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Delegata Partners With California Department of Health Services to Deliver Expanded Newborn Screening Information System

Posted on: Friday, 5 August 2005, 21:00 CDT

Delegata, a premier consulting and systems integration firm, announced the launch of the expanded Newborn Screening Information System (SIS) with the Genetic Disease Branch (GDB) of the California Department of Health Services (DHS). Delegata provided Project Management (PM) for the SIS project's application development and implementation efforts. SIS provides prenatal and newborn screening for genetic disorders enabling medical providers to diagnose and treat afflicted children at an earlier age.

Legislation was passed in 2004 to expand the existing statewide newborn screening program. California newborns will now be tested for 75 hereditary and congenital disorders. As of August 1st, 2005, screening became mandatory for all 560,000 babies born in the state, except those whose parents have religious objections. Previously, California tested for 39 genetic disorders and annually found approximately 525 infants with genetic disorders. The expanded testing program is projected to annually identify an additional 80 to 130 infants with genetic disorders that would have otherwise gone untreated.

The new state-of-the-art SIS program utilizes a computer-based clinical screening system. SIS enables California health officials to more effectively screen infants for serious diseases, and improve the quality of life for children and their families. An Internet-based application, SIS integrates business processes for both newborn and prenatal screening, allows easy integration for exchange of test data, provides a platform to meet reporting needs, supports tandem mass-based testing, and enables the state to incorporate new tests with minimal effort in the future.

Delegata partnered with GDB and DHS to provide Project Management and PM support for the Deputy Director and DHS Management. Delegata's services included managing the project's schedule and budget, establishing project governance plans and processes, monitoring project quality, and managing communications between the various vendors, departments and steering committee. "Delegata was proud to receive the role of managing such a critical project for the state," said Kais Menoufy, President and CEO of Delegata. "The most valuable attribute of this project is not the complex advancements in technology that allowed for building such an intensive testing and reporting system, but the ability for health service providers to diagnose and treat previously undetected diseases thus saving the lives of the screened newborns."

Dr. George Cunningham, Chief of the Genetic Disease Branch for DHS, has been leading efforts, research and education to expand newborn screening programs since 1965. He has 40 years of public service with the California Department of Health Services, first as Chief of Maternal and Child Health, and since 1975 as Chief of the Genetic Disease Branch. The newborn screening program that he administers has screened over 12 million newborns. "The Newborn Screening Program provides information, training, consultation and technical assistance to hospitals, laboratories and other screening providers," said Dr. Cunningham. "We have seen that with the expanded SIS, intervention within days after birth can prevent mental retardation, brain damage and medical crises. Without such testing, genetic flaws are often treated later in life or children die unexpectedly." Dr. Cunningham has authored over 100 publications on newborn screening and public health genetics and provided literary contributions to several textbooks worldwide.

California is currently one of only 13 states that provide mandatory screening for more than 30 disorders in newborns. More importantly, California is unique in providing comprehensive follow-up to help afflicted babies receive the treatment they require to ensure a healthy future.

About Delegata

Delegata is a premier consulting and systems integration firm. Specializing in Project Management, Technology Planning and Analysis, Application Development, Package Integration, and Process Alignment, Delegata delivers Award Winning Total Solutions to its clients. The firm's comprehensive approach addresses business objectives and processes by leveraging broad implementation skills and multifaceted project management and technology expertise. Delegata's solutions facilitate a client's rapid transition to new technologies and processes while leveraging current investments. Utilizing strong industry acumen and its configurable Diamond Methodology, Delegata begins with client business objectives, aligns technology components, and delivers tightly integrated Total Solutions tailored to its clients' unique environments. Visit Delegata's website at www.delegata.com

About GDB/DHS

The Genetic Disease Branch of the California Department of Health Services 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 the Genetic Disease Branch is "To serve the people of California by reducing the emotional and financial burden of disability and death caused by genetic and congenital disorders." Visit GDB's website at www.dhs.ca.gov/pcfh/gdb/gdbindex.htm

Source: Business Wire

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