REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 5, 2019
FROM
WILLIAM L. GILBERT, Director, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
SUBJECT
Title v
Amendment to Agreement No. 18-843 with Translogic Corporation, DBA Swisslog Healthcare Solutions
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 18-843 with Translogic Corporation, DBA Swisslog Healthcare Solutions to increase the amount by $48,305 from $48,305 to $96,610 and to renew the agreement an additional year for the total period of December 18, 2018, through December 17, 2020 for renewal of technical support of the outpatient Swisslog Packager, Auto Label Software and automated pharmacy dispensing system.
(Presenter: William L. Gilbert, Director, 580-6150)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of the recommendation will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost), as the additional cost of $48,305 is funded by State Medi-Cal, Federal Medicare, private insurances, and other departmental revenue. Funding sources may change in the future pending any legislative activity related to the repeal and/or replacement of the Affordable Care Act. Sufficient appropriation and revenue is included in the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) 2019-20 budget and will be included in the future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Approval of the Recommendation will allow ARMC to continue receiving technical support for the Swisslog Packager, Auto Label Software and automated pharmacy dispensing system (automated dispensing system) at ARMC - Outpatient. This automated dispensing system is an integral piece for drug distribution at the County's correctional facilities. When inmate medication orders are transmitted from County correctional facilities, the automated dispensing system provides patient specific medications to each facility. Swisslog will only offer a one-year renewal for service contract to ensure proper functionality for the vertical carousel and packager but requires ARMC to rebuild the unit to extend the life of the unit. The rebuild will occur during Fiscal Year 2020-21.
The Swisslog (formerly called Talyst) automated dispensing system was implemented in 2006 at the County's correctional facilities and ARMC Outpatient Pharmacy, as part of a collaborative project involving ARMC, Sheriff and Probation Departments. This project implemented dispensing stations that allowed ARMC pharmacists to remotely review and approve prescriptions for inmates and nurses to obtain patient-specific medications on demand. The implementation of this system greatly improved safety of the medication distribution process at correctional institutions as the medication doses are individually packaged and labeled with the drug name, drug strength, and inmate’s location. This was recognized as best practice by Board of Pharmacy inspectors in 2014. The County of San Bernardino received an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo) in recognition of this innovative program.
The continued use of the automated dispensing system allows medications to be dispensed in the County’s correctional facilities on demand, eliminating medication waste. The reduction in waste and improved efficiency in medicating inmates reduces overall costs to the correctional facilities. Use of the automated dispensing system supports the goal of providing for the safety, health and social service needs of county inmates by providing efficient, safe and timely distribution of medications.
PROCUREMENT
On December, 4, 2018 (Item No. 19), the Board of Supervisors approved Agreement No. 18-843 with Translogic Corporation, DBA Swisslog Healthcare Solutions for ongoing technical support for the outpatient automated dispensing system in the amount of $48,305 for the one-year period of December 18, 2018, through December 17, 2019.
County Purchasing supports the continued justified non-competitive procurement for the recommended Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 18-843, as renewal of the existing service agreement with vendor is necessary to continue service of ARMC owned and existing proprietary equipment and to avoid disruption to the distribution of medication at ARMC’s Outpatient Pharmacy locations.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Bonnie Uphold, County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 11, 2019; Purchasing Department (Ricardo Salazar, Supervising Buyer, 387-2060) on October 11, 2019. Finance (Amanda Trussell, Principal Administrative Analyst, 387-4773) on October 21, 2019; and County Finance and Administration (Katrina Turturro, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on October 21, 2019.