Physicians Invited to Sign up For CovidReadi Dear Health Care Provider: San Bernardino County Medical Society (SBCMS) is pleased to be working with the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health to ensure that all of your practitioners who wish can receive a COVID-19 vaccination. YOU WILL NEED TO REGISTER YOURSELF INTO THE COVIDReadi program, through the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) at https://ca.covidreadi.com/. COVIDReadi, our COVID-19 vaccination provider registration system, is now open for you to register to participate in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program. All health care providers who will be receiving and administering COVID-19 vaccines must be enrolled in the program. Due to limited vaccine availability expected during the initial phases of the vaccination program, prioritized enrollment activities for vaccination providers are currently focused on settings where COVID-19 vaccines will be administered in Phase 1a. Providers that are current immunizers and are likely to immunize for Phase 1a will be invited by their Local Health Department, so please do not share this link – it will be unique for you. Before you begin your registration, first you need to make sure that you have a valid CAIR2 Org Code so that you can meet the requirement of reporting vaccine administration. If you are enrolled in CAIR, please have this information available when you begin the registration process. If you have not enrolled, please see the table below for your options and how to begin the enrollment process. CAIR2 COVID-19 Vaccine Reporting Options Description Where to Enroll Direct data entry Will take longer to get started - must submit a request for every staff member who will be entering doses into CAIR and each of these staff members is required to attend training before being given access to CAIR2. CAIR2 Standard Enrollment http://enroll.cairweb.org/ PrepMod app Slight learning curve, automated data export to CAIR2. No training required. CAIR2 Mass Vax app Spreadsheet view, easiest to learn, can get started as soon as you receive your CAIR2 Org Code (IIS ID), automated data export to CAIR2. No training required. Electronic from clinic EHR Best option if you have an EHR/EMR. It can be set-up to automatically send patient and immunization information to CAIR2 when you enter it into your EHR. No training required. CAIR2 Data Exchange Enrollment http://igs.cdph.ca.gov/cair Once you have completed your CAIR process, it will be time to start the registration process. We are including links for instructions and a step by step guide. Please read both carefully before you begin. There is a fair amount of information that you need to collect prior to completing the enrollment application. We understand that organizations are managed differently and this will impact how you register. Additionally, the information gathering process may require coordination with different people within your organization. The registration process is broken into three parts—prescreening section, Part A-Organization, and Part B-for each organization’s location. Please consider the following: If you have a consolidated management structure, with a Chief Medical Officer and Chief Executive Officer (or chief fiduciary/legal official) that oversee multiple locations, they must complete and sign the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider Requirements and Legal Agreement (Section A), and then the individual locations will complete the Provider Profile Information (Section B) for each vaccination location covered under your organization (Section A). Through this process, your Organization’s leadership does not have to sign enrollment agreements multiple times for all sites under your organization’s umbrella. If your organization is independently managed, then each site would need to be enrolled individually, as an Organization, with each location leadership (CMO and CEO) completing and agreeing with the Program’s participation agreement. California’s Registration Portal (COVIDReadi) The provider registration portal, COVIDReadi, can be found at this link: https://ca.covidreadi.com/. The system is set up so that each person involved with the registration process needs to create their own account; once the organization is established, invitation codes can be sent to all individuals that need to participate in the process. As you start entering information into COVIDReadi, please consider the following: If you do not receive an email from COVIDReadi to confirm your email address after setting up your account, please check your junk/spam folders. You may also have to check with your IT support in case the email is blocked due to a filter. Your information is saved as you move from page to page; this will allow different individuals to access the enrollment form and add specific pieces of information. You will need to complete at least one location in Section B for each Organization—an enrollment will not be reviewed until both an Organization and at least one Location section is submitted. In addition, if your practice would be able to serve as a venue for administering vaccinations to smaller practices or clinics, please let us know at aelsner@sbcms.org so we can share this information with the Department of Public Health and they can follow up with you. Please forward this to the appropriate people in your organization to begin the registration process. If you have any questions, please contact COVIDCallCenter@cdph.ca.gov. Thank you for participating! San Bernardino County Medical Society DOWNLOAD THE ABOVE ARTICLE IN PDF FORMAT December 22, 2020 General COVID Vaccination, CovidReadi, Department of Public Health, DPH 0 0 Comment Read More »
