Promoting Interoperability Program

Electronic Laboratory Reporting

Electronic Laboratory Reporting (ELR) allows Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals to securely send laboratory data in a standard electronic format to report test results for diseases identified in the State of New Hampshire Reportable Disease List and Disease Reporting Guidelines to New Hampshire’s disease surveillance systems. ELR allows for more rapid reporting to DPHS and reduces the hospital’s reporting burden. The NH Local Implementation Guide for ELR Using HL7 2.5.1 provides guidance for reporting laboratory results electronically to DPHS. ELR provides an efficient and standardized manner of transferring individual laboratory results to DPHS.

Reportable Diseases and Conditions

Important Note: ELR does not replace the statutory requirement for healthcare providers to notify the DPHS Bureau of Infectious Disease Control of diseases and conditions that must be reported within 24 or 72 hours of suspicion or diagnosis as mandated in New Hampshire Statute RSA 141-C and corresponding administrative rule He-P 301.

Blood Lead Level Reporting

For Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals that perform blood level testing, ELR also allows for the reporting of laboratory data in a standard electronic format as required by RSA 130-A, the Lead Paint Poisoning Prevention and Control statute, and Administrative Rule He-P 1600, the Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Rules. The NH Local Implementation Guide for ELR Using HL7 2.5.1 provides guidance for reporting laboratory results electronically to DPHS. For Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals that perform blood level testing in-house, the HL7 NH Local Implementation Guide must be used. For laboratories that perform blood lead testing, but that do not have the capability to send reports in HL7 format, alternate guidance is provided in the 2020 NH Flat File Specification Guide .

Syndromic Surveillance Data

Syndromic surveillance reporting and analysis of near real-time, de-identified encounter data enables early event detection of infectious disease and injury to control the spread of disease and reduce the risk of injury. Hospitals can meet meaningful use requirements for syndromic surveillance by submitting data to the DPHS syndromic surveillance system*. The New Hampshire Local Implementation Guide for Syndromic Surveillance Reporting provides specifications for providers to use as guidance for reporting syndromic surveillance electronically to DPHS. Sending this data to DPHS will allow New Hampshire to contribute to the National Syndromic Surveillance Program for national and regional situational awareness.

*NOTE: DPHS is working to declare readiness for the calendar year 2025 promoting interoperability program for this measure. This measure has not been available for promoting interoperability/meaningful use for several years.

Immunization Data

One of the methods used to demonstrate meaningful use is the electronic exchange of immunization data from CEHRT to an immunization registry. New Hampshire has recently implemented an Immunization Registry that can accept data from CEHRT. Additional information on the electronic exchange of immunization data is available on the NH Immunization Information System website.

Electronic Case Reporting

Another method used to demonstrate meaningful use is Electronic Case Reporting (eCR) | CDC and Public Health Data Interoperability | CDC. Please note:

1. The recipient’s jurisdiction uses the HL7 electronic initial case report (eICR) standards (R1.1 and R3.1) for electronic case reporting (eCR) and to support the new CMS Promoting Interoperability regulations for eCR, 
2. These standards will be used to eventually eliminate manual reporting requirements, and 
3. The recipient’s jurisdiction requires the use of APHL AIMS and the Reportable Condition Knowledge Management System (RCKMS) to ensure appropriate reporting.
    

Cancer Registry Data

Another method used to demonstrate meaningful use is the electronic exchange of cancer registry data from CEHRT to a cancer registry. Eligible Clinicians can meet meaningful use requirements for cancer case reporting by submitting data to NH’s cancer registry. For more information on the Registry, please visit the Cancer Registry web page or refer to the NH Administrative Rule HeP 304. For information on specifications for providers to use as guidance for reporting cancer cases, please visit the Health Level Seven (HL7) website.

Eligible Clinicians that have certified technology in place for the cancer registry reporting measure, should work directly with the New Hampshire State Cancer Registry.