Getting Started with eCR

Healthcare organizations (HCOs); electronic health record (EHR) vendors; and state, tribal, local, and territorial public health agencies are all essential in implementing eCR. The eCR team—the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), and CDC—has resources to support implementers and collaborate with them throughout the process.

Learn more about CDC’s work in Public Health Data Interoperability.

Step 1: Contact and Prepare

• Email ecr@cdc.gov to learn more about getting started with eCR.
• Work with the eCR team to connect with your public health agency.
• Register your intent for eCR with the appropriate public health agency (see “For more information” box).
• Partner with your EHR vendor to discuss options for implementing eCR.
• Get approval from your organization’s leaders to implement eCR.

Step 2: Join and Implement

• Join a cohort and begin implementation.
  • Join a group of fellow implementers for onboarding calls, information sharing, and technical support from the eCR team.
  • To learn more, see eCR for Healthcare Providers.
• Make sure that your trust agreement is in place.
• Complete the eCR provider intake form.

Step 3: Go Live

• Send production messages.
• Work with your onboarding coordinator and public health agency to ensure data quality.

Step 4: End Parallel Production

• Engage with your public health agency to turn off manual reporting.
• The public health agency must approve, based on data quality and other factors.

Step 1: Contact APHL

• Email ecr@aimsplatform.org to indicate you are interested in implementing eCR.

Step 2: Build Capabilities and Connect

• Build eCR capabilities or connect to the eCR Now FHIR app (APHL).

Step 3: Test

• Test with a client HCO and make sure that eCR capabilities meet real-world testing standards.

Step 4: Offer eCR to Other HCOs

• Reach out to HCOs that use your EHR products and help them implement eCR.

Step 1: Ensure Connectivity

• Make sure that you or an affiliated public health agency is connected to AIMS, the APHL Informatics Messaging Services platform, to receive electronic case reports.

Step 2: Author in RCKMS

• Enter your jurisdiction’s reporting criteria for reportable conditions into the Reportable Condition Knowledge Management System (RCKMS).
  • There are currently more than 100 conditions available for authoring.
  • Update your reporting criteria during outbreaks or when new versions are available.

Step 3: Use Electronic Case Reports

• Make data available to your public health agency epidemiologists.
• Process and use eCR data in your surveillance system(s).
  • Make a plan and update your surveillance system(s), if needed.
  • Receive technical assistance at ecr@cdc.gov.

Step 4: Communicate with HCOs

• Engage with the eCR team and local HCOs to implement eCR.
  • These can be any organization that is required to carry out reportable condition reporting, including large organizations, federally qualified health centers, or organizations that work with underserved populations.
  • Contact ecr@cdc.gov to request recruitment materials and get assistance with outreach.