Will This Memo Break the Test-Result Reporting Logjam? How Will it Be Enforced?

This Document, above,  was sent to commissioners yesterday afternoon.  It had been forwarded to labs earlier in the week.  Is this law being enforced right now?  Why are we not getting test report results back when state law dictates this happen?  Why this gentle reminder?  Who is enforcing this law, and are there any penalties for the non-compliers?  What are the penalties and will they be applied?

As the country and our county struggle with big decisions in the midst of the worldwide Chinese Coronavirus Pandemic---more and more folks are putting their collective fingers right on the jugular vein of the biggest problem:  Lack of good, timely test results data/information.

In Florida the issue is especially acute.

In Escambia County, for instance, we know that we have collected more than 2,400 COVID-19 test specimens over the last month.  Yet the state Department of Health has only reported results on the official dashboard for 581 tests. 

So where are the results for the nearly 1,800 additional tests?

Late yesterday afternoon, Dr. Lanza from the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County sent an interesting update, and in the update a document was included urging.---no, DEMANDING--- that ALL labs, public and private, must share COVID -19 results with the Department of Health.  This sharing must be done immediately with no delay, and the memo cites the Florida Statutes that mandate this.

There have been delays, and when I have asked very direct questions like "If a screened patient in Escambia County is notified of a positive COVID -19 test by his physician or by a laboratory---is the notifying Hospital or laboratory also simultaneously notifying the Florida Department of Health?  How do we know this?  If this is not happening, what can be done to compel this to happen?

To which I have received shoulder shrug answers back.  This is not good enough, and obviously we are not the only ones experiencing this problem.

Others in Florida besides county commissioners in Escambia County like me have seen this delayed response/reporting phenomenon as a CRITICAL problem.

Folks are blaming the labs, but is this really where the problem lies?

The labs, and the HOSPITALs themselves need to be much more forthcoming with what exactly is causing the hold up on results reporting to the state.

Without timely, accurate results---we as policy makers CANNOT make good, solid, rational (not emotional) decisions.

Until I get good answers, I am going to continue to ask about this until I see results.  This Wednesday when I host my 33rd Coffee with the Commissioner event--I will ask this specifically of my guests--County Administrator Janice Gilley, Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore, and Baptist Healthcare President Mark Faulkner.

You can tune in this Wednesday, April 1st, at 6:30 AM and send in your questions in real time at my Commissioner's Facebook site:  https://www.facebook.com/CommissionerBergosh/