Barriers to Disease Reporting in Johnson County, Kansas

Abstract

Health care providers in Kansas are mandated to report any suspect, probable and confirmed cases of reportable diseases within the required time frame to the local or state health department (KAR 28-1-2). This can be done by faxing a reportable disease form or by making a phone call to either agency. The state health department will notify the local health department if they receive a report. Once notified, disease investigation specialists enter the report into an online disease surveillance system called EpiTrax. The disease investigation specialists then collect additional information from the health care providers and patients, as necessary, so to inform decisions about disease control efforts. This information is collected from medical charts and laboratory tests, as well as interviews with clinicians and patients. After the information has been collected and disease control measures implemented, the local health department closes the case and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) can finalize the work and submit it to CDC.