REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 20, 2026
FROM
ANDREW GOLDFRACH, ARMC Chief Executive Officer, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
SUBJECT
Title
Non-Financial Data Sharing Agreement with Regents of the University of California Solely on Behalf of and Limited to its Los Angeles Campus to Conduct a Research Study
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve non-financial Data Sharing Agreement with the Regents of the University of California solely on behalf of and limited to its Los Angeles Campus, for data sharing for a research study, for the period of October 20, 2026 through October 19, 2027.
(Presenter: Andrew Goldfrach, ARMC Chief Executive Officer, 580-6150)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Foster Sustainable Development Through Strategic Partnerships.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as the agreement with the Regents of the University of California solely on behalf of and limited to its Los Angeles Campus (UCLA) is non-financial in nature.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
This agreement will allow Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) to provide UCLA with certain patient data for a research study in compliance with the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
The research study will evaluate whether the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score documented at hospital discharge can reliably estimate a stroke patient’s functional outcome at 90 days. The mRS is a standardized measure of disability and functional independence following a stroke. The study will include patients who suffer from an acute ischemic stroke, which is caused by a blocked blood vessel, or a hemorrhagic stroke, which is caused by bleeding in the brain. ARMC currently records the mRS score at discharge but does not routinely obtain a 90-day score. This study will assess whether the discharge score can reliably replace the 90-day score, potentially eliminating the need for a separate follow-up call to measure functional status.
Under the agreement, UCLA is required to use appropriate safeguards to prevent unauthorized use or disclosure of the ARMC patient data, which includes, but are not limited to administrative, physical, and technical safeguards that reasonably protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the patient data in accordance with the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
ARMC recommends approval of this agreement to formalize the collaboration and establish the respective responsibilities of ARMC and UCLA for purposes of data sharing for the study. The study may support ARMC’s efforts to more efficiently evaluate stroke outcomes, reduce the burden of post-discharge follow-up, optimize staff resources, and support continued improvements in the quality of stroke care provided to County patients.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Charles Phan, Supervising Deputy County Counsel, 387- 5455) on September 21, 2026; ARMC Finance (Chen Wu, Finance and Budget Officer, 580-3165) on September 25, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Jenny Yang, Administrative Analyst, 387-4884) on September 28, 2026.