Important update: Healthcare facilities
CDC has updated select ways to operate healthcare systems effectively in response to COVID-19 vaccination. Learn more
UPDATE
Given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, CDC has updated the guidance for fully vaccinated people. CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Children should return to full-time in-person learning in the fall with layered prevention strategies in place.
UPDATE
The White House announced that vaccines will be required for international travelers coming into the United States, with an effective date of November 8, 2021. For purposes of entry into the United States, vaccines accepted will include FDA approved or authorized and WHO Emergency Use Listing vaccines. More information is available here.

COVID-19 Electronic Case Reporting for Healthcare Providers

COVID-19 Electronic Case Reporting for Healthcare Providers

Improving public health action with real-time data flow

Updated Jan. 25, 2023

Starting on January 1, 2022, eCR will be required by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Promoting Interoperability Program for eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals and the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Promoting Interoperability Performance Category for eligible clinicians.

Electronic case reporting (eCR) is the automated generation and transmission of case reports from the electronic health record (EHR) to public health agencies for review and action. eCR makes disease reporting from healthcare to public health faster and easier. It moves data quickly, securely, and seamlessly from EHRs in healthcare facilities to state, tribal, local, and territorial public health agencies. eCR also allows public health to provide information back to healthcare professionals.

Benefits of eCR

  • Provides real-time reports to public health officials to guide the state, tribal, local, and territorial response to public health threats
  • Facilitates communication and collaboration between healthcare and public health
  • Reduces burden for healthcare providers without disrupting the clinical workflow
  • Saves time by eliminating manual data entry and reporting
  • Streamlines reporting to multiple jurisdictions
  • Receives information from public health associated with the reportable condition
  • Fulfills the CMS Promoting Interoperability Program requirement for eCR
  • Can fulfill legal reporting requirements
  • Improves COVID-19 reporting immediately and allows expansion to all reportable conditions
Join the Nationwide eCR Network

“Our implementation of eCR improved the quality and timeliness of public health reporting for COVID-19 across the 19 states we serve. This national gateway was a cost-effective solution that helped close critical data gaps in wide-scale reporting that saved front line providers valuable time and money.” – Paul Matthews, chief technology officer, OCHIN, Portland, Oregon

Implementation is Easy
  • Onboard quickly with most EHR systems
  • Use the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) App if your EHR is not eCR-enabled
  • Participate through eHealth Exchange or Carequality without additional legal requirements
  • Learn and share experiences with a growing network of implementers nationwide

Getting Started

  1. Email ecr@cdc.gov to express your interest and learn about onboarding for eCR.
  2. Work with the eCR team to connect with your public health agency.
  3. Register your intent for eCR with the appropriate public health agency.
  4. Partner with your EHR vendor to discuss options for implementing eCR.
  5. Get approval from your organization to implement eCR.
  6. For more details, go to Getting Started with eCR.