Emergencies Can Separate Families
When local emergencies happen, searching for an injured loved one can be a slow and complicated process. The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago is ready to connect and comfort families during times of emergency and expedite this process through the Patient Connection Program.

One Call Reaches Nearly 100 Hospitals
The program reunites hospitalized disaster victims with family and friends during emergencies,
offering one central hotline where families can obtain information. This eliminates the need to call or drive around to multiple hospitals to look for a loved one.

How Does It Work?
Patient Connection is activated when a local incident sends 10 or more people to Chicago-area hospitals. We open a call center so people can inquire about those who may have been hospitalized.
Patient Connection call agents work confidentially with hospitals to collect and compile names and physical descriptions of patients. The call agents then compare this information to descriptions
given by callers. If there is a match, callers are connected with their loved ones.

Activating events may include:

• Transportation accidents including mass transit, aviation and traffic emergencies
• Building fires and collapses
• As a precaution before some large community and athletic
  events like the Chicago Marathon

Why Can the Red Cross Access Patient Information?
The American Red Cross is HIPAA-exempt, which enables hospitals to share information with
the Red Cross during times of disaster solely for the purpose of family reunification.

For more information about the Patient Connection Program, please contact the
Disaster Services department at (312) 729-6342 or send an email to chicagoDS@usa.redcross.org. 

This program is generously sponsored by the Otho S. A. Sprague Memorial Institute