Media kit

Public Relations — part of VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications — leads the news and public information efforts of Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Health.

Our Public Relations staff members are here to assist journalists and members of the media as they cover stories and people at VCU and VCU Health. We are a 24-hour operation, and you can call or text 804-418-0174 to reach an on-call public relations staff member for emergency requests outside of regular business hours. Please adhere to the guidelines below.

Media guidelines for VCU Health

Public Relations staff pay particular attention to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other regulations involving patient confidentiality. Access to patients is at the discretion of VCU Health.

• Media representatives must arrange interviews and photo shoots with VCU Health faculty, team members or patients in advance through Public Relations.
• A Public Relations staff person will accompany any reporters, video crews and photographers while on campus to ensure confidentiality, privacy and appropriate sensitivity to students, patients and families.
• Patients who agree to be interviewed on VCU Health premises must provide prior written consent and a Public Relations representative must be present. Security will remove unauthorized media personnel from VCU Health locations as necessary.
• Live shots on the downtown Richmond campus are restricted to 11th and Clay streets. Media will also be staged here during breaking news events.
• Members of the media may not enter VCU Health buildings or position themselves at the entrance of the buildings.

Emergency department patients

• Public Relations is only able to release non-specific, top-line information, such as the number of victims in a mass casualty event.
• Deaths may be reported only after the patient’s next-of-kin or legal guardian has been notified.
• Once patients have been admitted to hospital units, they must be identified by their first and last name to obtain condition reports.

Patient condition reports

• If an adult patient is in the hospital directory, a general condition report may be provided to the news media. The condition report may not communicate specific information about the individual, such as age, gender, marital status, occupation, time of admission, hometown, location in the hospital (i.e., ICU) and diagnosis.
• Information beyond a general condition report will be provided only with the express written consent of the patient.
• General condition information about patients who are minors will be released only with expressed written consent of the patient’s parent or legal guardian.

Nomenclature and proper use of name

• VCU Health is the name of the overarching health enterprise.
• VCU Medical Center is the name of the downtown Richmond hospital location.
• The clinical enterprise of VCU Health is governed by the VCU Health System Authority.
• Students on the medical campus are educated by VCU Health Sciences, which includes the VCU College of Health Professions, VCU School of Dentistry, VCU School of Medicine, VCU School of Pharmacy, VCU School of Nursing and VCU School of Population Health.

Please see our editorial style guide for more information.

Contact us

For help with media inquiries, browse our staff directory or contact Public Relations at 804-828-1231 or vcunews@vcu.edu

For after-hours media emergencies, reporters can reach the on-call Public Relations staff person at 804-418-0174.