Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Access To Patient Information

At Portsmouth Regional Hospital, protecting the safety, comfort and privacy of our patients and their families is our top priority. Patient conditions and information will only be released by authorized hospital personnel in accordance with general HIPAA guidelines outlined on the New Hampshire Hospital Association Web site.HIPAA (The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) prohibits the release of patient information without the patient’s consent.Every healthcare provider is required by law to follow HIPAA guidelines.

This page includes the following information:

Family/Loved Ones Requests for Patient’s Condition
Media Requests for Information
Patients Under 18
Definition of Conditions
Major Event or Disaster

Family/Loved Ones’ Requests for a Patient’s Condition

To reach patients admitted to the hospital, call the main hospital number (603-436-5110) and give the patient’s room number when prompted by our voice activated answering systerm. Otherwise, dial “O” to speak to an operator and be transferred to a telephone in the patient’s room. Please note that we respect the wishes of patients who prefer to not receive visitors or flowers – or get phone calls to the room.

We encourage the patient (or his or her family) to designate a spokesperson who is authorized to share information about the patient. Friends and family inquiring about the patient should ask to speak with the family spokesperson to obtain information about the patient, because the hospital is very restricted in the amount of information that we may release.

Patients admitted to the hospital are given a code number, which the patient may choose to give out to loved ones and friends.Callers need this number to get information about the patient. Click here for ICU patient and family guidelines.

For information about a patient in the Emergency Center, call 603-433-4042.

Media Requests for Information

While respecting patient confidentiality and HIPAA regulations, Portsmouth Regional Hospital’s Public Affairs Office is committed to providing the media with healthcare information whenever possible. Whether you are looking for patient conditions, background information or expert opinions, our staff can put you in touch with the right information source.

For patients treated at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, only the conditions of publicly reportable patients will be released. Publicly reportable patients are those involved in an incident that is a matter of public record and reportable to public authorities (i.e., police, Medical Examiner or public health officer). The media must provide Portsmouth Regional Hospital with a patient name in order to receive a condition report. The exception to this involves mass casualty incidents.

As long as the reporter provides the name of the patient, we give out limited information (see definitions below), unless the patient or his/her family has “opted out” on his/her registration/admission form. We do not give out the location (room/unit) of the patient or the nature/type of injuries. We also do not give out any information that might endanger or embarrass the patient.

Please use the following numbers to request hospital and patient information:

General Patient Conditions:	Public Affairs Office - 603-433-4054 After Hours: Nursing Supervisor - 603-436-5110
Mass Casualty Incident:	Public Affairs Office - 603-433-4054 After Hours: Nursing Supervisor - 603-436-5110
Photo, interview & hospital tour requests	Public Affairs Office - 603-433-4054

Patients Under 18

Patients under the age of 18 are considered minors. Portsmouth Regional Hospital can only release the conditions of minors with the written consent of their parents or guardians.

Definition of Conditions

Undetermined: Patient is awaiting physician and/or assessment.

Treated and Released: Patient has received treatment and has been released.

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. Patients may be unconscious. Indicators are unfavorable.

Major Event or Disaster

When there is a major incident (declared or undeclared disaster) and several or many patients are in the Emergency Department, we cannot release names. We can release the types or nature of the injuries and how many people are involved. Public Affairs works with the Emergency Center, Security, and Nursing Supervisors – as well as with the Red Cross, city and state authorities – to update the media as often as possible.Please know that we will do our best to inform the media on an ongoing basis during any major event or disaster.