The Physician's Corner is where you will find the most current information that the Westchester County Department of Health would like to communicate to health care providers. Be sure to review the CDC Breaking News in addition to what is listed below. For information about disease reporting and additional resources for your practice, use the menu links on the left to access those pages.
In today's very mobile society, over a million people each day travel to and from other countries, where many vaccine-preventable diseases remain relatively common. Without vaccines, epidemics of many preventable diseases could return, resulting in increased - and unnecessary - illness, disability, and death among children and adults.
Adult Immunizations
- NYSDOH: May 5, 2014, Screen, recommend, and administer or refer adults for vaccination
- CDC: Resources for Adult Immunizations
Artificial Tears
- January 30, 2023: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Multistate cluster of carbapenem-resistant pseudomonas infections associated with artificial tears
Childhood Immunizations
- January 27, 2022: Pediatric provider letter to vaccinate children against COVID-19 with resources (NYSDOH)
- CDC: Resources for childhood immunizations
Data and Statistics
- WCDOH: 2015 Westchester County Community Health Assessment Data Update
- WCDOH: Annual Data Books
- WCDOH: Monthly Morbididty Reports
Hepatitis A
- CDC: Hepatitis A FAQ
- NYSDOH: Hepatitis A: Information for Providers
Hepatitis C
- NYSDOH: Hepatitis C Testing Law FAQ
HIV/AIDS
- NYSDOH: NYSDOH letter on HIV testing and Chapter 308 law of 2010
- CDC: HIV Screening. Standard Care - Standard care program, including free tools and materials, developed by the CDC (as part of the Act Against AIDS Campaign), gives primary care providers new tools to help ensure all patients are tested for HIV at least once in their life.
- NYSDOH: Amended Health Law related to HIV Testing: (May 2014) On April 1, 2014, Public Health law Section 2781 related to HIV testing in NY State, and Section 2135 related to confidentiality of HIV reports were amended. -View the amended law.
- NYSDOH: Oct. 7, 2013, Information for Clinicians on a New Diagnostic Testing Algorithm for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection
Letter updating clinicians about a new HIV diagnostic testing algorithm for diagnosis of HIV infection- Attached to letter: HIV Diagnostic Testing Algorithm
- Attached to letter: Interpreting Clinical laboratory resultsform the HIV Diagnostic Testing Algorithm
HPV
Influenza
- NYSDOH: Health Advisory: Influenza Surveillance and Reporting Requirements, 2018-2019
- NYSDOH: Health Advisory: Executive order allows pharmacists to vaccinate (pdf)
- Providers who are awaiting delivery of pediatric flu vaccine for their patients with private health insurance but who have Vaccine for Children supplies can contact New York State to request approval to use and then replace their VFC supply by calling 1-800-KID-SHOTS (543-7468).
- NYSDOH: Immunization Update Webinar Series
- Ordering flu vaccine
- NYSDOH: Seasonal Influenza
- NYSDOH: Guidance on maintaining and determining vaccine viability during and following a power outage
Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Update
- WCDOH: Commissioner of Health, Sherlita Amler M.D., letter to physicians, medical director, office managers
- AAP: An article from the American Academy of Pediatrics
- Directions on how to identify eligible patients through NYSIIS
- CDC: MMWR Report
Legionella (Legionnaires' Disease and Pontiac Fever)
- July 2018: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Legionellosis
- NYSDOH: Prevention and Control of Legionellosis (Legionnaires' disease) in Healthcare Facilities (pdf
Measles
- NEW - January 31, 2024: Health Advisory - Be Vigilant for Measles Cases
- January 25, 2024 - CDC clinician Outreach and Communication Activity: Stay Alert for Measles Cases
- Complete information on MMR vaccine recommendations..
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- The NYSDOH Measles Fact Sheet.
- Destination specific travel immunization information is available on the CDC’s
- Travelers’ Health website
- For additional information on measles outbreak control measures, clinical presentatio and diagnostic tests refer to the CDC website.
- CDC Measles Cases and Outbreaks.
- CDC Measles Elimination.
- Measles photos.
Norovirus
- NYS Public Health Update: October 17, 2018: Norovirus Outbreaks in Congregate Living Situations
- CDC: Norovirus Illness: Key Facts - CDC: Norovirus Overview: food workers, health care providers and public health professionals
- Norovirus cleaning and disinfecting
- WCDOH: Handwashing 101
Pediatric HIV Warmline (NYS)
Pertussis
- WCDOH: Letter from Commissioner Amler regarding new Tdap recommendations
- NYSDOH: Guidance-on-Pertussis-control-for-healthcare-providers
- NYSDOH: Pertussis Fact Sheet
- NYSDOH: PEP recommendations/Red Book 2009
Reverse Sequence Syphilis Screening
Rabies
- NYSDOH: 2018 Guidance Regarding Human Exposure to Rabies and Postexposure Prophylaxis Decisions
- Rabies Post Exposure Prophylaxis Algorithm for Medical Providers
- Report of animal bite, scratch and contact (fillable pdf)
- Human Rabies Case Investigation Record-HCP (fillable pdf)
- CDC Updates on Vaccine and Immune Globulin Availability (CDC)
Sexually Transmitted Treatment Guidelines
- CDC: MMWR/CDC/Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines 2015
- NYSDOH: Provider Guidance on Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) -Stopping the Spread of Chlamydia
Tuberculosis (TB)
- August 17, 2022: Regional Latent TB Infection ECHO - New Course Launching Fall 2022
- WCDOH: TB Risk Factor Screening Form (updated 6/2023)
Zika
- January 24, 2018: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Zika Virus Update