Electronic Case Reporting (eCR)  

Electronic Case Reporting (eCR)  is the process of automatically generating and transmitting case reports from a healthcare organization’s electronic health record (EHR) system to public health agencies for review and action. The California Reportable Disease Information Exchange - Electronic Case Reporting (CalREDIE eCR) module allows health care providers and organizations to more easily comply with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) requirement for the reporting of certain diseases and conditions per the California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 17 Section 2500​ (PDF). 

CalREDIE eCR replaces traditional paper-based methods of case reporting for many reportable conditions in jurisdictions using CalREDIE. The CDPH CalREDIE eCR module eliminates the need for manual data entry, standardizes what to re​port when, and delivers more timely, complete, and accurate communicable disease surveillance data. 

eCR Starting Points for:

Healthcare Organizations & Providers

• FAQs for Healthcare Organizations & Facilities

• National Centralized eCR Webpage for Providers (by APHL)
  

• Register for the CDPH CalREDIE eCR Program

Local Health Jurisdictions

• FAQs for Local Health Jurisdictions

• Reportable Conditions Knowledge Management System (RCKMS)

• CDC eCR Website
  

• COVID-19 Announcement for eCR Liaisons (PDF)
  

Health Information Exchanges

• National Centralized eCR Webpage for HIEs (by APHL)

• Register for the CDPH CalREDIE eCR Program

• COVID-19 Announcement for eCR Liaisons (PDF)
  

CalREDIE eCR Onboarding Process

Onboarding to eCR is a joint effort between the CDC, APHL, and CDPH.

CDPH requires eICR data submitters to use the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) Information Messaging System (AIMS) and the Reportable Condition Knowledge Management System (RCKMS) to ensure appropriate reporting. The state of California uses the HL7 electronic initial case report (eICR) standards (R1.1 and R3) for electronic case reporting (eCR). California uses these standards to support the new CMS Promoting Interoperability regulations for eCR. ​Consequently, CDHP will only receive eICRs in accordance with these standards.

Healthcare organizations are required to continue sending case reports via your current method of reporting until explicitly notified by the CalREDIE eCR Team. The decision to send eICRs in lieu of current reporting methods will be made in concert with the LHJs. While public health builds capacity to process eICRs for all conditions, please remember that triggering eICRs on all conditions does not equate to local and state public health department users’ ability to review every eICR at this time.​

Prerequisites of eCR Onboarding

• eCR is for healthcare providers treating patients.

• Healthcare provider’s facility must have an EHR system.

• Registering for eCR indicates the entire healthcare facility is seeking to onboard with eCR, and all leadership approvals have been granted.

1. CalREDIE eCR Registration - Must be completed first

• Complete the form at the CalREDIE eCR Registration Portal

NOTE: As of January 1, 2021, CalREDIE eCR registration is no longer via the CDPH HIE Gateway. Please use the CalREDIE eCR Registration Portal

2. Enrollment & Onboarding with APHL Informatics Messaging Service (AIMS)

a. If your electronic health record (EHR) vendor is listed as available for onboarding, please reach out to the CDC eCR Onboarding team (ecr@cdc.gov) and the CalREDIE eCR team (CalREDIEeCR@cdph.ca.gov) to express your interest and learn more about AIMS onboarding and connectivity.  ​

b. Partner with your EHR vendor to discuss options for implementing eCR in accordance with the HL7 CDA guidelines for eCR

                  OR utilize the eCR Now FHIR App for COVID-19

c. Contact eCR@CDC.gov to determine which eCR data sharing policy is best suited for your facility

• eCR utilizes a single point of connection for reporting. Carequality and eHealth Exchange policies for eCR will cover the majority of interested providers with little to none additional steps required.

3. CalREDIE Testing & Pending Period (State eCR Structure)

a. In partnership with the CDC and AIMS onboarding teams, healthcare organizations (HCOs) will test sending electronic initial case reports (eICRs) to the CalREDIE Staging (testing) environment. CalREDIE eCR staff will conduct data quality validation on messages received from the HCO. ​

b. A period of parallel production begins. Until explicitly notified by CalREDIE, continue reporting through your current reporting method while eICRs are being reviewed in the CalREDIE Staging (testing) environment for data quality.

c. CalREDIE eCR staff will contact you to finalize your facility’s move to CalREDIE Production.

 4. CalREDIE Production

• Continue to implement updates from the Electronic Reporting and Surveillance Distribution (eRSD) and check for communications from the CalREDIE eCR Team regarding updates and maintenance. 
  

Want to Stay in the eCR Know?

 Email the eCR Team to be added to the eCR Mailing List!