Wash. Admin. Code § 246-101-105

Physician Duty to Report Notifiable Conditions

The purpose of notifiable conditions reporting is to provide the information necessary for public health officials to protect the public's health by tracking communicable diseases and other conditions. These data are critical to local health departments and the departments of health and labor and industries in their efforts to prevent and control the spread of diseases and other conditions.  The conditions in the table below are notifiable for the prevention and control of communicable and noninfectious diseases and conditions, and must be reported in the time frame provided.  Providers must cooperate with public health authorities during investigations of suspected outbreak of diseases.  Physicians are also responsible for the reporting of positive test results from laboratories to local health officials. 

When the provider reports a notifiable disease, he or she must notify the local health department where the patient resides, including known barriers which might impede or prevent compliance  with order for infection control or quantine.  If the provider cannot notify the local health department because of closure or unavailability, he or she must instead notify the Department of Health.

Related Laws: Wash. Admin. Code § 246-101-110; Wash. Admin. Code § 246-101-120