Though the original intention of this grant was to form a merger of the two organizations, they ultimately chose not to formally merge. In year 1 of the grant, PPNYC and PP Nassau County determined that it would be in their best interest to maintain a clear distinction based on the staffing and operations of each affiliate. Both organizations preferred to take a collaborative approach instead of a total integration of programs. PPNYC requested permission from NYHealth to reprogram and proceed with the grant.
NYHealth worked with PPNYC to modify the grant’s scope and reduced the original grant award by half—from $350,485 to $175,243. Instead of a merger, they agreed to combine some administrative functions and realize efficiencies. PPNYC provided technical assistance to PP Nassau County as it adopted an electronic health record (EHR). Rather than building its own EHR template—a labor-intensive and expensive process—PP Nassau County coordinated with PPNYC on implementing its EHR system. This partnership also allowed both affiliates to merge and unify their Quality Management programs to reduce duplication of efforts and provide a higher-quality standard of care for clients. Both organizations continue to collaborate on the planning and delivery of clinical services.
Although the grant did not go as planned, it achieved the following outcomes:
- Implemented an EHR system at PP Nassau County—including planning equipment and software installation, training, billing preparation, and work flow scheduling—that allows a patient’s record to be accessed at any PP Nassau County site; and
- Established a risk and quality management committee between the two affiliates to increase collaboration, exchange information, and streamline systems when possible.
Co-Funding and Additional Funds Leveraged: N/A
