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Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Division recommending the Board authorize the Chair to sign this retroactive Amendment I to the Limited Data Use Agreement with Westat, Inc., extending the term through June 30, 2012. Extension of this agreement will allow Westat to complete the review and analysis of existing data collected by healthcare organizations participating in the Access El Dorado (ACCEL) Initiative. There is no remuneration associated with this agreement. (Refer 6/14/11, Item 10)
FUNDING: Not applicable.
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Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: There is no Net County Cost associated with this no-cost agreement.
Background: The Board approved this agreement via board item 11-0572 on June 14, 2011 which allowed Westat to review and analyze data collected by healthcare organizations participating in the ACCEL initiative.
Healthcare organizations participating in the ACCEL Initiative utilize iREACH, a case management software program, to track access to care across agencies for persons in need of healthcare in the community. Care coordination, defined as the deliberate organization of patient care activities between two or more participants involved in a patient's care to facilitate the appropriate delivery of healthcare services, is receiving increasing recognition as an important driver of positive health outcomes and system efficiencies.
Westat, a Maryland-based research company, was awarded a grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct the Community Care Coordination Performance Measures (NIH-CCCPM) Project. As a result of the cross-agency work accomplished through the ACCEL Initiative, El Dorado County was selected as one of five (5) sites to provide data for research on care coordination. The findings from this project assist ACCEL's healthcare organizations in improving the quality of coordinated healthcare services delivered to El Dorado County residents. The project has defined common data elements across the five sites that are used to identify process changes likely to lead to improvement in health outcomes.
A local Westat Data Research Associate (DRA) reviews information in the iREACH database, which includes data provided by the Public and Mental Health Divisions of the Health and Human Services Agency, and enter only de-identified information into a customized data-collection tool for analysis by Westat. ACCEL's DRA was interviewed and selected by representatives from ACCEL agencies, including representatives from El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency.
Termination: County may terminate this Agreement upon five (5) days written notice to Westat in the event that Westat breaches any provision contained in the Agreement.
Retroactive Term: Upon determination that the project required extension of the term through June 30, 2012, all reasonable efforts were made to expedite the processing of this Amendment.
Reason for Recommendation: Approval of this Amendment I will allow continuation of research on care coordination across healthcare organizations. This will be used to help identify ways to improve the quality of coordinated healthcare services delivered to El Dorado County residents.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
1. Chair to sign three (3) Amendments I to that Limited Data Use Agreements 387-092-P-N2011.
2. Board Clerk's Office to return two (2) signed Amendment to Public Health.
3. Public Health to process and distribute as appropriate.
Contact: Daniel Nielson, 642-7275
Concurrences: County Counsel & Risk Management