Important Announcements

Nondiscrimination Policy Update

Boston Medical Center Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. BMCHS provides free aids and services to people with disabilities and free language services to people whose primary language is not English.

To read our full Nondiscrimination Statement, click here.

Patient Condition Information

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Releasing Patient Information to the Media

Boston Medical Center is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of our patients and their medical information. Communications office staff members provide a one-word patient condition to the media in accordance with the American Hospital Association guidelines contained in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

How to Obtain a Patient's Condition

To inquire about a patient at Boston Medical Center, members of the media should contact the media relations staff. 

Please note:

  • Media must provide the patient’s full name.
  • Staff will only give a one-word description about a patient’s general condition.
  • The release of any medical information beyond a one-word condition requires written authorization by the patient or the patient’s legal representative.
  • We will acknowledge the death of a patient only after next-of-kin have been notified.
  • In the event of a large scale disaster, we will attempt to provide aggregate information about patients brought to the hospital.

Patient Condition Definitions 

  • Undetermined – Patient is awaiting physician assessment.

  • 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 in 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 – Vitals are unstable and not within normal limits. Patient may be unconscious. Indicators are unfavorable.

Please note, "stable" is not a recognized condition, according to HIPAA guidelines.