Patient Information Contact Public Relations between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Mon. - Fri. at 515-241-6302 or cell phone 515-205-6090.

Obtaining Patient Information

Iowa Health - Des Moines' Policy For Releasing Patient Conditions

For patients at Iowa Methodist, Iowa Lutheran, Methodist West and Blank Children's Hospital:

• Between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Sat. - Sun. contact a member of the Public Relations team at 515-241-6302 or the media cell phone at 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 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. contact:
  • For patients at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Methodist West Hospital 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 the operator to page the on-site patient care coordinator or house supervisor.

Release of information:

• The hospital may disclose the patient's name and general condition, only if the inquiry specifically identifies the patient by name. No information may be given if a request does not include a specific patient's name or if the patient requests that the information not be released.
• As long as the patient has not requested that information be withheld, hospitals may release the patient's one-word condition to individuals who inquire about the patient by name.
• Option to "Opt Out" of the Directory - The hospital must give the patient the opportunity to restrict or prohibit some or all of these permitted disclosures of the PHI that is to be included in the Hospital Directory, including restricting the use or disclosure of one or more categories of PHI (e.g., a patient could opt to have his or her name and location, but not his or her condition, included in the Directory.)  This can happen anytime during hospitalization.
• Unconscious - If a patient is unconscious or otherwise incapacitated when he or she is brought to the hospital and cannot agree or object to his or her inclusion in the Hospital Directory, the hospital may use and disclose the Hospital Directory Information to people who ask about the individual by name if such disclosure is consistent with any known preference of the patient (e.g., if the patient expressed a preference when he or she was a patient at the hospital in the past) and if the hospital believes that such disclosure is in the patient's best interest. The hospital must notify the patient of his/her right to agree or object to inclusion in the Hospital Directory as soon as the patient is conscious and able to make that decision.
• Hospital officials can confirm a patient was in our care, after their release, as long as the patient did not Opt out of the directory during their stay. Hospital officials can also confirm time of death.

In violent crime cases - if the patient is unable to state their request and we have reason to believe the person or family could be in danger we may see the best interest of the patient as to not give out their condition until there are able to state their request.

Following 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.