DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Colleen M. Bridger, MPH, PhD
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing an Agreement with STRAC for EverBridge Software License
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes an agreement with Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC) to provide funding in an amount not to exceed $7,500.00 in support of a multiagency-San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health), STRAC, Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), and all regional hospitals-funded license for EverBridge Software Notification System and other public health/medical emergency preparedness activities. The funding for this agreement is available and budgeted within Metro Health's Public Health Emergency Preparedness FY 2018-2019 grant.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) grant has been awarded to Metro Health since 2001. The PHEP grant is an all hazards grant to better prepare the City, County, all regional hospitals, and the general public for emergency situations. In FY 2015 in response to decreasing PHEP and Hospital Planning and Preparedness funds, Metro Health in conjunction with STRAC, DSHS Region 8 and all forty-nine regional hospitals located in the DSHS Trauma Service Area P initiated a multi-agency cost sharing plan to enhance efficiencies that would maintain medical response systems.
Metro Health’s PHEP program must notify public health/medical staff in an emergency event in order to comply with grant deliverables and achieve optimal response capabilities to all hazard emergency incidents throughout Bexar County and South Central Texas. The EverBridge Software Notification System license will provide for the maintenance of services listed below related to emergency preparedness.
The services provided by STRAC through this agreement include the following:
• EverBridge Notification System to rapidly notify Metro Health employees of potential emergencies.
• Regional Medical Operation Center (RMOC) maintenance of IT equipment, furniture, and supplies at the Emergency Operations Center.
• Compliance assistance with Texas Joint Commission requirements for all-hazards exercises and Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (HVA) reviews.
• STRAC-ID Badging for all physicians affiliated with regional hospitals.
• Coordination of and participation in at least one full scale exercise to meet Hospital Planning and Preparedness and PHEP exercise requirements.
• Access to Mobile Satellite Radio services and maintenance cost for redundant communications during emergency situations.
• MEDCOM Communications Center assistance for the operation of a central node for all San Antonio and regional emergency requests for assistance, and the ability to rapidly dispatch ambulance buses (AmBus), helicopters, and disaster response team assets 24/7.
• Coordination of meetings with other preparedness/EOC representatives from the community for the sharing of best practices.
• Access to subject matter expertise in a wide array of healthcare preparedness and incident management issues.
ISSUE:
Metro Health requests City Council authorize an agreement with the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC) to provide funding in an amount not to exceed $7,500.00 in support of a multiagency (Metro Health, STRAC, DSHS and all regional hospitals) funded license for the EverBridge Software Notification System used to notify medical staff in an emergency event and maintenance of services related to public health emergency preparedness.
ALTERNATIVES:
If this contract is not authorized, Metro Health’s PHEP program will be required to identify and contract for services independently and would no longer share in the cost effectiveness of a multi-agency funded project among all forty-nine regional hospitals located in the DSHS Trauma Service Area P, which includes regional hospitals and agencies located in twenty-two counties. Additionally, if this contract is not authorized, then it will be more difficult for Metro Health’s PHEP program to comply with the deliverables of the PHEP grant.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for this agreement with STRAC is available and budgeted within Metro Health’s FY 2018-2019 Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) grant. The PHEP grant is funded from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019. This agreement will have no impact to the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of an ordinance authorizing an agreement with the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC) to provide funding in an amount not to exceed $7,500.00 in support of a multiagency (Metro Health, STRAC, DSHS and all regional hospitals) funded license for the EverBridge Software Notification System used to notify medical staff in an emergency event and maintenance of services related to public health emergency preparedness.