Health Messages for Medical Providers

Health Messages are written communication for Medical Providers,but can be informative for the general public. The health messages archived at the bottom of this page highlight important health and public health issues of which they should be aware.

Weekly Medical Provider Updates with Health Officer Dr. Rais Vohra

To be added to the weekly Medical Provider Update, please email Public Health Communication at PublicHealthMedia@fresnocountyca.gov and include your clinic, hospital, or medical practice information and include your contact information.

Stay Up-to-Date With Current Fresno County Health Messages

To receive Health Messages directly to your inbox, please email Public Health Communication at PublicHealthMedia@fresnocountyca.gov and request a CAHAN/Communicator registration link. Please include your clinic, hospital, or medical practice information and include your contact information.

To obtain Health Messages prior to 2017, contact Public Health Communication at (559) 600-3200.

Our Location: 1221 Fulton Street, 6th Floor
P.O. Box 11867, Fresno CA 93775-1867
Phone: (559) 600-3200 FAX: (559) 600-7687
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm

Recent Updates

Monkeypox Updates for Medical Providers
Abbot BinaxNOW (Information and Request Forms for Healthcare Providers)
COVID-19 Treatments
COVID-19 Vaccine Enrollment (Information and Request Forms for Healthcare Providers)
COVID-19 Reporting Requirements

Disease Reporting Requirements 

Disease reporting is the foundation of public health surveillance. The reporting of specific diseases is critical to public health and required by law. Title 17, California Code of Regulation, Section 2500 (Division 1, Chapter 4, Article 1) requires all heath care providers knowing of or in attendance on a case or suspected case of any of the mandated reportable diseases or conditions to report the case to the local health department where the patient resides. ‘Health care provider’ is defined as a physician, surgeon, veterinarian, podiatrist, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, registered nurse, nurse midwife, school nurse, infection control practitioner, medical examiner, or dentist.

Additionally, Section 2505 requires laboratories to report laboratory-testing results and Section 2508 requires anyone in charge of a public or private school, kindergarten, boarding school, or day nursery to report the presence or suspected presence of any of the reportable diseases to the local health department.

All reports remain confidential. 

Learn how to report diseases/conditions.

 

Influenza Season 2023-2024

For the 2023-2024 flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older with any licensed, influenza vaccine that is appropriate for the recipient’s age and health status. 

Pursuant to authority under §120175 of the California Health and Safety Code, the Interim Health Officer of the County of Fresno, hereby orders that licensed acute care hospitals, ambulatory and community clinics, emergency medical service agencies, long-term care and skilled nursing facilities, mental health and substance use care clinics, and private physician practices in Fresno County implement a program requiring its healthcare personnel to receive an annual influenza vaccination. 

Health care personnel (HCP) are required to wear a mask for the duration of the influenza season while working in patient care areas in that health care facility and until further masking guidance is received for COVID-19 response. The Interim Health Officer is requiring HCP to wear an ORANGE badge/tag color to identify which staff have received their flu vaccine during the 2023-2024 influenza season, if this step is feasible. See color suggestions to the right. Read the full 2023-2024 Flu Vaccine Mandate here.  

For more information on the flu report, visit: 2022 - 2023 Weekly Influenza Update.

Influenza-Mandate-Flu-Color-Orange.png

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided guidance for Healthcare Professionals for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This guidance is based on what is currently known about the transmission and severity of COVID-19. The CDC will update this guidance as needed and as additional information becomes available. Please see the guidance at the link below:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/index.html

SUD Perinatal Brochure and Poster

Discharging Patients

The County of Fresno requests a courtesy call to (559) 600-3332 during business hours, when discharging any patient from a hospital to a congregate setting.

COVID-19 Provider Evaluation Form  

Please see the following link for an example of a return to school or work form for those with COVID-19 Symptoms that incorporates FCDPH guidance: COVID-19 Provider Evaluation Form 5.10.21

Employer Screening Tools

COVID-19 Exposure Risk Assessment Guidance for Healthcare Workers and First Responders in Law Enforcement, Fire, and EMS 

Guidance is available at the link below:

https://www.co.fresno.ca.us/Home/ShowDocument?id=42192

    Interim Guidelines for Collecting and Handling of Clinical Specimens for COVID-19 Testing

    CDC guidance is available at the link below: 

    https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/lab/guidelines-clinical-specimens.html 

    Additional health messages for medical providers are archived below: