title: St. Mary's Hospital, rescued climber meet reporters as HIPAA rules begin.
abstract: St. Mary's Hospital, Grand Junction, Colo., is a regional hospital whose PR team is accustomed to media exposure. Just as tehy were instituting the patient privacy rules of HIPAA, a true-life reality drama landed on their doorstep. Aron Ralston, a 27-year old experienced mountain climber, became the hospital's highest profile patient and attracted worldwide media coverage after courageously rescuing himself from a near-disaster.
authors.forename: Judith D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Botvin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D003120:Colorado; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D020408:Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009051:Mountaineering / Q000293:injuries*; D011641:Public Relations; D012648:Self Care; D014481:United States