CDPH revises guidance on Parkinson's reporting requirements Effective July 1, 2018, physicians and licensed independent practitioners will be required to report cases of Parkinson’s disease to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Licensed independent practitioners holding the following credentials who diagnose or treat Parkinson’s disease patients are required to report: Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.), Physician’s Assistant (P.A.), and Nurse Practitioner (N.P.). All providers required to report must first register with CDPH through the designated gateway at https://hie.cdph.ca.gov/. In April, CDPH issued details about how health care providers can comply with the reporting mandate. Since the issuance of the initial guidance, the California Medical Association (CMA) and other stakeholders expressed concerns to CDPH about the scope, breadth and timing of this new reporting obligation. CDPH has since revised its California Parkinson’s Disease Registry Implementation Guide to address several of these concerns. Among the changes are limiting the number of reportable ICD-10 codes to only include patient encounters for diagnosis or treatment of Parkinson’s Disease or Parkinsonism occurring on or after July 1, 2018. CDPH has also specified that while any encounter type can trigger the requirement to report, such as outpatient visits, ancillary encounters are excluded (e.g., lab, imaging, cardio-pulmonary and therapies). The revised Implementation Guide provides a flow chart of reportable Parkinson’s Disease cases to assist providers in determining their reporting obligations. CMA and other stakeholders continue to work closely with CDPH to reduce the administrative burden these reporting requirements may pose on health care professionals. CDPH has also extended the reporting compliance date for cases encountered during the first quarter the law is in effect (July 1 to September 30, 2018) from 90 days to 180 days. Thus, providers who have trouble getting registered or interfacing with the CDPH reporting portal or who initially simply need more time will have 180 days from the date of diagnosis or treatment of a Parkinson's case to report it. However, as of October 2, 2018, all cases must be reported within 90 days. CDPH continues to work closely with physician offices, medical groups and large health systems to optimize integration of the reporting interface with electronic health record systems. Manual entry will remain an option for all providers. The revised Implementation Guide is available at www.cdph.ca.gov/parkinsons. The guide provides information for reporting Parkinson’s disease data, outlines who is required to report, the timeline for reporting, and the manual and electronic methods for transmitting data to the California Parkinson’s Disease Registry. The data collected will be used to measure the incidence and prevalence of Parkinson’s disease. California’s large and diverse population makes it ideal for expanding the understanding of this disease to improve the lives of Parkinson’s patients. For more information, see CDPH’s fact sheet, which provides more details related to the new law. July 11, 2018 General Department of Public Health, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
CDPH publishes new Zika resources for physicians The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has published new and revised Zika virus resources for physicians on its website. The evolving Zika virus outbreak and science have presented challenges for providers who are asked to educate, counsel, screen, monitor and manage patients with Zika virus exposure. “We hope these resources will aid health care providers in meeting the needs of California’s families,” the agency said. These materials can be accessed through the CDPH Zika webpage. The new resources include: 1) CDPH Zika Screening Algorithm; 2) CDPH Zika Virus Information for Healthcare Providers; 3) Zika Virus Exposure Patient Self-Assessment, English and Spanish; 4) Evaluation and Follow-Up Procedures for Suspected Congenital Zika Virus Infection – Fetus, Newborn and Infant; 5) Risk-based Testing for Local Zika Virus Transmission; and 6) Patient Educational Materials. In addition to these California-specific materials, CDPH is also highlighting a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) program called Zika Care Connect (ZCC), a new resource being developed by the agency in collaboration with March of Dimes. ZCC establishes a network (searchable online) of specialized health care providers who can care for patients and families affected by the Zika virus. “ZCC will help California families find specialty health care services, and health care providers can also use ZCC as a resource for coordinating care for patients affected by Zika who need access to other specialists." For more information about Zika Care Connect, contact Lindsay Rechtman at lrechtman@mcking.com or (404) 683-4394), or Chrissy Hillard at vns3@cdc.gov or (404) 498-3819. Total of 505 Zika infections identified in California According to CDPH, there have been a total of 505 Zika infections identified in California, with six new infections reported in the week of February 24, 2017. Not one of these infections was locally acquired. Cumulatively, there have been six infections due to sexual transmissions, with the number of infections in pregnant women totaling 88. There have been four infants born with birth defects caused by the Zika virus. March 3, 2017 General Public Health, Zika Virus, Department of Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
