County awarded two top statewide awards for innovation
Riverside County received seven awards for innovation from the California State Association of Counties, more than any other county in the state.
The county received its awards at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday. The awards included two Challenge awards, the association’s top honor. The award recognized two programs, one that created a team of volunteer pharmacists to assist during emergencies and a county-run pharmacy that saves taxpayer dollars.
“County employees were asked to be innovative during these difficult financial times to ensure residents continue getting the services they need and deserve,” said Board Chairman Jeff Stone. “ The awards recognize that our public servants have stepped up to that challenge.”
The county received two out of the 12 Challenge Awards given statewide. The County Pharmacy operates out of the county’s Rubidoux clinic and was developed by the Human Resources department to reduce prescription costs for county employees and residents. Prescription costs were escalating and accounted for 20 percent of all health care costs. The county-owned pharmacy was able to increase efficiency through the use of technology, bringing down costs.
The second Challenge Award went to the county Department of Public Health for its Volunteer Pharmacists program. In an emergency, the county identified that it would need to operate more than 100 locations to distribute medication. Public Health officials have teamed up with pharmacists, technicians and students throughout the county to ensure the resources are available to residents during an emergency.
The five Merit Awards are:
Building Industry Association/ Riverside County Streamlining Strike Force: In response to rising unemployment from reduced construction activity, a taskforce was created to identify ways to streamline the planning and permitting process. Several efficiency and cost-saving opportunities have resulted from the collaboration between county agencies and the building industry.
Engaging the Millennial Generation in Public Service: The Human Resources Department has teamed up with local colleges and other student networks to create awareness of public service careers and indentify potential recruits. Through information interviews, workshops and internships, the program has provided exposure to students on local government service opportunities.
Landfill Vector Control: State law requires effective vector control at the county’s landfills. When other measures didn’t work at reducing the bird population at Lambs Canyon landfill, the county Waste Management Department brought in a real bird predator: the falcon. A trained falcon flies above the disposal pad, effectively dispersing the birds. It has helped reduce costs from potential fines and has been an effective vector control tool.
Santa Ana River Trail and Parkway Partnership: The partnership was created in 2005 to finish a 100-mile trail along the Santa Ana River. Running from the San Bernardino Mountains to the Orange County coast, the trail project required multi-agency collaboration. The partnership was already had some successes, such as securing $45 million in state bonds and completing a key 19-mile segment between San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
Seclusion and Restraint Reduction Program: Through education and oversight, the county hospital was able to reduce its use of seclusion and restraint of patients by 700 percent over a seven-year period. Staff was trained to deescalate and prevent assaultive behaviors and now seclusion and restraint is used as a last resort. The goal is to completely eliminate the need to use seclusion and restraint at the county hospital.
The county also was recognized with 26 honorable mentions for various programs that assist residents in the community. A complete listing of programs that received Challenge Awards, Merit Awards and honorable mention is available on the California State Association of Counties web site: www.csac.counties.org.