How does eCR work?
Implementing eCR requires action from industry partners in health information technology, public health agencies, and healthcare organizations.
- EHR vendors need to make products available that are eCR-enabled or can be integrated with a Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR®) application—the eCR Now FHIR® App.
- Public health agencies need to author reporting criteria in the Reportable Condition Knowledge Management System (RCKMS).
- Public health agencies must connect to the APHL Informatics Messaging Services platform (AIMS) to receive reports.
- Healthcare organizations need to enable the eCR functionality in their EHR and connect to AIMS to send reports.
An example of the eCR process
Patient is diagnosed with a reportable condition, such as COVID-19
Healthcare provider enters patient’s information into the electronic health record (EHR)
Data in the EHR automatically trigger a case report that is validated and sent to the appropriate public health agencies if it meets reportability criteria
The public health agency receives the case report in real time and a response about reportability is sent to the provider
The public health agency reaches out to patient for contact tracing, services, or other public health action
Download a PDF of How Does Electronic Case Reporting (eCR) Work?
The difference between eCR and traditional case reporting
Learn the difference between eCR and traditional case reporting. See how eCR is a faster process for sending and receiving more complete case report data.