Timeliness of electronic laboratory reporting vs. traditional laboratory reporting in Southern Nevada from 1999-2012

Electronic laboratory reporting (ELR) has been implemented in many parts of the United States, and is perceived to be faster than traditional reporting. One large commercial laboratory provides the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) with 70-90% of its electronic and traditional laboratory reports, including reports of gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses. GI illnesses are a concern in Southern Nevada due to the transient population and short incubation periods of these illnesses.1,2