Patient Confidentiality

Patient confidentiality is of the utmost importance to everyone at Corewell Health. In accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), we are able to provide the media with a one-word condition report on current patients. Additional information on those patients is released as permitted by patients and their families.

The one-word conditions determined by the American Hospital Association used to describe patients are:

Undetermined: Patient is awaiting physician evaluation.

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 is conscious, but may be uncomfortable. Indicators are favorable.

Serious: Vital signs are unstable and/or not within normal limits. Patient is acutely ill. Indicators are questionable.

Critical: Vital signs are unstable and/or not within normal limits. Patient may be unconscious and may be experiencing major complications. Indicators are unfavorable.