For the Media

Hartford HealthCare Contact Information

Hartford HealthCare welcomes inquiries from media outlets. Someone is always available to take your calls. We ask that all journalists call us before contacting a physician, an employee, a patient or volunteer at any Hartford HealthCare facility.

 Media Contacts Release of Patient Information One-word patient conditions


Hartford HealthCare:

Need An Expert?

Contact Rebecca Stewart, Tina Varona, or Jocelyn Maminta.

Our Emmy-winning news gathering team with more than two decades of experience can connect you with nationally renowned experts. We are also an active health newsroom that produces high-quality health news content available for distribution on several platforms: online, in print, radio, or broadcast.

Rebecca StewartRebecca Stewart
Vice President, Content Strategy
860.972.4285 (phone)
860.726.8283 (cell)
rebecca.stewart@hhchealth.org

Tina Varona mugshotTina Varona
Senior Director, Media Relations
860.972.4475 (phone)
860.310.7640 (cell)
tina.varona@hhchealth.org

Jocelyn MamintaJocelyn Maminta
Director, Multimedia
860.637.3815 (cell)
Jocelyn.Maminta@hhchealth.org

Elinor CohenElinor Cohen
Media Relations Specialist, Hartford HealthCare
860.306.6634 (cell)
Elinor.Cohen@hhchealth.org


Hospitals:

Backus Hospital (Norwich)
Windham Hospital (Willimantic)

Ken Harrison
Marketing & Communications Manager, East Region
860.929.6035 (cell)
860.889.8661 x2312 (office)
Ken.Harrison@HHCHealth.org

Elizabeth Marino
Senior Communications Specialist
860.491.6723 (cell)
Elizabeth.Marino@hhchealth.org

Charlotte Hungerford Hospital (Torrington)

Amanda Blaszyk
Manager, Marketing & Communications
860.937.4726
Amanda.Blaszyk@hhchealth.org

Kate Carey-Trull
Communications Specialist
860.414.4639 (cell)
Kate.Carey-Trull@hhchealth.org

Hartford Hospital (Hartford)

Amanda Blaszyk
Manager, Marketing & Communications
860.937.4726
Amanda.Blaszyk@hhchealth.org

Kate Carey-Trull
Communications Specialist
860.414.4639 (cell)
Kate.Carey-Trull@hhchealth.org

Patient Condition Inquiries
860.545.4200
Learn more >>

The Hospital of Central Connecticut (New Britain General)

The Hospital of Central Connecticut (Bradley Memorial, Southington)

MidState Medical Center (Meriden)

Brian Spyros
Manager, Marketing & Communications
860.626.3322
Brian.Spyros@hhchealth.org

Elizabeth Marino
Senior Communications Specialist
860.491.6723 (cell)
Elizabeth.Marino@hhchealth.org

St. Vincent's Medical Center (Bridgeport)

Jocelyn Maminta
Director, Multimedia
860.637.3815 (cell)
Jocelyn.Maminta@hhchealth.org

Hartford HealthCare Community Network:

Hartford HealthCare at Home

Hartford HealthCare Rehabilitation Network

Hartford HealthCare Senior Services

(Center for Healthy Aging, Arbor Rose at Jerome Home, The Orchards at Southington, Southington Care Center, Mulberry Gardens of Southington, Jerome HomeJefferson House, Cedar Mountain Commons)

 

Erika Stinson
860.420.8043 (cell)
860.378.1283 (office)
Erika.Stinson@hhchealth.org

Hartford HealthCare Behavioral Health Network:

The Institute of Living, Natchaug Hospital, Rushford

Shawn Mawhiney
Senior Director of Communications
860.634.3383
Shawn.Mawhiney@hhchealth.org

Tim LeBouthillier
Manager, Marketing & Communications
203.238.6844
Tim.LeBouthillier@hhchealth.org

Physician Practices: 

Hartford HealthCare Medical Group
Integrated Care Partners

Chris Wojcik
Communications Manager
413.320.8605 (cell)
860.972.7163 (office)
Christopher.Wojcik@hhchealth.org


Release of Patient Information

Privacy regulations issued by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) strictly govern the use and release of a patient's personal health information. As a member of the media, here is what you need to know if you want information about a Hospital HealthCare patient:

  • Media Relations must first check to see that the patient has not secured his/her privacy, in which case we would be unable to release any information. Patients have the right to deny the release of information about their condition. For a minor, the parent or guardian has the authority to make that decision.
  • You must have the patient's first and last name before we can release a condition. Without a name, condition reports can't be released.
  • If you have the patient's first and last name, the only information that may be released to the media is a one-word condition report.
  • Patients have the right to deny the release of any information about their condition - even that one-word condition report. For a minor, the parent or guardian has the authority to make that decision.
  • To protect patient confidentiality, patients must sign a release form before reporters can interview them or their doctors about issues specific to their care.
  • To protect the privacy of all other patients and families, a member of our media relations team must accompany all reporters and photographers at any Hartford HealthCare facility.

Here are the one-word patient conditions we can release:

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 not be conscious; indicators are unfavorable.

Hartford HealthCare