Public Health – Disease Reporting for Providers

Disease Reporting for Physicians

Oregon state law requires the tracking of communicable diseases in order to prevent and control disease outbreaks. To ensure the safety of the community, the law also requires physicians, healthcare providers, and labs to report all "reportable" diseases to Benton County Health Services.

Health Lab Worker

Diseases requiring immediate reporting can be done through Benton County Health Services 24/7. If you call the main number at 541-766-6835 after hours, your call will be transferred to an answering service which will locate a public health nurse to whom you can report. A number of communicable diseases are reportable by physicians to local health departments in Oregon. See a list of physician-reportable diseases and conditions in Oregon.

For more information on what should be reported, visit: Oregon Health Authority Communicable Disease Reporting. Note: HIPAA allows for reporting of communicable diseases, which is required under Oregon statute (more information on HIPAA).

How to Report a Disease

To report a disease, call 541-766-6835 or fax 541-766-6197 the Benton County Health Department. Remember:  all reports should be made to the patient's local health department.

  • Disease Reporting Form – for physicians and health care providers:  morbidity report
  • Laboratories are required to keep a log of reports
  • Reports on out-of-state residents can be made to the provider's local health department or (preferably) directly to the Oregon Health Services, phone 971-673-1111; fax 971-673-1100

Please include the following information when calling to report:

  • Patient: name, date of birth, race, gender
  • Patient's contact information: home phone, work phone, address
  • Disease
  • Method of diagnosis
  • Date of onset
  • Lab test results
  • Treatment given
  • Possible source
  • Attending physician and phone number, comments
  • Person making report: name and title, phone number
  • Hospital admission/ER visit date
  • Discharge date

Supporting Documents

PDF icon morbrpt.pdf (322 KB)