The guide covers release of information about patients, cases of public record, newsworthy and public figures, standard definitions of patient condition, and community disaster policies. It includes a section on the release of research and scientific news and a summary of federal and Colorado state laws concerning medical confidentiality. For more information please contact Peg O Keefe . Media relations counseling CHA helps to educate reporters about health care issues, setting context and providing background for many stories. CHA responds to reporters as an outside expert on a wide range of stories including health care delivery systems, medication safety, federal and state lasws, violence in the workplace, marketshare and profit margins.
Hospitals are alerted to reporter calls and requests.
CHA provides general assistance in helping members interpret the guidelines on release of patient information, and in achieving their public accountability responsibility. Publications Reference Guide to Colorado Hospital Financial and Utilization Data is an annual compendium of hospital-specific financial and utilization information for the most recent couple of years, a narrative describing key trends facing the delivery of hospital and health care services, an analysis of the Medicare and Medicaid programs and their impact on Colorado hospitals, and a ranking of hospitals for selected utilization indicators such as admissions, surgeries and home health visits. Hospital Charges and Average Length of Stay is an annual report on the charges and average length of stay for the most common reasons for addmission to a Colorado hospital. The report uses data from CHA's Discharge Data Program. This publication can be purchased online by visiting the CHA Shop .