Communicable Disease > Programs & Services > Promoting Interoperability > Electronic Case Reporting

Electronic Case Reporting (eCR)

Overview
North Carolina's Division of Public Health (NC DPH) is in the early stages of onboarding facilities for electronic case reporting (eCR), the automated, real-time generation and transmission of case reports between electronic health records (EHRs) and public health agencies. The eCR technology seamlessly and securely moves eCR data from EHRs in healthcare facilities to local and state public health agencies. Under 130A — 135 and 10A NCAC 41A .0101, providers are required to report certain communicable diseases and conditions to state and local public health officials. Communicable Disease Laws and Rules

eCR Benefits
Electronic case reporting enables health care providers to satisfy mandated reporting requirements for NC DPH and CMS regulatory requirements for the Public Health and Clinical Data Exchange objectives. The eCR provides complete and accurate data, enables the ability to more quicky identify emerging public health trends, improves collaboration and communication with healthcare through the bidirectional data exchange, and reduces response time with automated information.

Reportable Mandate
As of January 2022, electronic case reports are required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Promoting Interoperability Program (PIP) for eligible hospitals, critical access hospitals (CAH), and eligible clinicians participating in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).

Declaration of Readiness
The North Carolina Department of Public Health began accepting registrations of intent for eCR from eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals in January 2019 and from eligible clinicians on March 15, 2022.

eCR Technical Requirements
NC DPH utilizes the HL7 electronic initial case report (eICR) standards (R1.1 and R3) for electronic case reporting and to support the new CMS Promoting Interoperability Program regulations for eCR. NC DPH requires the use of APHL AIMS and the Reportable Condition Knowledge Management System (RCKMS) to ensure appropriate reporting.

Electronic Case Reporting Checklist for Healthcare Facilities

Steps	Checklist
Step I: Register for Intent	Register for intent to participate in NC DHHS Promoting Interoperability Program: NC DPH Promoting Interoperability Program Registration of Intent. NC DPH accepts registrations of intent from eligible hospitals, critical access hospitals, and eligible clinician practices. A confirmation email will be forwarded for all completed registrations.
Step II: Planning	Schedule a meeting with the NC DHHS eCR Team to discuss a plan for eCR implementation and to address questions related to the project. Read through eCR Readiness Checklist: https://ecr.aimsplatform.org/ehr-implementers/readiness-and-implementation-checklist Contact EHR vendor to determine if EHR can generate eICRs Get approval from your organization, including legal to implement eCR Complete the National Provider Intake Form: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/079dbbcd514e4d418b192a93e2cc715e Compile eCR facility list and email to: NCDPHECR@dhhs.nc.gov.
Step III: Technical Onboarding	Attend Technical Onboarding Meetings with CDC National
Step IV: Testing	Submit electronic initial case reports (eICR) to APHL/AIMS/RCKMS environment Review reportability responses (RR) and feedback from NC DHHS and AIMS Team to identify failed and successful messages Obtain confirmation that RR and eICR fields are correct Establish mechanism for responding to errors with NC DHHS
Step V: Production	Agree on production schedule with NC DHHS Work with NC DHHS and your Local Health Department (LHD) on a plan for the discontinuation of paper forms (this may vary by disease)

Electronic Case Reporting Resources

Contact Information

If you have additional questions, send an email to: NCDPHECR@dhhs.nc.gov