$1.1 billion in Zika funding approved by Congress Funding for public health efforts against the Zika virus was finally approved by Congress with the passage of a stopgap measure to avoid a federal government shutdown. The spending measure includes $1.1 billion to fight the virus, capping a fierce months-long debate over the money that dismayed public health experts. The White House first requested $1.9 billion in funds to fight Zika in the spring. But Republicans initially resisted the request, before finally putting forward their own $1.1 billion Zika funding bill in July. The Republicans' bill failed to pass this summer due to a rider that would have prevented funding of Planned Parenthood. With more than 3,358 Zika cases in the U.S. (mostly from people who acquired the virus abroad) and another 19,777 cases in U.S. territories, the money will go towards areas like vaccine research and mosquito control. “It has been clear over the past several months that the U.S. has needed additional resources to combat the Zika virus," said Andrew W. Gurman, M.D., president of the American Medical Association (AMA). The American Medical Association is pleased that Congress has taken action to provide the resources necessary to help contain the virus and limit any further impact on Americans,” Although most people infected with Zika have no symptoms, Zika infection during pregnancy can cause microcephaly and other severe defects in the developing fetus. The Aedes mosquitoes that carry the disease are not native to California, however they have been detected in 12 California counties in recent years. To date there has been no local mosquito-borne transmission of Zika virus in California. A team of experts across several disciplines at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is working closely with local public health departments, vector control agencies and the medical community to ensure that California is responding aggressively and appropriately to the emerging threat of Zika virus. As of September 23, CDPH has confirmed 302 travel-associated Zika virus infections in 29 California counties. A total of 36 infections have been confirmed in pregnant women. CDPH has also confirmed that two infants with Zika-related microcephaly have been born in California to women who had Zika virus infections during pregnancy after spending time in a country where the virus is endemic. For more information on the Zika virus in California, click here. October 13, 2016 General Public Health, U.S. Congress, Zika Virus, Department of Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
California health agencies looking for innovative health care ideas The California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS) and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) have launched the second annual Let’s Get Healthy California Innovation Challenge. This contest encourages individuals and organizations across the state to share ideas and projects they are working on to find creative, innovative ways to improve health in California. Let’s Get Healthy California invites community, health, and human services advocates, health care and human services providers, community and faith-based organizations, non-profits, civic data enthusiasts and visionary practitioners to participate and share their solutions and ideas for Innovation Challenge 2.0. This year’s challenge is focused on “social determinants of health,” defined as the conditions in which people are born and live. Some of these social determinants include housing, hunger, poverty, quality of education, lack of jobs or job training, public safety, discrimination, racism, exposure to toxic substances and exposure to crime and violence. Finalists will be selected and announced this fall and will be highlighted at the statewide Innovation Conference 2.0 in early 2017. Selected submissions will also be featured on the Let’s Get Healthy California website. To submit an innovation, or for more information, visit the Let’s Get Healthy California website or email LGHC@cdph.ca.gov. The deadline for submissions is October 12, 2016. September 28, 2016 General Health Disparities, Public Health, Department of Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
CDPH publishes FAQ on ordering and interpreting Zika lab tests The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Laboratory has published an FAQ designed to answer providers’ frequently asked questions about ordering and interpreting Zika laboratory tests and tests for other flaviviruses. Because the way Zika test results are applied to clinical care is rapidly changing, CDPH published this document to clarify the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent recommendations. Additionally, the FAQ addresses the current limitations of commercial laboratory testing for Zika in California. To read the FAQ, click here. If you have additional questions about Zika virus testing and interpretation, contact CDPH at JeocUser43@cdph.ca.gov. For more information on the Zika virus, see the CDPH website. July 14, 2016 General CDC, Department of Public Health, Zika Virus, Blood Testing 0 0 Comment Read More »
