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Perfect Timing for a Public-Private Partnership: An eHealth Opportunity for Local Non-Profit Organization
Denise Chambley, Pharm.D., Director Medical Services, GlaxoSmithKline

Almost every day there are announcements somewhere of a partnership.  Everything from corporations donating money towards disaster relief efforts, to the Government working with other countries to improve world peace, to couples uniting in marriage.  These are all partnerships involving individuals or groups coming together around a shared common interest.  Implicit in partnering is some level of risk-taking and vulnerability while each partner gives something of themselves in order to gain something in return.   

There is a unique partnership underway in South East San Diego County between the rurally based non-profit MHCS (Mountain Health and Community Services) and the worldwide pharmaceutical company GSK (GlaxoSmithKline).  In this article, Denise Chambley explains how she is on board to help improve healthcare, a goal shared by both organizations.

The GSK PULSE Program
In early 2009, GSK launched a new initiative called the PULSE program.  PULSE is an integral part of GSK’s commitment to work with communities around the world.  Through this program high-performing GSK employees are matched with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to lend their professional expertise, knowledge and skills to meet an NGO need in exchange for an opportunity for the employee to learn new ways of approaching problems and operations from the NGO partners, which they can then bring back with them to GSK.

The Partners - DRI, MHCS, GSK
Having partnered with GSK for several years, Direct Relief International (DRI) was one of the first organizations to get involved with the initiative.   DRI provides medical assistance and essential material to improve the quality of life for people affected by poverty, disaster, and civil unrest at home and throughout the world.

MHCS is a nonprofit community health organization with five California clinic sites located in Campo, Jacumba, San Diego, Escondido and Alpine.  MHCS has a 35 year record of providing quality care to the people in the communities it serves and has a solid vision of a time when all their community residents have local access to the health and social services that they need.  DRI and MHCS have been community partners for several years.  When the opportunity to submit a proposal for a PULSE volunteer came, Judith Shaplin, CEO of MHCS was quick to see the potential benefit for the population served by MHCS.  She proposed for a PULSE volunteer to help deliver several Health Information Technology (HIT) initiatives. 

Through the GSK PULSE program matching process, I was matched to MHCS.  I have worked at GSK for 12 years.  I was awarded the PULSE assignment because of my skills and experience in leadership, project management, change management and developing large plans.  For six months, I will be working with Judith Shaplin and Lisa Orman, HIT Director to assist with the development of a comprehensive HIT plan.  This plan will serve as the foundation to help carry the MHCS vision forward for technology opportunities in the health arena. 

The Opportunity to Improve Healthcare in Rural CA
The timing of this partnership is perfect for increased utilization of health information technology by MHCS.  For the past 5 years MHCS has taken advantage of telemedicine technology to link patients with providers amongst their own sites.  Most recently MHCS is implementing telemedicine programs that will link MHCS to specialists in the University of California Medical Centers and having other community clinics link into MHCS providers.  This is only the beginning of what can be accomplished.

Currently, there is a strong incentive for community clinics, and in particular rural health care clinics, to implement electronic health records and other electronic systems that allow the capture and storing of their patient records.  The Stimulus Bill, (formerly known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, ARRA), was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009.  The Act specified the appropriation of $787 billion (total) to help stimulate the US economy.  Around $148 billion of that is earmarked for Healthcare and of that $19.2 billion was specifically marked for Health Information Technology.

The financial incentives start becoming available in 2011 for those providers and hospitals that can demonstrate early adoption of electronic health records/electronic medical records.  MHCS is dedicated to making sure it is poised to receive any funds available through this plan. The funds help keep the clinics going so MHCS can continue to serve.

Besides financial incentives, there are many reasons to ‘beef up’ HIT in rural healthcare for the benefit of patients.  The potential benefits include:

These are all areas that MHCS continues to strive for excellence in their delivery of healthcare.

Optimizing technology in the health system is not new but is underutilized in rural health care mainly due to costs of implementation of such systems.  The costs of computers, software, licenses, devices, systems, training and the manpower to maintain these systems can be expensive.  Often these are the last items to get funded or to get upgrades.  MHCS realizes that to achieve its mission it must keep technology an ongoing important focus.

The PULSE partnership gives MHCS a full-time person, whose time can be focused on developing an efficient, flexible Health IT plan, providing a tool that can be used for decision making and strategy for MHCS.  This will allow MHCS to build a technology roadmap for the future.

Mountain Health, GlaxoSmithKline, Direct Relief and I are all excited about this partnership.  At the heart of these organizations is a central desire to serve people.  With the PULSE program rippling through MHCS, the organization can continue on target with their mission to serve.

About the author:
Dr. Denise Chambley is Director, Medical Services at GlaxoSmithKline.  A 12 year employee of GlaxoSmithKline, Denise works at the US GlaxoSmithKline Headquarters in Research Triangle Park, NC. Denise Chambley, Pharm.D. was originally trained as a clinical pharmacist and has many years experience working in a variety of healthcare settings to include small and large hospitals, small and large retail pharmacy settings, home health care and Department of Defense, Army Medical Centers.  At GSK, Denise has managed large projects and teams in R&D Medical Services which is made up of Medical Information and Regional Medical Scientists.  She has experience coordinating, managing and planning projects that rely on technology.  She was awarded the PULSE assignment because of her skills and experience in leadership, project management, change management and developing large plans.

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