JPS Health Network is a leader in patient care, medical education, and research and has a national reputation for providing high quality healthcare for all. Our relationships with our community partners – those who help us fulfill our mission to serve our stakeholders – are crucial.

The JPS Communications Department is the main contact for the news media to coordinate the release of important health, medical, and operational information to the public.

Communications team members are here to work with media representatives on news stories and requests for information. We can coordinate interviews, provide facts and data, and connect media with JPS leaders and medical experts.

Please visit the JPS Newsroom webpage to find timely articles produced by Communications staff about the Network and the life-changing work being accomplished by our team members. These are great sources for potential stories and features.

Media procedures

All news media inquiries, including requests for interviews with JPS team members, must be addressed to the Communications Department. We will make every effort to answer questions or provide an interview source in time to meet news deadlines, but team members must always prioritize patient care and operations first.

For help between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on weekdays, call 817-702-1365. The voicemail is checked regularly and calls will be returned as soon as possible by our staff.

In urgent situations, news alerts and updates will be posted regularly on the JPS Health Network official Twitter account: @JPS_Health.

Please refer to us as “JPS,””JPS Health Network,” or “John Peter Smith Hospital” – never as “John Peter Smith Health Network.”

Patient privacy

Protecting the privacy of patients and guests and maintaining confidential information is imperative to us. Patient privacy rights are governed by the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), as well as other federal and state laws, and standards set forth by The Joint Commission.

No names or health conditions for individual patients will be released to news media. JPS will not confirm or deny whether a patient is in our care, and will not comment on a patient’s injuries, illness, treatment or prognosis without written consent by the patient or the patient’s family.

Interview procedures

All journalists, professional photographers and videographers must be escorted by a Communications Department representative when on JPS property. A Communications team member will be present during all virtual and in-person interviews conducted with or about JPS.

All requests for onsite patient interviews, photography, and videography must be pre-authorized by the JPS Communications Department. We will obtain written permission from patients prior to photos or interviews. Because our patients’ health comes first, JPS Communications will consult with site leadership and the patient’s healthcare team before approving an interview.

Access at JPS facilities

When arriving for authorized interviews, breaking news, news conferences, or live shots at the JPS main campus, park along St. Joseph Court outside the Patient Care Pavilion (Emergency Department) at 1575 Main Street, Fort Worth. Hospital District Police will be notified that you have been cleared to be onsite.

Please make every effort to avoid photographing patients and guests going in and outside of the facility to protect their privacy.

JPS Health Network reserves the right to deny media entrance to its facilities if media presence will be disruptive to the patient care environment, business operations or if the above requirements are not met.

Open Records Requests

The Tarrant County Hospital District/JPS Health Network is subject to the Texas Public Information Act. If you would like to make an open records request under the Texas Public Information Act, please contact:

JPS Open Records
1500 South Main Street, 3rd Floor-Administration
Fort Worth, Texas 76104
Email: OpenRecords@jpshealth.org
Phone: 817-702-1231