TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement and any subsequent amendments with Safety Net Connect, to provide electronic access between the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services and Specialty Clinics at the Los Angeles County Department of Health, for a total amount not to exceed $5,200. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The City of Long Beach Department of Health & Human Services (Health Department) operates several clinics including a HIV/Primary Care Clinic, Tuberculosis Clinic, Family Planning and STD Clinic, and an Immunization and Travel Clinic. Patients who come to these clinics often require specialty referrals to the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (LACDHS). Examples of some of these specialty services include Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Surgery, and Oncology. Referrals to these clinics require significant amount of staff time to assist with paperwork and appointments. Also, scheduling appointments for patients requires long wait times for staff and delays from rescheduling missed appointments often contributing to negative patient outcomes.
To modernize and streamline this process, the Health Department is looking to enter into an agreement with Safety Net Connect to provide a secure web portal linking the Health Department and the LADHS and providing electronic access to LACDHS specialty clinics, allowing for the real time sharing of data and a faster, more secure, method of scheduling appointments.
Safety Net Connect is the only web portal approved and authorized by the LADHS to handle the electronic transfer of information. The term of this agreement will commence upon the effective date for one year and will automatically renew for one year periods unless either party provides a 30 day notice of non-renewal.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda T. Vu on May 30, 2017 and by Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on June 5, 2017.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on June 20, 2017, in order for the Health Department to proceed with the establishment of electronic access to specialty LACDHS clinics.
FISCAL IMPACT
During the first year of the agreement, the agreement cost will not exceed $5,200. The first year cost includes an annual maintenance fee of $4,200 and a one-time fee of $1,000 for set up and staff training. Sufficient funds are budgeted in the Health Fund (SR 130) in the Health and Human Services Department (HE). Future years’ appropriations will be requested as part of the annual budget process. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
KELLY COLOPY, DIRECTOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER