DATE: July 18, 2023
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Luchini, RN, PHN, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: CalCONNECT System for California Connected Data Use and Disclosure Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Data Use Agreement with the California Department of Public Health for participation in the surveillance and control of contagious, infectious, communicable, or reportable diseases and conditions, effective upon execution by all parties, not to exceed three consecutive years pursuant to and in accordance with the requirements and conditions set forth in this Data Use Agreement ($0); and
2. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Health, or designee, to execute future data use and sharing agreements, with California Department of Public Health, subject to approval as to legal form by County Counsel, that have no financial impact.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Approving the first recommended action will authorize the Chairman to enter into an agreement with California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to share communicable or reportable disease and condition data. This agreement promotes collaboration between the County and CDPH. It allows for better coordination and sharing of information, resources, and expertise between the local government and the State health department. This collaboration can lead to improved public health outcomes and a more efficient response to health emergencies or crises. Approval of the second recommended action will enable the Director of Public Health or their assignee to execute similar no cost data-sharing arrangements with the CDPH, streamlining the process for meeting tight deadlines set by the State and/or minimizing the staff's time and expenses involved in regularly presenting such matters to the Board. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no viable alternative actions. Should your Board elect not to approve the recommended actions, it would result in not receiving timely updates, alerts, and notifications from the CDPH regarding emerging public health issues, disease outbreaks, policy changes, or important guidelines. CDPH would not have real-time detection to provide adequate health response.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions, as there is no exchange of funds. Data use agreements typically focus on establishing the terms and conditions for the use and sharing of data, rather than involving financial transactions. These agreements primarily address issues such as data security, confidentiality, intellectual property rights, and compliance with relevant laws and regulations. As a result, they will not have a direct financial impact on the parties involved.
DISCUSSION:
The CalCONNECT system facilitates the California Connected Data use and disclosure agreement between CalCONNECT and CDPH. Its purpose is to support various activities including maintenance, operations, integration, and delivery for California's disease intervention platform, known as CalCONNECT.
CalCONNECT was initially established in response to the 2020 worldwide outbreak of COVID-19; CalCONNECT has since expanded its functionality to collect information related to contagious, infectious, communicable, and reportable diseases and conditions.
In addition, CalCONNECT is a system that helps with outbreak investigation, outreach, contact tracing, and case investigation for communicable diseases. By entering into this agreement, the County will gain access to the CalCONNECT platform, enabling them to utilize its features such as automated notifications, public education, and information for cases and individuals who have been exposed.
Additional benefits include:
• Enhanced collaboration: CalCONNECT promotes collaboration between the County and CDPH. It allows for better coordination and sharing of information, resources, and expertise between the local government and the State Health Department. This collaboration leads to the improvement of public health outcomes and more efficient response to health emergencies or crises.
• Access to resources and support: Through CalCONNECT, the County can gain access to a wide range of resources, tools, and technical assistance provided by CDPH. This can include training programs, guidelines, data sharing platforms, and funding opportunities. Such resources can strengthen the County's capacity to address public health challenges more effectively.
• Standardization and interoperability: Working with CDPH will involve adopting standardized protocols, procedures, and data formats for public health reporting and surveillance. This facilitates interoperability and compatibility between different systems used by counties and CDPH. Standardization streamlines data exchange, promotes data quality, and enables better analysis and decision-making at both the local and State level.
• Timely information and alerts: This agreement provides the County timely updates, alerts, and notifications from CDPH regarding emerging public health issues, disease outbreaks, policy changes, or important guidelines. This ensures the County stays well-informed and can take appropriate actions promptly to protect the community.
• Alignment with Statewide Priorities: CalCONNECT helps align the County's public health efforts with statewide priorities, strategies, and initiatives. This ensures a coordinated approach to addressing public health challenges across California, enhancing overall effectiveness and efficiency. It also enables counties to contribute to and benefit from statewide data collection and analysis efforts, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of health trends and needs.
• Leveraging State Expertise: CDPH possesses specialized knowledge, expertise, and experience in various public health areas. Participating in the CalCONNECT agreement, the County can tap into this expertise and leverage the resources and support available at the State level. This can be particularly beneficial for the County and those facing complex public health issues that require additional guidance and assistance.
By collaborating with CDPH, the County not only strengthens its public health infrastructure but also encourages greater teamwork and coordination with state-level initiatives. This partnership enhances the County's ability to respond effectively and efficiently to public health challenges, resulting in improved health outcomes for its residents.
The Department of Public Health periodically receives data use agreements that are reviewed and vetted by the Medical Director, program managers and the Public Health Director. Granting the Public Health Director authority to execute data use and sharing agreements with CDPH will enhance efficiency in meeting tight deadlines set by the State and/or minimizing the staff's time and expenses involved in regularly presenting such matters to the Board.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - CDPH Data Use Agreement
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander