HAND TRANSPLANT MEDIA SUPPORT PLAN

Jewish Hospital will provide informational support services in conjunction with the hand transplant.  This plan is designed to provide the media with timely information about the hand transplant.  Emphasis will always be placed on accuracy of information and creation of educational/interpretive materials, which contribute to comprehensive reporting.  Jewish Hospital will cooperate with the media by:

• Providing timely, comprehensive and reliable information.
• Providing facilities that will make news coverage convenient.

TOP PRIORITY

The welfare of the patient is the highest priority; all other activities must complement this effort. Accordingly, this plan ensures the safety and privacy of the hand transplant recipient, the recipient’s family, the donor’s family and the medical transplant team.

INFORMATION AND INTERVIEWS

All requests for information and interviews must be coordinated through the Jewish Hospital Marketing & Communications Department.  This will ensure that requests for information are fulfilled in an accurate and timely manner.

Partnership Spokespersons:

Jeff Polson, Director of Marketing/External Relations, Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare

Barbara Keane Mackovic, Media Relations Senior Manager, Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare

MEDIA NOTIFICATION

A press conference will be held following the hand transplant surgery.  Information will only be via press briefings the first 48 to 72 hours after surgery.  Media representatives can expect to receive:

• B-roll of the hand transplant surgery (for television news)
• Patient profile
• Patient photo
• Additional materials pertaining to the transplant and any background information, which may be available. 

The press conference will be held at the Jewish Hospital Rudd Heart and Lung Center’s Henry Wagner Conference Center on the 16th floor unless otherwise noted.  Press Conferences, news releases and media updates can also be viewed via our web site www.handtransplant.com and www.jhsmh.com.

PATIENT INTERVIEWS

As the hand transplant recipient’s post-operative condition improves, interviews will be allowed, pending the total consent of:

• The patient (and his or her family as appropriate)
• Dr. Warren C. Breidenbach and other appropriate individuals

Jewish Hospital will always grant the wishes of the patient, even if it means a delay in or denial of interviews.  The physical and psychological health of the patient must be the first concern of both Jewish Hospital and the news media.

DONOR INFORMATION

As is customary in organ transplantation cases, no information will be released concerning the identity of the donor or donor family.  This is to protect their confidentiality and right to privacy. Furthermore, no information will be released concerning the location of the donor, state of origin, hours of travel or other identifying geographical data.

SECURITY

Upon arriving on the Jewish Hospital Hand Care Center, please proceed to the Jewish Hospital Patient Parking lot at the corner of Brook and Muhammad Ali streets where parking for all media is available.  All major equipment must enter through the loading dock at the back of the Rudd Heart and Lung Center.  Media will need to register at the Rudd Heart and Lung Center’s Henry Wagner Conference Center.