Welcome to UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations. The UCLA Media Relations team can help to identify the best sources for your stories about UCLA patient care, research and education. We also can help you find expert comment for breaking medical, science and health policy stories. The team has access to pager numbers, cell phones and assistants to help you reach the right people when you are on tight deadlines. Media relations officers also can provide complete logistical support for broadcast and photography shoots, and serve as field producers for video or radio interviews, and for video B-roll and photographs.
8 am to 5 pm Monday - Friday
email: UCLAHealthNews@mednet.ucla.edu
Use the online staff directory to contact individual media relations officers directly by e-mail or phone.
Weekends, holidays and after hours
Call the UCLA Health Sciences operators at 310-825-6301 and ask to page the on-call media relations officer.
After-hours calls to UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center
Call a hospital operator at 310-319-4000 and ask to page the on-call representative.
Our team is available to assist with news inquiries involving UCLA hospitals, clinics, doctors and patients, faculty and education, and research scientists and programs.
Media relations officers use e-mail and fax to distribute news releases, advisories and tip sheets about published research, new clinical programs, procedures and technology, and unique patient stories. Contact the office to add your name or news organization to our distribution list, or sign up online.
Click above for basic information about UCLA Healths facilities and links to detailed information about UCLA Health Sciences patient care, education and research programs.
Patient condition reports
The media relations staff provides general patient condition information within the limitations imposed by the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). A patient name is required. However, the patient has the option to expressly state that he or she does not want information released, including confirmation of his or her presence in the facility.
Release of detailed information or information about minors requires written consent of the parent, guardian or legal representative.
Patient Consent
Any patient who will be interviewed, videotaped or photographed within a UCLA medical facility must first sign a UCLA-approved, HIPAA-compliant consent form. Media relations officers are authorized to obtain consent.
Patient Privacy
Patient privacy is a priority at UCLA's hospitals and clinics. All journalists must be escorted by a media relations officer when reporting inside any UCLA hospital, clinic or patient care facility.
Media Escorts
In order to protect patient confidentiality within federal HIPAA guidelines, members of the news media must be escorted by a member of the media relations staff while visiting UCLA hospitals and clinics, including UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital, the Linda and Stewart Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA, and the UCLA Medical Plaza facilities.
Directions and Parking
The media relations team can provide specific directions and secure free campus parking for journalists. Maps and directions to UCLA hospitals and clinics in Westwood and to UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center are available online.
