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1. Whom do I notify?

All immediately reportable diseases should be reported to the Gloucester County Department of Health at 856-218-4102. To reach a public health official in the evening or weekend call the Gloucester County Communications center at 856-589-0911. If the patient does not live in Gloucester County the report should be called into their local health department or New Jersey Department of Health at 609-826-5964 during regular business hours, and 609-392-2020 on nights, weekends, and holidays. For diseases that must be reported within 24 hours of diagnosis, call the Gloucester County Department of Health or fax a report to: 856-218-4145.

2. What should I tell my patients who have reportable diseases?

For communicable disease control efforts to be maximally effective, health care providers should take time to advise their patients about the legal requirement of disease reporting, what the patient can expect to happen, and how the community may benefit. Patients who are surprised when they receive a phone call from the local health department about their illness may be less than fully cooperative with the health department and are often unhappy that their health care provider didn’t advise them that they might receive a call from someone at the health department. Instead of viewing this as a referral for health care follow-up, patients may view it as a breach of confidentiality because they weren’t provided the opportunity to understand what is happening and why.

3. What is a reportable communicable disease?

• A "reportable communicable disease" refers to any disease listed in New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C.) Title 8, Chapter 57. View the Quick Reference Guide (PDF).
• It is the responsibility of health care providers to notify the local health department where the patient resides. View a quick reference for Communicable Diseases reportable in Domestic Companion Animals (PDF) is available for veterinarians.

4. How and why were these diseases selected?

• These diseases were selected because swift actions must be taken to stop further spread of the diseases or information is needed to evaluate whether existing control measures are working.
• Certain diseases must be reported immediately by phone, even if the diagnosis is based only on clinical suspicion. There is no time to wait for laboratory confirmation. Preventing the spread of these diseases is important, and the good judgment of the health care provider is enough to initiate a public health response.
• Other diseases must be reported within 24 hours of diagnosis. Supporting laboratory work is desirable, but for some diseases, a report based solely upon clinical judgment is acceptable.
• All outbreaks (suspect or confirmed) must be reported immediately by phone at 856-218-4102 during normal business hours. After hours call 856-589-0911.

5. Why is it important for health care providers to report diseases in a timely manner?

The earlier illnesses are reported, the faster public health authorities can act. Timely investigations are needed to immediately enact prevention and control measures. Such measures may include embargoes of food products, prophylaxis of patient contacts, and closure of public swimming places.

6. What information must be in the report?

In addition to the name of the disease and the name of the patient, regulations require reporting of the patient’s:

• Address and telephone number
• Age or birth date
• Date of illness onset
• Ethnicity
• In the case of sexually transmitted diseases, any treatment provided
• Race
• Results of laboratory tests that support the diagnosis
• Sex

View the Communicable Disease Reporting Forms (CDS-1).

7. Does HIPAA allow disease reporting?

The HIPAA Privacy Rule permits covered entities (i.e., health care providers, laboratories, and hospitals) to disclose protected health information, without authorization, to public health authorities who are legally authorized to receive such reports for the purpose of preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability. Examples of public health authorities include the state and local health departments in New Jersey and the Centers for Disease Control.

8. What do health departments do with this information?

Reports are used to trigger the prompt implementation of disease control and prevention measures. When reports are compiled and analyzed, they provide public health authorities with important information about a disease, including trends, risk factors, and whether existing disease prevention activities are working.

9. Why do I have to report when the laboratory has already reported the case?

The health care provider will be the first person to make the diagnosis or be the first health care professional to suspect that the illness is occurring. They often possess clinical information that the laboratory doesn’t have -information that often is critical for public health authorities to perform their duties in a timely and efficient fashion.

10. What is expected from a health care provider during a disease investigation?

Health care providers will be asked to provide clinical or diagnostic information regarding a patient. They also may be asked to collect additional clinical specimens to confirm the diagnosis of cases and to participate in prevention activities, including administering vaccines and prophylactic antibiotics.