Healthcare Providers

NEW! June 2023 CDC/IDSA Clinician Call - Ending of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency & Other Related Change: What Clinicians Need to Know

Reporting Positive Results, COVID-19-Related Deaths, and Probable Cases

The ending of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency does not change which conditions or laboratory results are mandated to be reported in Alabama. SARS-CoV-2 results and COVID-19 diagnoses are still reportable in Alabama.

An online COVID-19 REPORT Card is available for reporting:

• Positive COVID-19 test results (Long Term Care and Correctional Facilities should not use this link. Please complete the respective COVID-19 Investigation Forms below.)
• COVID-19 related deaths
• Probable COVID-19 cases
  - Must have compatible COVID-19 symptoms AND be epidemiologically linked to a laboratory-confirmed case.
  - These cases either have not been tested or are awaiting test results.

HOSPITALS:

If your facility is sending positive and negative electronic lab reports to ADPH via HL7 messaging or CSV spreadsheets, then it is not necessary to manually enter positive COVID-19 test results via the COVID-19 REPORT Card. The facility will only need to use the COVID-19 REPORT Card to report COVID-19-related deaths.

If your facility is not reporting to ADPH via HL7 messaging or CSV spreadsheets, please continue to report positive COVID-19 test results via the COVID-19 REPORT Card.

The online automated COVID-19 Report Cards are accessible from all electronic devices, including your Android and Apple devices as well as personal computers, laptops, etc.

Once you have submitted a COVID-19 REPORT Card for your patient, there is no need to call the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH). However, our 24/7/365 emergency phone number (1-800-338-8374) is available if necessary.

For Correctional and Detention Facilities

All Correctional and Detention Facilities will use the COVID-19 Correctional Facility Investigation Form to report all COVID-19 positive results and related deaths of incarcerated or detained individuals. This form will be used by any facility that houses incarcerated or detained persons including state/federal prisons, jails, department of youth services, work releases, and correctional-based group homes. The Correctional Facility Investigation Form is the only reporting form that should be completed for incarcerated or detained individuals. Continue to report positive results and deaths of staff on the COVID-19 Report Card above.

Facilities conducting Point of Care testing on-site will report the result including the test method on the investigation form to satisfy the reporting requirement. Facilities that continue to use commercial laboratories for testing will rely on the performing laboratory to report all negative and positive COVID-19 virus test results electronically (faxes do not count). If not already enrolled, laboratories will need to manually enter test results directly into the surveillance system; contact [email protected] to enroll staff today.

For Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFs)

Skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and Intermediate Care Facilities for individuals with Intellectual disability (ICF/ID) who are reporting positive cases into the COVID-19 module - POCT pathway in the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) no longer have to report all positives via the COVID-19 LTC Investigation Form. This form should only be used to report resident and employee hospitalizations and deaths related to COVID-19.

All other long-term care facilities (LTCFs) that are not reporting into NHSN which may include assisted living facilities, specialty care assisted living facilities, hospice, rehabilitation centers, residential treatment centers, community mental health facilities, and long-term care for the developmentally disabled will use the COVID-19 LTC Investigation Form to report all COVID-19 positive results and related deaths. The LTC Investigation Form is the only form that should be completed for the facilities listed above.

Performing laboratories are required to report all negative and positive COVID-19 virus test results electronically (faxes do not count). If not already enrolled, laboratories will need to manually enter test results directly into the surveillance system; contact [email protected] to enroll staff today.

ADPH Resources

• ALERT HAN Messages
• Bureau of Communicable Disease (BCD) News Releases
• Electronic Reporting Requirements for Laboratories
• Specimen Collection and Shipping Guidance
• Specimen Packaging Instructions
• Guidance for Critical Infrastructure Workers
• Guidance for Coroners and Medical Examiners for Specimen Collection
• Log of Persons Entering Room Housing PUI
• Bureau of Home and Community Services COVID-19 Vaccination for Homebound Patients Sample Policy
• Gowns Guidelines (Extended Use/Proper Use/Alternatives)
• Proper Mask Use Guidelines
• Eye Protection: Selected Options for Reprocessing
• How to Properly Remove Gloves
• Print Materials Available for Download:
  - "Attention Patients" Posters: English | Chinese | Spanish
  Handwashing Poster #1: English | Spanish
  Handwashing Poster #2: English | French | Spanish

CDC Resources

• Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic
• Isolation and Work Restriction Guidance for Healthcare Personnel
• Contingency and Crisis Management in the Setting of Significant Healthcare Worker Shortages

See the latest updates on Information for Healthcare Professionals.

FEMA Public Assistance Grant for Hospitals

FEMA Public Assistance (PA) is a grant that offers supplemental financial assistance to State, Local Governments, and certain private not-for-profit organizations for response and recovery activities required as a result of a federally declared disaster, which in this case is COVID-19. Private not-for-profit hospitals can use the monies made available through PA to fund staffing contracts, per diem and travel costs related to the contract, and overtime for budgeted employees in hopes of relieving some of the burdens from the hospitals. This video presents a general outline of the program, potential applicants, categories of work, project development, and answers to common questions about the program. View the Emergency Protection Actions Application Checklist.