Welcome to the CSTE National ELR Workgroup Basecamp! We hope you will utilize the space to share resources with colleagues, start discussion threads, and identify topics for the workgroup to tackle on future calls. All workgroup members will have the opportunity to join. Please note that you may edit your notification preferences to suit your needs (and your email inbox).
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As many of you are aware, APHL has been working closely with CSTE and CDC to support a number of COVID-19 data exchange efforts. The intent of this communication is to outline how APHL will manage the COVID-19 Centralized ELR initiative.
APHL is working with several individual testing facilities, POC testing sites and third party data aggregators to route COVID-19 ELR data through the APHL Informatics Messaging Services Platform (AIMS). Message development and testing is well underway with three data senders- Abbott, eTrueNorth, and DxTerity. To assist local ELR efforts, APHL will maintain a current listing of all data senders planning to send ELR through AIMS.
APHL will route and deliver COVID-19 ELR to jurisdictions currently receiving Quest ELR data through AIMS.
AIMS will use the existing infrastructure and services put in place to support the Quest ELR project.
Jurisdictions will receive COVID-19 ELR in the HL7 V2.5.1 ELR R1 format.
HOWEVER,we recognize that many jurisdictions are in the process of updating their systems to accommodate these revised data elements. The information below will highlight our approach to move this centralized ELR approach forward while you continue to implement these changes.
AIMS will send COVID ELR messages populated with the currently acceptable ELR data elements through AIMS until jurisdictions confirm that a fully loaded COVID ELR message can pass validation without errors. Note:This does not mean that the system has to parse/store/use these data elements, just that your system will not reject the message wholesale. Tools to support this work: Test Messages: APHL will provide jurisdictions an ELR test message fully loaded with the new HHS ELR data elements to assist them in finding roadblocks/issues with the new ELR content. We will ask PHAs to alert us if they find anything we have not already anticipated (this communication will come under separate cover to your CELR primary project points of contact). Coordination of efforts with the CELR team: Since these data will eventually be included in the CELR data lake feed, the centralized ELR team will coordinate with the CELR team to streamline communications and support for jurisdictions. APHL will reuse its CELR Open-Jurisdiction call series scheduled every Thursday at 4pm ET to support both efforts.
Once all 55 jurisdictions confirm that the test messages passed ELR processing, APHL will engage one or two PHAs to test the updated ELR message feed per data sender.
When this testing is satisfactorily completed, APHL will turn on the “new” Centralized ELR production feed for all 55 jurisdictions on a rolling basis/per data sender.
2. Review the embedded document “A Guide for InterPartner Data Exchange” or download here. Specific instructions are provided for S3, SFTP, and PHINMS file receiving.
3. Review the current list of organizations planning to send data through AIMS.
APHL will continuously update information and guidance on the dashboard and will post any major changes to content on this CSTE ELR Basecamp site.
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need clarification or further information. All the best, Michelle Michelle Meigs, MBA Deputy Director, Informatics P +1 240.485.2771 | M +1 508.494.5958 michelle.meigs@aphl.org
Comments & Events
Walter Kemper,ELR Coordinator, NC DHHS Div of Public Health
For NC will the COVID-19 Centralized ELR initiative support batching the ELR messages the same way as being currently done for ELR from Quest to NC? i.e. a separate HL7 batch file for each laboratory (i.e. all MSH-4 values the same within the file), and a yyyymmdd in a fixed position within FHS-9 and BHS-9?
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Michelle Meigs,Deputy Director, APHL Informatics Program
Hi Walter, I will follow up offline- i know NC has some very specific requirements and while we want to maintain as similar a process as possible- i am not sure i can answer off the cuff. I will pull the team together and discuss. Expect a help desk ticket to come through so we can track progress. Thanks!
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Riki Merrick,Terminologist at APHL
We will be giving a demo of the flatfile HL7 converter tool today at 4 PM ET - call coordinates are:
We also sent the attached communications go out to our CELR contacts yesterday to test ELR message processing, when they contain the additional HHS elements. I am attaching one example messages folks can play with, if they didn't get the direct email from me last night.
One hospital in another state indicated their state is no longer forwarding out of state reports and are requiring the hospitals to report to the other state. This hospital system does not have a physical location in NJ though.
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Nancy Barrett,Epi 4/PH Informatics Specialist
Hi we work with a well-established regional lab that does more than just COVID_19 testing. They are going nuts with the varying requirements for reporting from different states. These range from adding that a person is student or staff at a school in existing messages to states requiring an upload to a portal because they aren't electronic with them.
What can we (the ELR community) offer this lab so they can make their reporting easier?
I will follow up offline- i know NC has some very specific requirements and while we want to maintain as similar a process as possible- i am not sure i can answer off the cuff. I will pull the team together and discuss. Expect a help desk ticket to come through so we can track progress. Thanks!
Conference Line Details:
Topic: COVID-19 ELR Open Call
Thursdays: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EST
Join Zoom Meeting: https://aphl.zoom.us/j/96424421500
Meeting ID: 964 2442 1500
Dial: 646-876-9923
We also sent the attached communications go out to our CELR contacts yesterday to test ELR message processing, when they contain the additional HHS elements. I am attaching one example messages folks can play with, if they didn't get the direct email from me last night.
Riki
One hospital in another state indicated their state is no longer forwarding out of state reports and are requiring the hospitals to report to the other state. This hospital system does not have a physical location in NJ though.
What can we (the ELR community) offer this lab so they can make their reporting easier?
Riki