SGCMH News & Events

We welcome the opportunity to work with journalists to get the information they need. We ask that all journalists call us before contacting or visiting a physician, an employee or a patient at Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital or any of our physician offices. Please review our media guidelines below.

Media Contact

For all media inquiries: email or call 573-883-7729.

Tina Poston, Marketing and Community Relations Director
— or —
Keith Schmelzle, Communication Specialist, 573-883-7728 or email

SGCMH Media Inquiries

To welcome news media to Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital, the following guidelines have been developed. Our goal is to make accessing Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital facilities and expert medical staff as easy and efficient as possible for the media while still complying with Federal regulations such as HIPAA and American Hospital Association guidelines.

Staff reporters employed by accredited news organizations will be granted media credentials to cover stories at Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital. Journalists are required to submit appropriate media credentials as part of their request for media coverage, including a photocopy of official press credentials or a letter verifying assignment on the letterhead of the media organization being represented. Please note that Public Relations staff is unable to guarantee availability of physicians, staff or patients for interviews.


All requests for press credentials should include the following information:

Name and title of each person requesting press credentials media outlet address; phone number; fax number; email address; and URL
Equipment you will bring (still camera, television camera, etc.) Any special needs you require, including access to multi box or video feed, truck parking, etc.
Any other information that would be helpful in considering your request, such as circulation, demographics, story angle, etc.

Please note: Requests from freelancers on assignment must be made by the assigning media outlet (on their letterhead).

All requests must be made on company letterhead. Requests should be faxed to:

Tina Poston, Marketing/Community Relations Director
Fax # 573-883-4462

Credential Pick-up: Press credentials will be available for pick up at the Marketing/Community Relations office. Media contact must bring proof of identification. Identification will be confirmed with media organization represented. Reporter will be issued an identifying name badge.

MEDIA ACCESS

Media are required to wear the issued media badge at all times while on site. Reporters, photographers and television crews must be accompanied by authorized hospital personnel.

The hospital will provide an escort to patient care areas for interviews if scheduled at a reasonable time of the day or evening. Reporters, photographers and television crews should attempt to minimize their time with patients in order not to interfere with patient care. When reporters request photographs of or interviews with a patient, the hospital must obtain permission of the patient (or the patient's guardian in the case of a minor).

Privacy regulations issued by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) strictly govern the use and release of a patient's personal health information

Reporters, photographers and television crews should realize that at any time hospital personnel may request the interview be terminated based on the patients' health or the health of those nearby.

Media may be asked to withhold the name of the hospital or health care facility to which a patient is being transported to ensure the patient's safety.

A Community Relations Rep is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Please call Tina Poston (573) 883-7729 or e-mail your request (tposton@stegenevievehospital.org). If you need to speak with someone after hours, call the hospital operator at (573) 883-2751, and the Community Relations representative will be contacted.

If you would like to schedule an interview with one of our experts or need more information for a story you are working on, please contact a member of the Marketing Department (573-883-7729)