Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Montage Health (“Montage”) to collaborate on a joint Electronic Medical Record (EMR) lab interface project with no exchange of funds, retroactively effective on September 13, 2023 through the completion or termination of the collaboration project; and
b. Authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to sign up to three (3) future amendments to this MOU where the amendments do not significantly change the scope of work or add fiscal provisions.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Montage Health (“Montage”) to collaborate on a joint Electronic Medical Record (EMR) lab interface project with no exchange of funds, retroactively effective on September 13, 2023 through the completion or termination of the collaboration project; and
b. Authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to sign up to three (3) future amendments to this MOU where the amendments do not significantly change the scope of work or add fiscal provisions.
SUMMARY DISCUSSION:
The Health Department Clinic Services Bureau (Clinic Services) operates ten community clinic sites designated as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), which provide preventive, primary, and specialty medical care services.
Clinic Services is a member of the OCHIN collaborative, which allows for access and usage of Epic’s Practice Management (PM) and Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems. Through the years, OCHIN has provided valuable health information technology support and services to Clinic Services and continuously offers innovative tools and methods, such as progression towards a paperless system, tracking of quality-of-care variables, and developing EMR enhancements and features focused on improving patient health.
Montage and Clinic Services both utilize separate instances of an Epic EMR and seek to develop a lab interface enhancement between their EMR systems that will improve order accuracy, speed up lab result availability, and improve patient experience and practice staff efficiencies. This MOU outlines the collaboration roles between Clinic Services and Montage for this shared project. The technical description of this work will be defined and executed under a separate scope of work governed under Clinic Services’ existing Master Services Agreement with OCHIN and Montage’s chosen connectivity solutions vendor, Ellkay.
Approval of this action allows Clinic Services and Montage to freely collaborate on the lab interface project by partnering to provide a more automated process for lab test ordering and results reporting, moving from the current “paper-based system” to an EMR interface setup.
This work supports the Monterey County Health Department 2018-2022 Strategic Plan Initiative(s): 4. Engage MCHD workforce and improve operational functions to meet current and developing population health needs. It also supports the following of the ten essential public health services, specifically: 4. Mobilize community partnerships and action to identify and solve health problems; and 10. Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of County Counsel has approved this MOU as to form.
FINANCING:
There are no fiscal provisions in this MOU.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
☐ Economic Development:
• Through collaboration, strengthen economic development to ensure a diversified and healthy economy.
☐ Administration:
• Promote an organization that practices efficient and effective resource management and is recognized for responsiveness, strong customer orientation, accountability and transparency.
☒ Health & Human Services:
• Improve health and quality of life through County supported policies, programs, and services; promoting access to equitable opportunities for healthy choices and healthy environments in collaboration with communities.
☐ Infrastructure:
• Plan and develop a sustainable, physical infrastructure that improves the quality of life for County residents and supports economic development results.
☐ Public Safety:
• Create a safe environment for people to achieve their potential, leading businesses and communities to thrive and grow by reducing violent crimes as well as crimes in general.
Prepared by: Prisca Segovia, Management Analyst II, 755-4939
Approved by:
____________________________Date_______________
Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, Director of Health Services, 755-4526
Attachment:
Board Report
Memorandum of Understanding