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Tuesday, August 26, 2008: 3:50 PM
Atlanta BCD
Background:
Electronic laboratory reporting (ELR) utilizing HL7 and LOINC and SNOMED coding schemas was first implemented in MA in 2006. Currently 20 hospital laboratories and 1 commercial lab are utilizing this secure infrastructure to report notifiable conditions to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH). Although this project is expected to result in faster and more accurate disease reporting there have been obstacles to participation that have resulted in regulations to mandate ELR reporting.
Methods:
In 2006, MDPH began development on an infrastructure to allow laboratories to transmit data on all reportable conditions utilizing a web based user interface. These mappings are used to translate native codes into their LOINC and SNOMED equivalents before data are transmitted to MAVEN. Institutions may securely transmit messages using the HL7 2.3.1 ORU RO1 or a MDPH developed message format that is transformed into HL7 2.3.1. MPDH also provides technical support throughout the certification process. Currently, out of a total of approximately 80 entities, 20 hospital and commercial laboratories are fully certified to transmit laboratory data via ELR and have discontinued paper and fax reporting or legacy systems. An additional 30 laboratories have completed training and are in various stages of the certification process. However, we heard repeatedly that one significant barrier to participation was the lack of a legal requirement to participate in ELR. MDPH determined mandating through regulation would facilitate institutional participation in ELR. Promulgation of the new legal requirement is expected by July 2008.
Conclusions:
Although there has been a great deal of interest for this project at the hospital and commercial level, the lack of a legal mandate to require electronic reporting has resulted in delayed participation. It is anticipated that the new regulations requiring participation will increase the number of participants reporting notifiable conditions to MDPH via ELR.
Electronic laboratory reporting (ELR) utilizing HL7 and LOINC and SNOMED coding schemas was first implemented in MA in 2006. Currently 20 hospital laboratories and 1 commercial lab are utilizing this secure infrastructure to report notifiable conditions to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH). Although this project is expected to result in faster and more accurate disease reporting there have been obstacles to participation that have resulted in regulations to mandate ELR reporting.
Methods:
In 2006, MDPH began development on an infrastructure to allow laboratories to transmit data on all reportable conditions utilizing a web based user interface. These mappings are used to translate native codes into their LOINC and SNOMED equivalents before data are transmitted to MAVEN. Institutions may securely transmit messages using the HL7 2.3.1 ORU RO1 or a MDPH developed message format that is transformed into HL7 2.3.1. MPDH also provides technical support throughout the certification process. Currently, out of a total of approximately 80 entities, 20 hospital and commercial laboratories are fully certified to transmit laboratory data via ELR and have discontinued paper and fax reporting or legacy systems. An additional 30 laboratories have completed training and are in various stages of the certification process. However, we heard repeatedly that one significant barrier to participation was the lack of a legal requirement to participate in ELR. MDPH determined mandating through regulation would facilitate institutional participation in ELR. Promulgation of the new legal requirement is expected by July 2008.
Conclusions:
Although there has been a great deal of interest for this project at the hospital and commercial level, the lack of a legal mandate to require electronic reporting has resulted in delayed participation. It is anticipated that the new regulations requiring participation will increase the number of participants reporting notifiable conditions to MDPH via ELR.