MDH Infectious Disease Electronic Case Reporting (eCR)
Minnesota Electronic Disease Surveillance System

On this page:
About eCR
Conditions Not Reportable via eCR
Frequently Asked Questions
Additional Resources

About eCR

Electronic case reporting (eCR) is the automated generation and transmission of case reports from Electronic Health Records (EHRs) to public health authorities. It allows real-time exchange of critical clinical and demographic data and helps eliminate the need for manual provider reporting. eCR offers several advantages, including reduced administrative burden of reporting and improved timeliness, accuracy, and completeness of data.

eCR is advantageous to reporters as well as public health and helps to meet the State of Minnesota reportable disease rule and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Promoting Interoperability Program (PIP) and Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting requirements: Promoting Interoperability

Requirements for eCR Onboarding

• eCR is for the reporting requirements of healthcare practitioners.
• Healthcare facility must utilize an EHR system.
• EHR system must be able to enable eCR and adhere to HL7 eCR standards.
• Registering for eCR indicates the entire healthcare facility is seeking to onboard with eCR, and all leadership approvals have been granted.

Conditions Not Reportable by eCR

As of the latest release (10/2023) of Reportable Conditions Knowledge Management System (RCKMS) the following infectious disease conditions are NOT currently reportable via eCR:

• Invasive Candida spp. (Candidemia)
  • Invasive Candidiasis (IC) Information for Health Professionals: Sentinel Surveillance Case Definition and Reporting 
• Cronobacter sakazakii (formerly Enterobacter sakazakii)
  • Reporting Cronobacter (Enterobacter) sakazakii
• Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), and Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)
  • Reporting Enteric Escherichia Coli Infection
• Kingella spp.
  • Reporting Kingella spp.
• Neonatal sepsis
  • Reporting Neonatal Sepsis

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an Electronic Lab Report and an eCR and a Case Report?

Electronic case reporting (eCR) is the automated generation and transmission of case reports from Electronic Health Records (EHRs) to public health authorities. It allows real-time exchange of critical clinical and demographic data and helps eliminate the need for manual provider reporting.

For laboratories that generate reportable condition reports, Minnesota's electronic lab reporting (ELR) system provides a secure electronic means to automate reporting through an electronic network.

ELRs include test results and come from the lab performing the test. Case reports are a holistic view of a patient’s office visit and health record which may include visit notes, demographics, and chronic diagnoses. eCRs are an automated electronic version of a case report.

Both reports are accepted and, for certain conditions, required at MDH as they are complimentary to each other and provide details that may be pertinent to public health investigation.

What is reportable via eCR to MDH?

To determine if an infectious disease is reportable to MDH see Infectious Disease Reporting. Please note, not all reportable conditions in Minnesota are reportable through eCR.

Facilities interested in participating in eCR are encouraged to email health.interoperability@state.mn.us for non-infectious diseases (Environmental Health, Birth Defects, Cancer, etc.) and Health.ElectronicDiseaseReporting@state.mn.us for infectious diseases.

Do I qualify for an exemption? 

For more information regarding eligibility and exemption for MIPS and PIP visit Data Strategy and Interoperability. Email health.interoperability@state.mn.us with further questions.
 

Additional Resources

• CDC: Electronic case reporting (eCR)
  • CDC: What is eCR?
• CMS: Promoting Interoperability Programs
• eCR - Electronic Case Reporting
  • eCR: eCR Now FHIR App
• Reportable Conditions Knowledge Management System (RCKMS)
• HL7 eICR CDA R2 Implementation Guide & Standard
• National Archives: Federal Register: Medicare Program; CY 2022 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment Policies
• Reportable Disease Rule (Communicable Disease Reporting Rule)
• Presentation: Electronic Case Reporting (eCR) (PDF)
  Part of the MDH Interoperability 2022 Webinar Series.
• MDH Electronic Case Reporting (eCR)