Interview Requests:

To arrange an interview with a patient, volunteer or staff member, call Amy Varcoe, Media Relations Specialist at 241-5057 or 205-6090 (cell phone).

Media Policies and Procedures

Please contact the Public Relations office at 515-241-6302 for assistance.

Advance notice of on-site interviews is required so we can arrange for a room for the media interview or photo shoot, notify patient care areas involved and/or line up appropriate patients, families and staff for your story as well as contact security.
To protect the privacy of our patient and families, a representative from the PR Department or Public Safety must accompany all reporters, film crews and photographers on campus.
When using one of our staff members or volunteers in a story, we ask that you identify him/her by their appropriate title and hospital related to their work or role at Iowa Health - Des Moines.

For patient condition reports contact:

For patients at Iowa Methodist, Iowa Lutheran, Methodist West and Blank Children's Hospital between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Mon. - Fri., contact the Public Relations office at 515-241-6302 or cell phone: 515-205-6090.
Between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Mon - Fri., contact a member of the Public Relations team on the media cell phone at 515-205-6090.
Between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Sat. - Sun., contact a member of the Public Relations team on the media cell phone at 515-205-6090.
Between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. contact:
- For patients at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Methodist West and Blank Children's Hospital, call 515-241-6212 and ask the operator to page the nursing supervisor or house supervisor.
- For patients at Iowa Lutheran Hospital, call 515-263-5612 and ask for the operator to page the on-site patient care coordinator or house supervisor.

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Below are the conditions we will provide, which are approved by the American Hospital Association:

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.

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Reasons a condition report might not be available to members of the media:

The reporter does not provide the first and last name of patient.
The patient is a minor. Exception: If the minor's name has been identified in the news as well as where the patient is located and the family has given their consent, a condition report may be given if the correct first and last name of the minor is given by the member of the media.
The patient has been a victim of violence and the patient's name or location has not been identified to or by the media.
The patient and/or the patient family has requested that the patient be listed as confidential. This could occur upon admission or anytime during hospitalization.
The patient decides during his or her stay to change status to confidential.
The patient is receiving Mental Health or Chemical Dependency services. The Federal Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records regulations and the state Department of Mental Heath and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act prohibit release of any information.