Title
Approve and authorize the Director of Health to enter into an interagency agreement with the State Emergency Medical Services Agency to participate in the Health Information Exchange Program.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Approve and authorize the Director of Health to enter into an interagency agreement with the State Emergency Medical Services Agency to participate in the Health Information Exchange Program.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Approve and authorize the Director of Health to enter into an interagency agreement with the State Emergency Medical Services Agency (EMSA) to participate in the Health Information Exchange (HEI) Program. This agreement will authorize the Monterey County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency to receive a grant totaling $24,000 for the Health Data Exchange (HDE) project for the period of September 01, 2013 through December 31, 2013.
Monterey County is in need of a better form of patient data exchange between its pre-hospital electronic Patient Care Record (ePCRs) and hospital Electronic Medical Records (EMRs). Improving this data exchange will directly impact the quality of care patients receive from both the pre-hospital providers as well as continued care in the hospital. Currently there are six Advanced Life Support (ALS) providers within Monterey County. Five of these providers use the ESO ePCR system and our sixth provider is a contracted transport company using the ePCR system MEDS. Both ESO and MEDS are NEMSIS 3 compliant, but neither uses an electronic transfer of data system to local hospital EMRs. Transported patient ePCRs must be printed out at the hospital and put into the chart. This process often allows for lost ePCRs, inadequate reference resources for admitting doctors, and poor follow up for pre-hospital providers. This board report was originally intended to be presented to the Board in September 2013 but was delayed due to requested changes and negotiations with the vendor. The Grant Authority has been informed of the delays and has agreed to pay the amount of $24,000 upon receipt of Board of Supervisor approval.
Monterey County EMS would like to participate in the EMSA HIE Project to improve the communication of information from pre-hospital providers to definitive care facilities. County EMS will collaborate with all pre-hospital and hospital players, Information Technology, Clinicians, and County Counsel, to identify and vet a viable software solution that serves all providers sufficiently. The grant of $24,000 will assist in purchasing Health Data Exchange software enabling our pre-hospital providers to exchange crucial health information with hospital facilities. The Monterey County ALS Quality Improvement committee has already begun exploring software solutions and is currently researching a software system that would accomplish full integration of pre-hospital ePCRs into our County's three base hospitals and one receiving hospital. Once a solution is reached, Monterey EMS will act in a lead role in the purchase and installation of the software program as well as review of improvements in pre-hospital to hospital communication via the funding through the Health Information Exchange.
This Board action supports one of the ten essential public health services, specifically: 9) Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
This interagency agreement will be with the State of California Emergency Medical Services Agency (EMSA). County Counsel has reviewed the contract as to legal form. Due to late submission of this Board Report, the CAO Budget and Analysis Division was not provided adequate time to fully review for potential fiscal, organizational, policy, or other implications to the County of Monterey. A copy of the Agreement C13-032 (Attachment A) will be on file with the Clerk to the Board.
FINANCING:
The grant is funded by the State of California Emergency Medical Services Agency through the California Office of Health Information Integrity (CalOHII). Managing this grant and project will have no impact on the EMS General Fund Contribution.
Prepared by: Kirk Schmitt, EMS Director, 4964
Approved by: Ray Bullick, Director of Health, 4526
Attachments:
Attachment A Agreement C13-032 with State EMSA is on file with the Clerk of the Board