Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Jon Walton, CIO/Director, Information Services Department
Louise Rogers, Chief, Health System
Subject: Agreement with Telmediq for Secure Text Messaging Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Smart Pager Systems Inc. d/b/a "Telmediq" to provide a secure communications system service, for the term of February 13, 2018 through February 12, 2021, for a not to exceed amount of $482,000.
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BACKGROUND:
On May 15, 2017, the Health System released a Request for Proposals (RFP), RFP HIT-2017-610-001, seeking proposals for secure texting services for the County. Eleven proposals were received and reviewed by a combination of Health and ISD staff. Telmediq was selected as the most qualified vendor because the company's service offering best met all of the County's requirements. This includes simplicity of deployment, security of confidential data, message archiving, outreach to external community members, cost, and integration with current health system applications.
DISCUSSION:
Text and instant messaging is becoming a de-facto protocol for communication. The County is witnessing an explosion of Short Message Service (SMS) use for business purposes. This is particularly true in the Health System, where clinical exchanges that involve electronic protected health information and other sensitive information are known to occur. This raises considerable security concerns, as standard SMS has little or no data protection.
Admin Memo B-19, which has been in place since 2014, states that users should not use SMS for business, but this is not deterring users. Further, the California Supreme Court ruled in March 2017 that texts are a matter of public record. Without a technology product that captures and secures SMS use, the County cannot expect to comply with this ruling.
This agreement will provide all ...
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