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Surveillance

FL Dept of Health in Pinellas - Surveillance Program Manager

  •  727-824-6903
  •  

    Mailing Address

    205 Dr Martin Luther King Jr St N 

    Surveillance, Room #3-148 

    St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 


HIV/AIDS Surveillance 

The HIV/AIDS Surveillance Department publishes a quarterly Surveillance Statistics Newsletter that includes current information about HIV and AIDS cases in Pinellas County, Pasco County, Hillsborough County, and limited information on Florida and world statistics.

A note to Health Care Providers and Health Information Management Directors 

As per Florida Administrative Code 64D-3.029 HIV and AIDS are reportable diseases that must be reported within two weeks of a reportable HIV test or AIDS diagnosis to your local health department and/or area HIV/AIDS Surveillance Office at 727-824-6903.

The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County is required by law to administer and enforce laws and rules relating to sanitation, control of communicable diseases, illnesses and hazards to health among humans and from animals to humans, and the general health of the people of the state according to Section 381.0011(2) of the Florida Statutes.

Chapter 64D-3.041(1) of the Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) grants the Florida Department of Health Director (or representative) the authority to take any necessary action in laboratories, doctor’s offices or health care facilities to prevent or control the spread of communicable disease.

Florida Statues Section 381.0031 (7) allows department of health representatives to obtain, inspect, and copy medical records for reported cases of diseases of public health significance from health care practitioners, licensed health care facilities, and laboratories.

Any person who interferes with, hinders, or opposes any employee of the department in the discharge of his or her duties in the course of epidemiological investigations may be subject to criminal penalties according to Section 381.0025 (2) of the Florida Statutes and Section 384.25 (4) of the Florida Statutes.
HIV/AIDS Data

According to the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) §160.203, disease reporting, public health disease surveillance, and disease intervention activities are among those that are EXEMPT from federal preemption of state laws. Other examples include child abuse, and birth or death information.

The Department and its authorized representatives may review pertinent, relevant medical records, if necessary, to confirm a reportable disease diagnosis; to investigate causes; to identify other related cases in an area, community, or workplace; to determine if a person with a reportable notifiable disease or condition has received adequate treatment to render themselves non-infectious or if exposed has received prophylaxis, if appropriate.

Such review of records may occur without patient consent and shall be conducted at reasonable times and with such notice as is deemed reasonable under the circumstances according to Rule 64D-3.041 (a) of the Florida Administrative Code.

A Brief HIV/AIDS Legal Guide for Health Care Professionals 

Useful Links for Health Care Providers