Media Inquiries
We welcome news inquiries from members of the media and are dedicated to quickly and helpfully responding to your requests. The Corporate Communications Department can also assist journalists in contacting health experts in a wide variety of medical specialties, health topics and healthcare industry trends.
Patient Information Guidelines
To more closely protect the privacy of patients and their families, we will no longer disclose a patient’s status or condition to the media. While HIPAA permits us to do so, UPMC is strengthening our policies to safeguard patient privacy, as well as protect personal and health information.
During a disaster situation, the public may benefit from the release of general information if it could reduce public anxiety. The Marketing/Corporate Communications division will exercise judgment under these circumstances and discern if it is in accordance with the Disaster Plan. If a patient is opted out, we can neither confirm nor deny their presence in a UPMC facility. This applies also to “automatic opt out” patients and includes drug and alcohol abuse patients, behavioral health patients, crime victims and prisoners.
Media Inquiries
UPMC offers media spokespeople on a wide spectrum of medical specialties and sub-specialties. Please contact with inquiries.
National
Amber Depew, Corporate Communications Director
Office: 570-321-2137
depewa2@upmc.edu
Local
Tyler Wagner, Communications Manager
UPMC Lock Haven, Muncy, Wellsboro, Sunbury, and Williamsport and Williamsport Divine Providence Campus
Office: 570-321-2858
Cell: 570-494-8330
wagnert4@upmc.edu
Check here for our latest press releases about UPMC news and events.
Common Questions and Answers
Q: How do I arrange to cover a story at UPMC or to interview a doctor or patient?
A: UPMC provides assistance to news reporters, photographers and video crews who wish to arrange phone or in-person interviews with physicians, scientists, staff and patients.
You will find that our assistance, whether arranging a simple phone conversation or an elaborate video shoot, makes the interaction smoother for all involved. We also can request physicians to assist you in meeting a story deadline.
In order to protect patient confidentiality, our assistance and presence with a hospital representative is mandatory for any visits by members of the media to our campuses.
Patients who will be interviewed on video or photographed within a UPMC facility must sign a HIPAA media release form, available from our Marketing Department. Please remember that we always consider the patient’s health, privacy and protection and the hospital’s protection of staff and patients when reviewing requests.
Q: What are the services offered by the Corporate Communications staff?
A: Staff is available to respond to journalist inquiries about medical research, advances in patient care and general health and fitness news.
Specifically, we provide:
- Assistance in identifying and scheduling interviews with experts; please give as much notice as possible
- Photographs, as available
- Coordination with the media relations office on news and news issues