What should the Public Relations Manager (PRM) avoid doing concerning updates on patients' conditions?

The role of the Public Relations Manager (PRM) in a fire department or any emergency service is to communicate effectively with the public while maintaining ethical standards and legal constraints. The PRM should avoid actively calling the Medical Examiner for updates on patients' conditions because this could violate confidentiality and privacy laws, such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). The Medical Examiner is typically involved in cases that require examination for causes of death, making contact concerning living patients inappropriate and potentially harmful to the trust and dignity of the individuals involved.

Additionally, contacting families of patients or compiling updates for press releases are crucial functions of the PRM’s role, done with the utmost care for privacy and respect. Keeping records of patient conditions, while a sensitive task, is part of the overall responsibility when it comes to managing information that may need to be communicated regarding public safety or community well-being, as long as proper guidelines are followed. Overall, the avoidance of inappropriate contact with the Medical Examiner is essential for ensuring the ethical handling of sensitive information.