CA Dept. of Health Care Services (CDHCS) Case Studies
The Genetic Disease Branch (GDB) is part of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). At the time of Delegata’s project with GDB, it was part of the California Department of Health Services (DHS), which is now named the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).
The GDB works to protect and improve the health of all Californians. It runs the largest screening program in the world and sets the standard in delivering high-quality, cost-effective genetic services to all Californians. The mission of GDB is “To serve the people of California by reducing the emotional and financial burden of disability and death caused by genetic and congenital disorders.”
GDB’s newborn genetic and congenital disorder screening program performs nearly a million annual tests and uses computer-based analytical tests and patient information to determine the risk that a fetus or newborn will suffer a particular disease. Time is of the essence for these screening programs since treatment of affected newborns must begin immediately. GDB partnered with Delegata to provide Project Management support for this mission critical endeavor.
The California Department of Health Services (DHS) Genetic Disease Branch’s (GDB) newborn genetic and congenital disorder screening program performs nearly a million annual tests. The screening programs use computer-based analytical tests and patient information to determine the risk that a fetus or newborn will suffer a particular disease. Time is of the essence for these screening programs since treatment of affected newborns must begin immediately. GDB asked Delegata to provide Project Management support for this mission-critical project to deploy a more automated replacement system.
Project Management
The Challenge
GDB’s existing data processing system no longer provided the efficiency and flexibility to meet expanding needs. Delegata was asked to contribute project management and oversight to the new, critical replacement initiative, named the Screening Information System (SIS). The challenge: coordinate development activities for a highly experienced system integration vendor and deliver the system’s benefits on schedule and within budget. DHS executives also wanted to ensure that this highly visible IT initiative would be a “textbook” example of how large scale IT projects should be properly executed.
The Solution
Incorporating Delegata’s Diamond© Methodology, Delegata worked closely with DHS management and their integration vendor to establish a project management solution that was open, flexible and extendable. Delegata managed this GDB mission-critical software development project utilizing PMBOK, IEEE and SEI standards combined with DHS PMO and Department of Finance (DOF) process and reporting standards. This approach resulted in highly integrated Change Management, Configuration Control, and Risk Management processes uniquely customized for the needs of the SIS project team and management. Utilizing Delegata’s Diamond IT Project Oversight Framework Assessment Tool, we significantly enhanced DHS’ PMO ability to rapidly comply with DOF’s new reporting process, with emphasis on Risk Management.
The Benefits
DHS now has extensive PMO documents and fully compliant best practice processes that meet DOF requirements and offer customizable projects. Delegata developed industry and DHS-standard project planning documents, organized the core project team and set the stage for vendor and state technologists to implement the SIS system. Multiple project “kick-offs” were scheduled for executive, program, and data center stakeholders to further ensure that all participants shared open lines of communication. Additionally, we integrated existing DHS PMO risk planning processes to include DOF’s new Information Technology Project Oversight Framework.