CDPH hosting provider call on Zika virus The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is convening a conference call for physicians and other health care providers on the Zika virus. The conference call will take place Wednesday, April 20, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The conference call will look at California's Zika preparedness activities; global, national and California Zika cases; laboratory update; guidance for the prevention of the sexual transmission of Zika; infection control issues; and monitoring mosquito vectors. There will also be a question and answer session, so physicians can find answers to their specific situations. No advance registration is necessary. To join the call, dial (800) 683-4564 and key in passcode 50286. April 19, 2016 General Infectious Diseases, Public Health, Zika Virus, Department of Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
CDPH to host provider call on Zika virus this Wednesday, Feb. 10 The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is convening a conference call for health care providers on Wednesday, February 10, from 9-10 a.m. The call will provide information and updates about the Zika virus, and give providers the opportunity to ask questions. Please plan to join the call in groups within your organization to maximize availability of conference call lines. To join the conference, call dial (866) 216-6835(866) 216-6835 FREE and key 839641 as the participant passcode. For questions about the call, please contact Cheryl Starling, R.N., nurse consultant and project manager in CDPH's Center for Infectious Diseases, at cheryl.starling@cdph.cal.gov or (916) 612-0130(916) 612-0130. Call Send SMS Call from mobile Add to Skype You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype February 9, 2016 General Public Health, Zika Virus, Department of Public Health, Infectious Diseases 0 0 Comment Read More »
Two flu deaths confirmed by CDPH The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) last week confirmed the season's first two flu-related deaths in California—one an infant less than six months old. The deaths serve as another somber reminder that influenza can cause serious illness or death. Influenza viruses circulate at their peak levels from December to April, according to CDPH, which is urging people to get vaccinated before the flu spreads widely. “As California’s public health officer, I am saddened when the flu turns into loss of life,” said State Public Health Officer Karen Smith, M.D. “It is especially troubling when a baby, too young to be vaccinated, passes away. To protect babies who cannot yet be vaccinated, we should get our flu shots. Preventing the spread of this often deadly disease is why getting vaccinated is so important.” Young children less than a year of age are at increased risk of severe influenza. While children cannot be vaccinated for the flu until they are six months old, there are several ways to protect them. CDPH also recommends that pregnant women be vaccinated during pregnancy to help protect both the mother and the newborn baby. Also, vaccinating anyone who is around a young child or other high-risk person helps reduce the risk of spreading influenza. Two of this season’s vaccine components, the influenza A (H3N2) and influenza B (Yamagata lineage) strains, have been updated to match the viruses Californians are likely to face during the 2015-16 flu season. In 2014-15, there were 78 influenza-associated death for persons under 65 years of age in California. November 20, 2015 General Flu, Influenza, Public Health, Department of Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
CDPH will award $60 million in grants to reduce mental health disparities in California; accepting proposals now The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is accepting proposals for projects that will help reduce mental health disparities across the state. Through its California Reducing Disparities Project, the department will award $60 million in contracts and grants over the next four years. “This opportunity allows Public Health to partner with organizations that are going to make a difference and help bring mental health equity to California,” said CDPH Director and State Health Officer Karen Smith, M.D. CDPH’s Office of Health Equity will award the money as part of an effort to reduce mental health disparities across five targeted populations (African Americans, Asian and Pacific Islanders, Latinos, LGBTQ and Native Americans). “Services that are tailored to the cultural and language needs of the individual receiving care are essential for quality mental health care,” said Dr. Smith. “This project will allow communities to have a voice in the care they receive." Click here for more information. August 28, 2015 General Health Disparities, Mental Health, Public Health, Department of Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
