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The Cook County Health communications team is available to support journalists in their reporting by providing information and coordinating interviews with health care experts.
At Cook County Health, the protection our patients’ privacy and safety is of paramount importance.
All media inquiries are to be directed to the CCH communications team. This includes interviewing, photographing, videotaping, requesting hospital information and updates on a patient’s condition.
Members of the media visiting a CCH facility in their professional capacity must be accompanied by a communications team member at all times.
Learn more about CCH’s media and filming policies.
We appreciate your cooperation to respect the privacy and safety of our patients at Cook County Health.
In accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), health care providers may not release information about a patient or their medical care (protected health information) without an authorized consent. Under HIPAA, a one-word statement of condition may be released in certain circumstances, provided that the requestor has the full name of the patient, and the patient is:
The following terms will be used to describe the patient’s condition:
Undetermined – The patient is awaiting physician assessment.
Good – Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable; 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.
The Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) is a state law that provides all persons with access to public records.
It is the general policy of the Cook County Health that all persons are entitled to full and complete copies of, or the right to inspect, the public records in the health system’s possession or under its control, within the parameters of the law.
Further information on the Freedom of Information Act can be found at Illinois Compiled Statutes at 5 ILCS 140/1.
Request for Public Records
All FOIA requests for public records must be in writing and must include the name, mailing address or other contact information of the requester, and a description of the public records requested.
For requests related to Cook County Health, please email [email protected] or contact:
Office of the General Counsel, Cook County Health
Attention: FOIA request
1950 W. Polk St
Chicago, IL 60612
For records related to the Cook County Department of Public Health, please visit CCDPH’s website or contact:
FOIA Officer, Cook County Department of Public Health
Administration Building
15900 S. Cicero Avenue
Oak Forest, IL 60452
Fees
Cook County Health may charge fees according to the following schedule to reimburse its actual cost for reproducing and certifying, where applicable, public records and for the use, by any person, of the equipment of the Health System to copy records. No fees shall be charged for the first 50 pages of black and white, letter or legal-size copies. Cook County Health may provide information on diskette, cd, or electronic form, and the cost shall be the actual cost incurred by the health system. Fees for reproducing records in any form not listed herein shall be based on the actual cost incurred by the Cook County Health. Additional fees may be charged as provided by law.
Where it is anticipated that fees to the requester will exceed $25, the requester shall be notified of the amount of the anticipated fee. The requester shall be extended the opportunity to modify the request.
Where the anticipated fee exceeds $25, an advance deposit of either 25% of the anticipated fee or $25, whichever is greater, may be required before the material will be reproduced. Where a requester previously failed to pay a fee, an advance deposit of the full amount may be required before the material will be reproduced. When required, if the advance deposit is not received within 30 days following notice of the advance deposit due, the request will be deemed to have been withdrawn.
Alexandra Normington
Interim Chief Communications & Marketing Officer
(312) 864-0950
[email protected]
Kate Hedlin
Senior Communications Manager
(312) 864-0938
[email protected]
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