Wednesday, December 4, 2024
12/4/2024
The Baltimore County (“County”) Department of Health (BCDH) operates under a mission to promote health and prevent disease through education, advocacy, linkages to resources and treatment thereby improving the quality of life for Baltimore County residents. Under Health Officer purview, this mission and vision encompasses areas of behavioral health, clinical services, community health services, health care access and prevention, and protection and preparedness. The County works in alignment with State of Maryland (“State”) initiatives such as the Opioid Operational Command Center, Public Health and Behavioral Health Administrations to address the impact of the opioid epidemic, which reached crisis levels within the County. In addition to BCDH, the Baltimore County Police Department –Law Enforcement, Baltimore County Fire Department-Emergency Medical Services (EMS)-First Responders and Baltimore County Detention Center – Corrections are engaged in countywide responses to opioid prevention, intervention, enforcement and protection efforts. The combined efforts of these four entities represents “front-line” management and responsibility for triaging substance use disorder, especially reducing fatal and nonfatal opioid overdoses in the third most populous of the 23 jurisdictions within Maryland. The successful achievement of this purpose requires coordinating the numerous data and reporting transactions that make up the problem solving and lifesaving operations of each unique entity. The success rate for achieving lifesaving outcomes increases for all entities through the availability of “real-time” transactional data. The proposed project includes a Just In Time database to support the surveillance and prevention efforts of four county agencies (BCDH, Police, Fire/EMS and the Department of Social Services). Annual estimates indicate each entity generates over 18,000 opioid related transactions, reflecting a responsive network, inclusive of State investments in the Local Opioid Intervention Team (OIT) led by the County Emergency Manager and Health Officer. The Just In Time database builds on State outlays by prioritizing these combined transactions, identifies the utility, content and specifications of technology and establishes standard mechanisms for reporting, monitoring and data transfers between the collaborating entities. The Just In Time database will then provide data to inform multiple interventions, to include academic detailing; targeted interventions to high-risk populations and communities; and Patient Navigator and Peer Recovery Specialist support services for individuals receiving services from Baltimore County Substance Exposed Newborns Unit. The expected outcomes of Baltimore County’s Data to Action project include increased prescriber knowledge of safe opioid prescribing practices; increased access to care for individuals who are at risk of opioid overdose; and identification and implementation of County-wide, data-driven interventions. Key Personnel for the proposed project are the Baltimore County Health Officer; Chief, Office of Quality Improvement; Chief, Bureau of Behavioral Health; Program Manager; Epidemiologist; Interagency Opioid Coordinator; and EMS Lieutenant. BCDH will review options for database architecture to meet geo-mapping, tracking, reporting, data transformations, security, confidentiality and customization, all of which are functionalities designed.to complement state systems and meet the required strategies of this NOFO. The proposed project reflects a County-wide approach to implement data-driven, evidence-based interventions with the overarching goal of reducing opioid overdoses for Baltimore County residents.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
