Reporting Requirements for Communicable Diseases – 410 Ind. Admin. Code 1-2.3-47

It is the duty of licensed physicians and hospitals to report all cases and suspected cases of communicable diseases in Indiana.  The report must be made to the local health officer in whose jurisdiction the patient normally resides, or if the patient’s information is not known, to the health officer in the jurisdiction in which the patient was examined at the time the diagnosis was made.  All reports must include the patient’s full name, address, city, zip code, county, telephone number, date of birth, sex and race and ethnicity.  Additionally, the report should include the date of onset, the diagnosis, definitive test results, the personal information of the attending physician, and any other epidemiologically necessary information requested by the local health officer or commissioner.

The department of health includes a list of those diseases and conditions that must be reported, along with the time frame the report must be made within.  Diseases that are to be reported immediately must be done so by telephone or other instantaneous means on first knowledge or suspicion of diagnosis.  Diseases are to be reported within 72 hours shall be reported by telephone, electronic data transfer, other confidential means of communication, or official report forms furnished by the department.