EHR Implementers

Overview

Healthcare providers are required by law to report roughly 100 different reportable conditions in each state, territory, and jurisdiction nationally. However, reporting laws vary for different jurisdictions, both in what to report and when, which can present challenges for healthcare organizations and result in inconsistent, or incomplete reporting. 

Unbeknownst to many, in addition to reporting to their healthcare site’s jurisdiction, healthcare providers are frequently also required to report to the public health agency (PHA) of the patient’s residence - wherever in the country that may be. The large number of different reports and the variable laws of the different states can be a challenge for healthcare providers and electronic health record (EHR) implementers. Although reportable conditions are the core of public health surveillance, reporting compliance is not consistent. In addition, even when reporting is performed, there is the additional burden of responding to public health investigations, because what is traditionally reported frequently does not include adequate clinical data for a complete report.

Electronic case reporting (eCR) helps solve these problems by making it possible for EHR implementers to enable healthcare providers to meet their legal obligations. eCR automates reporting without changes to the provider’s existing workflows, allowing healthcare providers more time for their patients. It uses a single, all-condition, all-jurisdiction electronic initial case report (eICR) standard that simplifies EHR interface development. It also provides a single place for EHR implementers to send these reports, where they are processed to ensure their reportability and be routed to all appropriate jurisdictions.

EHR implementers will find information here regarding:

  • How and when to trigger a report to be sent

  • The structure and testing of the Health Level Seven International (HL7) eICR standard

  • How to receive and implement the HL7 Reportability Response (RR)

  • Using testing and support materials 

  • Connecting and testing eICR and RR transport and exchange

  • Communicating intent, onboarding, and testing

Introduction to eCR – For EHR and Health IT Vendors