2020 Declaration:

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) declares readiness for the Immunization Registry Measure 1 of Objective 8 for Stage 3 of Meaningful Use upon the deployment of the new Immunization Information System (IIS), which will be known as Statewide Immunization Online Network (SIMON). Deployment is tentatively scheduled for September 14, 2020. If the deployment date changes, this statement will be updated to reflect such change.

ELR Overview

The electronic reporting of laboratory results fulfills South Carolina's notifiable disease reporting requirements. Meaningful Use requirements do not preempt applicable state or local laws that govern reporting of notifiable conditions.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) grants an incentive payment to eligible health care professionals, eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals that can demonstrate efforts to adopt, implement or upgrade certified electronic health record technology. These incentives were established under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH).

To qualify for the EHR incentive payments, hospitals and eligible providers are required to meet at least one of these four public health-related objectives during Stage 1:

Naegleria fowleri ameba

Naegleria fowleri is an ameba (single-celled living organism) commonly found in warm freshwater bodies such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs as well as soil. In rare cases, it can cause a severe infection in the brain.

Naegleria fowleri grows best at higher temperatures up to 115°F (46°C) and can survive for short periods at higher temperatures.

Risk of Infection

Although Naegleria fowleri is commonly found in warm freshwater, infection is very rare.

• Tuberculosis
• Group A Streptococcal Infection
• Group B Streptococcal (GBS)
• HIB (Haemophilus Influenza)

What is Staph?

Staph is a type of bacteria. Up to one-third of all people carry Staph on their skin or in their nose and are "colonized", but not infected, with Staph. They have no symptoms, yet they can pass the germ to others.

Overview 

West Nile virus is a disease transmitted to humans and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected after feeding on infected birds.

West Nile virus is common in birds, humans and other animals in Africa, Australia, Eastern Europe, west Asia and the Middle East.

It was first detected in North America in 1999, and has since spread across the continental United States and Canada.

What is Pertussis?

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that is found throughout the world. Pertussis was one of the most common causes of childhood deaths prior to the availability of a vaccine.

Since the widespread use of the vaccine began, deaths from have decreased dramatically. Because the bacteria are so widespread, most communities, including South Carolina, can expect cases of the disease each year. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children.

What are Head Lice?

Head lice are tiny insects that feed on blood from the human scalp and lay their eggs on hair. Head lice are very common, particularly in children. There is no connection between head lice and the length of someone's hair or the cleanliness of the hair, body, or home or school environment.

The medical name for head lice is Pediculosis humanus capitis.