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CSTE National ELR Workgroup

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). If you are not already on the ELR distribution list and would like to receive call communications, please enroll using this subscription form (copy and paste in browser): https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/5a91a4579952496682084796b82112e6
Becky Lampkins, Manager, Surveillance/Informatics Program at CSTEMegan Toe, CSTEScott Troppy, Surveillance Epidemiologist at MA DPHMeredith Lichtenstein, CSTEAmy Drake, NMJohn RobertsNancy Barrett, Epi 4/PH Informatics SpecialistErin Holt, TDHRita Altamore, EpidemiologistDavid DiCesareJason HallWalter Kemper, ELR Coordinator, NC DHHS Div of Public HealthJulie LuepkeCarmen Pugh, Labcorp Manager State Reporting at LabCorpTom Safranek +399 others
Posted by Michelle Barber ·

Unsolicited DOD ELRs via email?

Hey all -- Twice in the last week I've received emails from what looks like DOD with instructions to download a CSV. I've not had any communication or outreach, just these unsolicited messages - which at any other time I would have just deleted because they seem sketchy. Is this how others are receiving them, and is there a primary point of contact to verify? Our security folks have instructed me to delete them immediately - not to click on any links or respond to the sender (there is a .mil email address provided in the body of the email). Any one else have this experience?

Comments & Events

Mark Dittman Mark Dittman
Also receiving these almost daily in PA and same, deleting and blocking.
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Neetha Mony Neetha Mony
I received one from someone who had emailed us in Sept., but no one has responded when I've asked follow-up questions. There was only patient result and several fields said "BLANK", so now I'm waiting to hear back from the sender.
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Michelle Barber Michelle Barber
Kristy - they are DOD safe emails -- are you getting these? Are you getting and opening them?
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John Satre, Informatician at Iowa Department of Public Health John Satre, Informatician
I've been receiving these also and deleting.

John Satre

Informatician

Public Health Informatics |Information Management | Division of Administration & Professional Licensure| Iowa Department of Public health

321 E. 12th Street | Des Moines, IA 50319 | Office/Mobile: 515.229.0417 | Fax: 515.281.5698 or 515.281.3789 | john.satre@idph.iowa.gov (mailto:john.satre@idph.iowa.gov) | Web sites: http://idph.iowa.gov/cade/idss



Protecting and Improving the Health of Iowans
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Megan Tompkins Megan Tompkins
I'm getting daily files accessible through an emailed link via DoD SAFE from 6 bases in our state, and I believe that to be the military's intended process nationwide (address is https://safe.apps.mil...). I did have explicit talks about file exchange with the bases first, so I knew to expect them. But I think Walter Reed was using the national ELR coordinators contact list and just sending out the files, so I bet that's what these are. I can outreach my contact there to see if this is true.

Also- the formatting is terrible, and I'm told it's what was provided centrally and they can't modify it. Can we please get DoD on the national flat file???
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Kristy Lunquest, Maryland Department of Health Kristy Lunquest
Yes, these are result files so I am not sure I would delete them but they should have at least sent an initial email. The format is terrible for the most part. I have gotten a couple to fit the MDH format but the rest just involves a bunch of manipulation.
changingMD.png 10.7 KB • Download
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Michelle Barber Michelle Barber
Kristy - you say you've been working with these facilities - do you have a list or a primary point of contact so we can start those conversations and get them onboarded (if it makes sense for us to do so!)?
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Nancy Barrett, Epi 4/PH Informatics Specialist Nancy Barrett, Epi 4/PH Informatics Specialist
Hi -- is there a better way/contact to get these lists so we know across all states? yes their files are terrible and do not always have CT resident info.
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Merylyn Huitz Merylyn Huitz
In Virginia, Fort Belvoir was able to generate the HL7 using the national flat file tool. We are working with them to improve the HL7 message but their current process is to send these generated HL7 messages through DoD SAFE. We did receive a file from another military facility which is has been difficult to map.
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Riki Merrick, Terminologist at APHL Riki Merrick, Terminologist at APHL
For the DoD facilities in the DC area they are ALL pulling from the same system so all of those should be able to use the same HL7 Generator file.

FYI I posted a NEW HL7 generator package to the APHL smartsheet and also to CSTE to post to their site.
This should fix a few of the non-ELR R1 compliance issues people have reported (getting stricter!)
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=b585e5a5e0c2430398db60b0f0d5c72e
ROW 20 - top file is the latest version!

Riki
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Kristy Lunquest, Maryland Department of Health Kristy Lunquest
I did give feedback again to one of the DC area facilities (Walter Reed) this morning and they said their lab generates the CSV file. Defense Health Agency (DHA) facilities are to transition to "CSTE National Flat File Format HL7" and asked someone else on the chain when that would happen. No response yet, but there is hope!
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Jason Hall Jason Hall
Hi all. We have a second call with DoD Thursday to discuss their reporting. We talked with them about it a few weeks ago, but a very new person was just brought on and was still getting up to speed. If you all have specific issues or “demands” you’d like us to bring up, we will. Obviously communication is an issue at this point.

Let me know.

Jason
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Mark Dittman Mark Dittman
From PA: not going to accept their format. National or PA template for CSV or standardized HL7. They have to contact us directly not just throw files at us because they found someone’s email address. We also will not create accounts to download files from them.
Michelle Barber Ditto, Mark.
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Nancy Barrett, Epi 4/PH Informatics Specialist Nancy Barrett, Epi 4/PH Informatics Specialist
From CT: we have not put in processing directly from the national CSV, but do have from our state template or HL7. We get occasional DoD emails that do not have CT resident results. I'd prefer that all DoD come in a known format file -- via interpartner would be best.  With providers, schools and other lab reporters, we have enough to deal with without this :-)
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Mike Firkser Mike Firkser
If they want to send us electronic files, they can go through normal channels, which includes our Onboarding Process.

Clicking on those links in an unsolicited/unexpected email, and then downloading the files into a production environment, violates so many security protocols.  
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Michelle Barber Michelle Barber
I agree with Mike -- I just sent a general query to DOD and said (basically) just that. If they want to send us data they need to talk with our ELR Coordinator and get in the queue. Appreciate everyone's quick replies today.
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