The Public Relations staff has assembled the following tips to help news media representatives find out more about Erlanger Health System and better work with us.

Contacting the Public Relations Staff at Erlanger

For information related to a story, please contact a member of the public relations staff during regular business hours (M-F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at 423-778-7427. Our experienced professionals understand the news gathering business, the need for accuracy and the importance of meeting your deadlines.

Patient Condition Reports

A one-word condition report on a patient may be obtained during regular business hours by calling 423-778-7427 and asking for a public relations staff member. After business hours, please call the House Supervisors at 423-778-6168. You MUST provide the full name of the patient (spelled correctly) for us to check if the name appears in the hospital directory. We cannot provide any information if the name is not found in the directory.

Request for Interviews

Our public relations staff can help arrange interviews with adminstrators and medical staff at Erlanger, or with patients/family members while they are at the hospital.

To request an interview with a member of the hospital staff, please call the public relations department at 423-778-7427 and provide us with as much information as possible about the subject of your story, so we may find the most appropriate expert. A list of anaticipated questions is always helpful, so that our staff experts can properly prepare. Also, providing as much lead time as possible is appreciated to help coordinate schedules.

Requests for interviews with patients/family members will require you to provide us with the name of the patient. We will check our hospital directory to see if the name is listed. If so, we will contact the medical personnel serving the patient and ask them to relay your request. If the patient/family members agrees to an interview, we must obtain a signed privacy release form prior to the interview. A member of the public relations staff will then meet you at the designated area and escort you to a location most convenient to the patient/family member. Other than extraordinary circumstances, interviews with patients/family members are facilitated only during weekday business hours.

Live Shots

When appropriate, you may use Erlanger as a outside location for a live shot. However, please call the public relations office at 423-778-7427 to let us know the approximate time you plan to arrive so we can alert hospital security.

During non-business hours (for example, a live shot for the 11 p.m. newscast), please contact the House Supervisors at 423-778-6168 to let them know when you plan to arrive.