Syndromic Surveillance

The health authority may require an emergency facility or a health care provider to report information to the system for syndromic reporting and active surveillance during a major event or if the health authority determines that the reporting is otherwise appropriate and necessary to monitor the public health in this State. (NAC 441A.920)

NRS 441A.125  Use of syndromic reporting and active surveillance to monitor public health; regulations.

      1.  The Board shall develop a system which provides for syndromic reporting and active surveillance to monitor public health in this state during major events or when determined appropriate and necessary by a health authority.

      2.  The Board shall adopt regulations concerning the system it develops pursuant to this section, including, without limitation:

      (a) The manner in which and situations during which the system actively gathers information;

      (b) The persons who are required to report information to the system; and

      (c) The procedures for reporting required information to the system.

      (Added to NRS by 2003, 2205)

NAC 441A.920  Reporting of information to system by emergency facility or health care provider. 

     1.  The health authority may require an emergency facility or a health care provider to report information to the system for syndromic reporting and active surveillance during a major event or if the health authority determines that the reporting is otherwise appropriate and necessary to monitor the public health in this State.

     2.  An emergency facility or health care provider that is required to report information pursuant to subsection 1 shall report the information in the form and manner prescribed by the health authority. The information must include, without limitation:

     (a) The name of the emergency facility or health care provider;

     (b) The name and telephone number of the person making the report;

     (c) The date of the report;

     (d) The period covered by the report;

     (e) The total number of patients who were cared for at the emergency facility or by the health care provider during the period covered by the report; and

     (f) The number of such patients with:

          (1) Cranial nerve impairment with weakness or any bilateral weakness of the face or limbs;

          (2) Unexplained death or illness with a history of fever;

          (3) Gastrointestinal syndrome, diarrhea or gastroenteritis, including, without limitation, vomiting or abdominal cramps;

          (4) Neurological syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, unexplained acute encephalopathy or a change in mental status with fever;

          (5) Rash, blisters and localized skin lesions, with or without fever;

          (6) Shortness of breath, with or without fever;

          (7) Sepsis or nontraumatic shock;

          (8) Hemorrhagic illness, with or without fever;

          (9) Lymphadenitis, with or without fever;

          (10) Any other sign, symptom or syndrome that is specified by the health authority; or

          (11) Any combination of the signs, symptoms or syndromes described in subparagraphs (1) to (10), inclusive.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R087-08, eff. 1-13-2011)

NAC 441A.925  Reporting of information to system by pharmacy.

     1.  The health authority may require a pharmacy to report information to the system for syndromic reporting and active surveillance during a major event or if the health authority determines that the reporting is otherwise appropriate and necessary to monitor the public health in this State.

     2.  The information provided to the health authority pursuant to this section may include, without limitation, data concerning sales by the pharmacy of certain specified drugs, controlled substances, poisons, medicines, chemicals or medical devices.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R087-08, eff. 1-13-2011)

NAC 441A.930  Voluntary program for reporting information to system; acceptance by health authority of information voluntarily reported in lieu of information otherwise required.

     1.  The health authority may establish a voluntary program in which an emergency facility, a health care provider or a pharmacy agrees to report information to the system for syndromic reporting and active surveillance in the absence of a major event or determination by the health authority that the reporting is otherwise appropriate and necessary to monitor the public health in this State.

     2.  During a major event or if the health authority determines that reporting information to the system for syndromic reporting and active surveillance is otherwise appropriate and necessary to monitor the public health in this State, the health authority may agree to accept the information reported by a participant in a voluntary program established pursuant to subsection 1 in lieu of any information that could otherwise be required pursuant to NAC 441A.920 or 441A.925 if the health authority determines that the information voluntarily reported is substantively equivalent to the information that would otherwise be required.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R087-08, eff. 1-13-2011)

NAC 441A.935  Reporting of additional information to system upon request by health authority; information of personal nature deemed confidential medical information. 

     1.  If an emergency facility, a health care provider or a pharmacy reports information to a health authority pursuant to NAC 441A.920, 441A.925 or 441A.930 and the health authority obtains an epidemiological analysis of that information which reveals a pattern of illness that suggests a potential outbreak of illness or other public health emergency, the health authority may require the emergency facility, health care provider or pharmacy to report additional information, which may include, without limitation, information of a personal nature about a patient.

     2.  Information of a personal nature about a patient that is reported to a health authority pursuant to this section shall be deemed to be confidential medical information that is subject to the provisions of NRS 441A.220.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R087-08, eff. 1-13-2011)