If approved by the patient, the patient's location in a hospital may be included in the hospital directory to facilitate visits by friends and family, as well as the delivery of flowers, cards and gifts. However, as a matter of policy, the patient's location should not routinely be given to the media.

HIPAA does not expressly prohibit disclosure of patient's room location to the media or the public if the patient has agreed to be listed in the directory. However, individual hospitals have adopted policies prohibiting disclosure of patient location to the media without patient permission.