Current Environment:

Recall Alert

There is a voluntary recall. Learn more →

To contact Media Relations, email media.relations@childrens.harvard.edu during regular business hours. Before 8:30 a.m., after 5 p.m. and on weekends, call the page operator at 617-355-6369.

  • No information other than a one-word condition is made available to any member of the media unless Media Relations receives parental or guardian written authorization. We cannot elaborate on a patient’s injuries, illness or prognosis without specific written consent by the patient or the patient’s family. When asking for a patient’s condition update, you must first provide the media representative with the patient’s full name. We use standard language acceptable under HIPAA laws and American Hospital Association guidelines to describe patient conditions. They include:
    • Undetermined - Patient is awaiting physician and/or 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.
  • To protect the privacy of Boston Children's patients and families, a staff member from Media Relations must accompany any reporter, film crew or photographer on the Children's campus or at Martha Eliot Health Center.
  • No media will be permitted in the Enders animal facility without prior approval by Karen Krueger, DVM, director of Animal Resources at Children's Hospital (ARCH) and Media Relations. All arrangements for filming are to be made by Media Relations. No media filming of research animals is ever permitted.
  • The Media Relations team is responsible for providing advance notification to patient care areas selected for media interviews, photography shoots and film productions. Release of patient information, photos, video, etc. requires a signed authorization.