In order to better protect the public’s health and track and monitor the incidences of certain diseases, Washington requires health care providers to report cases of specific diseases to the Department of Health.  Physicians have a duty to report to the Department of Health all cases of communicable or infectious diseases treated.1  Physicians are also responsible for reporting notifiable conditions to local health officials.2  For each condition reported, the physician must include the patient’s identifying information, the provider’s identifying information, and any other information required by the Department.3  However, the law requires that patient identifying information be kept confidential.4

        Washington also requires that health care providers report certain health events, such as child birth,5 pregnancy terminations,6 health care associated infections,7 and adverse health events.8  The state does allow adverse health events to be open to public disclosure.9  Failure to report vital statistics, such as child birth is subject to monetary penalty in the state.10  The state has also put in place reporting requirements for cases of sexually transmitted diseases,11 cancer,12 and tuberculosis.13  Diagnoses of sexually transmitted diseases must be confirmed by a lab or blood test, and then be reported to the Department of Health.14  The Secretary of the Department of Health may establish a statewide cancer registry program that houses cancer reports and provides data for research purposes.15  The Department must develop rules for reporting instances of cancer, and must include the cancer patient’s occupation or employment status.16  Cancer reports must remain confidential, and may only be used for research purposes.17  However, tuberculosis reports must remain completely closed to public inspection.18  Tuberculosis reports must be maintained by local health departments, but must be accessible to the Department of Health.19  Washington also has established a statewide trauma and traumatic brain injury data registry.  All providers and facilities that provide trauma services must submit data to the trauma registry.20  Identifying information in the registry must remain confidential.21

        The state also requires reporting of patient clinical and financial information for quality improvement and data collection.  For example, hospitals must submit financial information and patient discharge data to the Department of Health.22  Local health departments and the Department of Health must collect child mortality review reports, and enter the information into a database.  The Department may then publish statistical reports containing information from child mortality reviews so long as they redact identifying information.23