The safety and privacy of our patients is our organization’s top priority, and health center policy mandates that every reporter be escorted inside patient care facilities. In addition to an expectation of privacy by all patients and visitors at WNCCHS, the privacy rights of all patients is protected under federal law by HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. Members of the WNCCHS media team must secure written permission from patients, as required, in advance of any onsite interviews with patients or their health care providers.