Electronic Case Reporting

 eCR Automatically Routes Reports from Providers to Public Health Agencies.

1. The electronic health record system (EHR) is eCR-enabled or integrated with the eCR Now FHIR APP and has imported trigger codes.
2. An eCR is triggered in the EHR and the report is sent to the AIMS platform, which is managed by the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL).
3. The public health agency (PHA) authors reporting criteria in the Reportable Conditions Knowledge Management System (RCKMS). Each case report is assessed against reporting criteria authored by the PHA and if it is a match, AIMS sends the case report information in the form of an initial electronic case report (eICR) to the PHA. A Reportability Response (RR) is also sent to both the EHR and the PHA.
4. The eICR and RR files are sent to a surveillance system, where the case will be reviewed by the PHA.

Utilizing eCR will benefit both healthcare facilities and public health staff. Automating case reporting will reduce workload burden from manual reporting, as well as improve reporting timeliness, completeness, and accuracy.

For more information, please visit: Why is eCR Important | CDC

1. Check that your facility is ready for eCR. Review the Readiness and Implementation Checklist.

2. Review the list of EHR/Health IT products that are ready for onboarding, and make sure the product you use is on the list. Please see the ready to onboard list under For healthcare organizations. There is a list of additional pre-requisites to verify as well.

   Please note, the Vermont Department of Health uses Health Level 7 (HL7) Electronic Initial Case Report (eICR) and Reportability Response (RR) standards for electronic case reporting (eCR). Please ensure that your Electronic Health Record (EHR) or Health IT product can support at least one of the HL7 implementation guides shown below:

   HL7 Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) Implementation Guides

   1. eICR R3.1.1 (HL7 CDA* R2 Implementation Guide: Public Health Case Report – the Electronic Initial Case Report (eICR) Release2, STU Release 3.1.1 – US Realm)

   HL7 Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) Implementation Guide

   1. FHIR eCR R2.1.2 (HL7 FHIR* Implementation Guide: Electronic Case Reporting (eCR), Release 2.1.2 – US Realm)
3. To register your intent to send eCR, please reach out to the Health Department's eCR team by email at [email protected]. Tell us that you are interested in sending eCR, which health network you are affiliated with, and which EHR or EMR product you use.
4. Once you have verified prerequisites and communicated your intent with the Health Department, please engage with the CDC’s eCR team and APHL (Association of Public Health Laboratories). They will work with your team to onboard for eCR. More information on the process can be found here: Readiness and Implementation Checklist (aimsplatform.org)

Please visit the eRSD (Electronic Reporting and Surveillance Distribution) site and register to access triggering and reporting guidance for eCR. By registering, you will receive important notices and content updates that should be applied to your system. Implementing eRSD updates will ensure your facility is using the most up to date triggering codes and guidance.

• All existing senders should update to eICR R31.1. as soon as possible. This version will provide eCR compliance, interoperability, and accurate reporting logic.
• eRSD versions 1 and 2 was sunset on January 31, 2026, and are no longer supported.

Additional information

• Senders must conduct full triggering of eICRs (i.e., triggering for all conditions) by implementing Electronic Reporting and Surveillance Distribution (eRSD) version 3 or higher.
• Any senders utilizing the eCR Now FHIR App must update to the latest version at least annually. Release information can be found here.

For more information on EHR triggering for eCR, please visit the AIMS site for EHR implementers.