The Oregon ELR project is a long-term effort to convert major labs, county health departments, and the state health department to electronic data interchange. In this system, the state health department functions as an electronic hub to accept, route, and process electronic HL7 messages containing lab and clinical data.

General Introduction to ELR

Historically, communicable disease reporting to state and county health departments has been largely paper-based, relying heavily upon procedures such as FAX, telephone and mail. However, today's sophisticated laboratory information systems bring an opportunity to move toward electronic laboratory reporting. In this system, the state health department serves a new role, functioning as an electronic hub to accept, route, and process HL7 messages containing lab and clinical data.

The essential roles of all partners remain unchanged. This is purely a routing process change. The data transfer to the county level will be virtually immediate, and the county health department will continue to perform its current investigative and other responses.

Benefits

This new system offers long-term benefits to both laboratories and county or local health departments.

• Automation of reporting reduces lab person hours and duplicate data entry.
• Single data depository removes need for multiple county faxes and phone calls.
• Faster, more timely reporting.
• Reduces human errors.
• Improves public health efficacy and reduces duplicate data entry for public health.

Current ELR partners may sign in here. If you would like more information on the project, or if you are a current participant requiring logon information, please use our online form to send a message to the ELR project.