Public Health Reporting using Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT)

The Communicable and Environmental Disease and Emergency Preparedness Section (CEDEP) within the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) has revised its declaration of readiness for Electronic Case Reporting regarding the submission of electronic initial case reports (eICR). Electronic Case Reporting (eCR) is the automated generation and transmission of case reports from an electronic health record (EHR) to the public health agency’s disease surveillance system for review and action. eCR will allow healthcare providers the opportunity to report suspected cases to TDH for further investigation using an electronic health record (EHR) system rather than manually reporting on paper and waiting on lab test results to confirm a suspected case.

Effective January 1st, 2022, TDH will accept registrations from eligible clinicians (ECs), eligible hospitals (EHs) and eligible professionals (EPs) that meet the following requirements:

HL7 CDA® R2 Implementation Guide: Public Health Case Report, Release 2 - US Realm - the Electronic Initial Case Report (eICR)

eCR will capture critical clinical and demographic patient data from Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT) not otherwise included in laboratory reports. Utilizing eCR will reduce the burdensome paper-based and labor-intensive administrative process reporters face in reporting and responding to public health’s requests for additional information.

EHR Incentive Programs support the adoption and meaningful use of certified EHR technology to allow providers to exchange public health information electronically. TDH is currently accepting electronic reportable laboratory results from eligible hospitals (EHs) and eligible critical access hospitals (CAH) only.

Electronic Reportable Laboratory Result Reporting Measure

In order to satisfy TDH’s requirements for Public Health Reporting using electronic health record technology, all potential trading partners must first register their intent to exchange data: Trading Partner Registration (TPR).

After completing TPR registration, you will receive an automated email confirming your registration. Your registration will then be reviewed and approved or denied by Tennessee Department of Health staff. You will then receive a follow up email to inform you of the approval status of your registration. If approved, please note you will not begin onboarding immediately. Trading partners are onboarded by priority and as resources are available. ELR onboarding staff will reach out when ready to begin the onboarding process.

The MU EHR Incentive Program requires EHs and CAHs to be in active engagement with public health to send electronic reportable laboratory results from CEHRT, except where prohibited, and in accordance with applicable law and practice.

Note: The time until live data exchange varies and depends upon the quality and speed of data exchange testing.

Send inquiries to CEDS.Informatics@tn.gov.

EHR Incentive Programs support the adoption and meaningful use of certified EHR technology to allow providers to exchange public health information electronically. TDH is currently accepting syndromic surveillance data from Eligible Hospitals (EHs) with an emergency department only. 

Effective January 1st, 2022, TDH will accept registrations from eligible clinicians (ECs) and eligible professionals (EPs) in urgent care settings. We are actively seeking urgent care facilities for our pilot site program. 

Syndromic Surveillance Measure

In order to satisfy TDH’s requirements for Public Health Reporting using electronic health record technology, all potential trading partners must first register their intent to exchange data: Trading Partner Registration (TPR)

The MU EHR Incentive Program requires EHs to be in active engagement with public health to submit syndromic surveillance data from CEHRT, except where prohibited, and in accordance with applicable law and practice.

Note: The time until live data exchange varies and depends upon the quality and speed of data exchange testing. At this time, TDH is not accepting syndromic surveillance data from any eligible professionals.

Send inquiries to CEDS.Informatics@tn.gov.

EHR Incentive Programs support the adoption and meaningful use of certified EHR technology to allow providers to exchange public health information electronically. TDH is currently accepting immunization data from EPs, EHs, and CAHs.

Immunization Registry Reporting Measure

In order to satisfy TDH’s requirements for Public Health Reporting using electronic health record technology, all potential trading partners must first register their intent to exchange data: Trading Partner Registration (TPR)

The MU EHR Incentive Program and the MIPS Advancing Care Information program require EPs, ECs, EHs, and CAHs to be in active engagement with public health to submit immunization data from CEHRT except where prohibited and in accordance with applicable law and practice.

Note: The time until live data exchange varies and depends upon the quality and speed of data exchange testing.

Send inquiries to TennIIS.MU@tn.gov. Your points of contact will be Karen L. Curtis.

Cancer Case reporting using a CEHRT does not replace state mandated hospital and laboratory reporting. 

Effective July 1^st, 2018, TCR will accept only new registrations from eligible clinicians for electronic data submissions with the following physician specialties:

1. Dermatology                            
2. Urology
3. Gastroenterology
4. Hematology
5. Medical Oncology
6. Radiation Oncology
7. Surgical Oncology
8. Gynecologic Oncology

See also TCR Declaration Update for more information.

Public Health Registry Reporting Measure

In order to satisfy TDH’s requirements for Public Health Reporting using electronic health record technology, all potential trading partners must first register their intent to exchange data: Trading Partner Registration (TPR)

The MU EHR Incentive Program requires EPs to be in active engagement with public health to submit data to a specialized registry from CEHRT except where prohibited and in accordance with applicable law and practice.

Note: The time until live data exchange varies and depends upon the quality and speed of data exchange testing.

Send inquiries to TNCancer.Registry@tn.gov.

The participating entity must first register to submit data with the PHA or, where applicable, the CDR to which the information is being submitted. Registration must be completed within 60 days after the start of the performance period, while awaiting an invitation from the PHA or CDR to begin testing and validation. The participating entity that has registered in previous years do not need to submit an additional registration for subsequent performance periods. Upon completion of the initial registration, the participating entity must begin the process of testing and validation of the electronic submission of data. The participating entity must respond to requests from the PHA or, where applicable, the CDR within 30 days; failure to respond twice within a performance period would result in the participating entity not meeting the measure.

The participating entity has completed testing and validation of the electronic submission and is electronically submitting production data to the PHA or CDR.

Production Data – Refers to data generated through clinical processes involving patient care, and it is used to distinguish between data and “test data” which may be submitted for the purposes of enrolling in and testing electronic data transfers.

*Using the formally defined transport standard for transmitting immunization data via HL7 messaging - CDC Web Service Definition Language (WSDL)

Note: trading partners seeking a bi-directional interface with TennIIS should contact the TennIIS Team at TennIIS.MU@tn.gov

** Standards-based SOAP/REST web services

Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) Informatics Messaging Services (AIMS) platform and the Reportable Condition Knowledge Management System (RCKMS)