The Washington State Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with CDC, is enrolling Washington state residents in the COVID-19 Pregnancy Registry to conduct a surveillance project to monitor pregnant people who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 through the end of their pregnancy and up to delivery. By collecting existing laboratory and clinical information on these birthing people and infants, DOH will be able to characterize the spectrum of health effects associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy to inform clinical guidance, programs, and services. Once persons are identified for enrollment, DOH will request medical charts for review by trained abstractors. Note that under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, you may disclose, without prior authorization, protected health information to public health authorities, such as CDC and state health departments, for the purpose of preventing or controlling disease.
What you can do: DOH is requesting health care facilities please respond promptly if contacted to provide information from COVID-19 related illness and birth hospitalizations for pregnant women with COVID-19.
Please email Debbie Mbotha at Deborah.mbotha@doh.wa.gov with any questions or feedback regarding the following questions:
- Is there a contact within your organization who may be helpful in navigating electronic access to medical charts?
- If you have access to medical chart systems, would you be willing to help facilitate access for DOH abstractors, or alternatively, pull records for DOH abstractors?
