- University of Tennessee Medical Group
- U. of TN Medical Group
- UT Medical
- University Medical
Policy Rationale
UTMG's credibility and trust in the community is based largely on the image it projects through the media. Therefore, the organization's media policy is designed with the following goals in mind:
- Information should be accurate, consistent with UTMG's position, and professionally presented.
- All rules governing patient privacy must be strictly followed.
- Disruption to work and/or patient care environment should be avoided.
- When possible, spokespersons should have the opportunity to plan and rehearse responses before an interview to ensure accuracy and access to background information.
- Reporters should know whom to contact for information.
- Story ideas should be coordinated to ensure that placement is timely and not in conflict with other possible stories.
Media Inquiries
Inquiries from the media regarding any clinical topic including: UTMG staff, policies, clinical services, patients, buildings, events, or legal disputes must be directed to:
Joy Sutherland
UTMG Manager of Public Relations & Publications:
1407 Union Avenue, Suite 660
Memphis, TN 38104-3673
Telephone: (901) 866-8383
24-hour pager: (901) 524-6581
Fax: (901) 302-2383
For media inquiries: utmgmedia@yahoo.com
E-mail: joy.sutherland@utmg.org
If you are unable to reach Ms. Sutherland please contact
Lynn Pizzirusso
UTMG Director, Marketing Communications
1407 Union Avenue, Suite 660
Memphis, TN 38104-3673
Telephone: (901) 866-8379
24-hour pager: (901) 765-5122
Fax: (901) 302-2379
E-mail: lynn.pizzirusso@utmg.org
or
Denise Bollheimer
UTMG Vice-President, Marketing and Managed Care
1407 Union Avenue, Suite 660
Memphis, TN 38104-3673
Telephone: (901) 866-8378
24-hour pager: (901) 524-2478
Fax: (901) 302-2378
E-mail: denise.bollheimer@utmg.org
Inquiries from the media regarding the UT Health Science Center, academic issues, or academic research should be sent to:
Sheila Champlin
Director of Communications and Marketing
50 North Dunlap Street, Hyman 320
Memphis, TN 38163
Telephone: (901) 448-4708
Fax: (901) 448-8640
Email: schamplin@utmem.edu
Inquiries from the media regarding hospital issues should be directed to the respective hospital’s marketing or public information office staff. (Inquiries related to UTMG hospital-based clinical services, however, should be directed to UTMG’s Manager of Public Relations and Publications.)
Interviews
Once the nature and breadth of the inquiry is confirmed, the Manager of Public Relations & Publications will schedule an interview with the appropriate UTMG staff member. In most cases, a representative from the Marketing Communications office will also escort the media while in UTMG and/or UT facilities to ensure that the focus of the interview is maintained, that patient privacy is not compromised, and that necessary follow up information is provided to the media, if requested.
In all cases, the Marketing Communications office must be notified if a representative of the media will be inside any UTMG building, clinic, or office. This includes UTMG offices in buildings owned by other entities, including Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center, The Regional Medical Center (The MED), and Methodist University Hospital.
Patients and the Media
Patient care is our first concern at UT Medical Group, and we guard the privacy of our patients carefully. We also must ensure strict compliance with HIPAA regulations.
Confidential patient information may not be divulged to the media without the patient’s written consent. A signed patient release form must be obtained before any UTMG patient is permitted to be interviewed, photographed, or videotaped by the media or before any patient-identifiable information is shared.
Official release forms are available online to be downloaded and printed. Click here for an official release form.
A copy of each signed release form must be returned to the Marketing Communications office at 1407 Union Avenue, Suite 660, to be kept on file.
Legal Restrictions
Legal contracts and restrictions can limit what we are lawfully able to disclose. For example:
- A court order or contract may require UTMG to refrain from discussing information about a particular case under litigation.
- Regulations governing clinical trials may prohibit us from releasing results prematurely.
Therefore statements to the news media made by UTMG and/or its associates might require review by our attorneys prior to release.
Questions
Please contact the Manager of Public Relations & Publications at 901-866-8383 if you have any questions about the UT Medical Group media policy.
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