Title
a. Authorize the Deputy Purchasing Agent for Natividad Medical Center (NMC) or his designee to execute amendment No. 2 to the agreement (A-13725) with DrFirst.com Inc. (DrFirst) for the continued use of EPCS Gold software license that provides an electronic prescribing system, extending the agreement an additional three (3) year period (July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023) for a revised full agreement term of July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2023, and adding $249,000 for a revised total agreement amount not to exceed $516,060.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the Board of Supervisors:
a. Authorize the Deputy Purchasing Agent for Natividad Medical Center (NMC) or his designee to execute amendment No. 2 to the agreement (A-13725) with DrFirst.com Inc. (DrFirst) for the continued use of EPCS Gold software license that provides an electronic prescribing system, extending the agreement an additional three (3) year period (July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023) for a revised full agreement term of July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2023, and adding $249,000 for a revised total agreement amount not to exceed $516,060.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
DrFirst is a software suite that provides an electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) system, which allows physicians to electronically transmit prescriptions to pharmacies. This process has decreased prescribing and medication errors and has resulted in fewer call-backs from pharmacies to physicians for clarification. Electronically sending and receiving prescriptions has streamlined the clinical practice workflow, and patient satisfaction and compliance have increased. Additionally, connecting physician and pharmacy systems has reduced paperwork and the associated mistakes that may occur from reliance on handwritten prescriptions. This change has produced time and cost savings for all parties involved.
In 2019 Natividad added the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) module within DrFirst, which gives healthcare providers at Natividad access to California’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). This database includes Schedule II, III and IV controlled substances prescriptions dispensed. Health care practitioners authorized to prescribe, order, administer, or furnish a controlled substance are required by California law to consult the CURES database. The DrFirst Cures module facilitates this process. The CURES integration gives clinicians real-time access to essential opioid prescription information for individual patients at the point-of-care. Prescribers can quickly check the CURES database to view their patients’ opioid prescription history, allowing them to quickly identify patients who may have substance abuse disorders and are “doctor shopping” for prescriptions of controlled substances.
Natividad is requesting authorization to extend the existing agreement for an additional three (3) years.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of County Counsel has reviewed and approved this amendment No. 2 as to form, and the Auditor-Controller has reviewed and approved as to payment provisions. The amendment No. 2 has also been reviewed and approved by NMC’s Finance Committee and by its Board of Trustees on May 8, 2020.
FINANCING:
The cost for this amendment No. 2 is $249,000 of which $83,000 is included in the Fiscal Year 2020-21 Recommended Budget. Amounts for remaining years of the agreement will be included in those budgets as appropriate.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This agreement facilitates access to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. This access is a regulatory requirement and improves patient care at NMC by preventing the over prescribing of controlled substances.
__ Economic Development
__ Administration
X Health and Human Services
__ Infrastructure
__ Public Safety
Prepared by: Dr. Charles Harris, Chief Medical Information Officer, 783-2785
Approved by: Gary R. Gray, DO, Chief Executive Officer, 783-2504
Attachments:
DrFirst Amendment 2
DrFirst Amendment 1
DrFirst Agreement
Attachments on file with the Clerk of the Board