“The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced standardized COVID-19 data reporting guidelines to ensure public health officials have access to comprehensive and accurate patient data in an effort to fight the pandemic.”
“The additional guidance includes information about gender, race, and zip code, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted an increase in minority cases since March. As states begin to open, detailed demographic data is required to gauge hot spots and enhance decision making…”
“These requirements aim to give researchers better surveillance and information to monitor COVID-19, such as enhanced monitoring, increased epidemiologic case investigations, more accurate contact tracing, increased use of testing resources, and assisting supply chain issues…”
“Furthermore, HHS said when possible, all patient data should be collected using ONC certified health IT and health information exchanges (HIEs). The data should also be structured with the US Core Data for Interoperability and all data exchange should utilize HL7 electronic laboratory reporting (ELR) implementation guides, when available, explained HHS…”
“More accurate and detailed patient data will help healthcare providers gain valuable patient information, which will result in more informed decision-making and enhance patient care.”
“’With widespread use of electronic health records (EHR), incorporating information related to laboratory testing can ensure completeness for future clinical research on treatments, outcomes, quality and performance of diagnostic tests, and our clinical understanding of COVID-19,’ concluded HHS…” Read the full article here.
Source: HHS Unveils Detailed COVID-19 Guidance to Enhance Data Reporting – By Christopher Jason, June 8, 2020. EHR Intelligence.
