When floodwaters compromised San Mateo Public Health Lab operations, Primary.Health technology rose to the occasion, re-routing orders to a supporting lab.
Emergencies often strike without warning, testing the resilience and adaptability of public health systems. In early 2024, devastating floods directly impacted the operations of the San Mateo Public Health Lab (PHL). As floodwaters compromised the lab’s facility, critical diagnostic services faced the risk of disruption. In this critical moment, Primary.Health stepped in to provide an innovative solution, ensuring electronic orders for diverted specimens could be routed to a supporting lab, minimizing the need for manual entry and paper requisitions.
Challenge: Responding to PHL Flooding Event
The flooding event presented significant challenges for the San Mateo PHL. With their facility temporarily compromised, the lab needed to reroute critical diagnostic orders to the San Francisco Public Health Lab (SF PHL). However, existing manual processes for cross-lab collaboration threatened to delay testing turnaround times—a delay that impacts patients relying on accurate and timely results.
Solution: Deploying Emergency ETOR Portal
Primary.Health, a trusted partner in public health data modernization, quickly activated an emergency Electronic Test Ordering and Reporting (ETOR) portal. Leveraging existing integrations and interoperability infrastructure, this solution allowed San Mateo PHL to seamlessly route test orders to SF PHL. The emergency ETOR portal included the following features:
- Rapid deployment: Within hours, Primary.Health established the portal, quickly enabling electronic lab-to-lab test ordering services during the crisis.
- Automated data transfers: By utilizing existing integrations with laboratory information management systems (LIMS), the solution eliminated the need for manual data entry at SF PHL, reducing errors and saving time.
- Scalable infrastructure: The ETOR portal leveraged Primary.Health’s integration hub, ensuring it could support future emergencies with minimal additional configuration.
Impact: A Case Study in Public Health Resilience
The collaboration between San Mateo PHL, SF PHL, and Primary.Health produced remarkable results:
- Uninterrupted services: HIV and viral load testing continued without delay, ensuring timely care for patients in need.
- Efficiency gains: The automation of data workflows reduced manual labor, allowing lab staff to focus on other critical tasks.
- Strengthened preparedness: This emergency response demonstrated the importance of interoperable systems, paving the way for more robust public health infrastructure in the future.
San Mateo PHL highlighted the ease of using the interface and the quick setup, which allowed their team to rapidly adapt to the emergency. SF PHL emphasized the value of leveraging this partnership to manage specimens electronically during the crisis, showcasing the adaptability and scalability of the solution.
Primary’s platform simplified our emergency diversion efforts at a critical moment. With little time to learn a new system, it was easy to use and quick to implement (even without being integrated into our LIMS), allowing us to rapidly adapt during our flooding event. The ability to route test orders electronically helped ensure continuity of operations during a time of need.
Kristina Hsieh, Lab Director,San Mateo PHL
Looking Ahead: Building on Lessons Learned
The San Mateo flood diversion event underscored the critical role of interoperability and flexibility in public health emergencies. As we reflect on this experience, Primary.Health remains committed to:
- Expanding emergency readiness: Enhancing ETOR capabilities to support more labs in times of crisis.
- Driving public health modernization: Partnering with public health agencies to create systems that adapt to evolving challenges.
- Fostering collaboration: Building stronger ties between public health labs to ensure seamless support during emergencies.
At Primary.Health, our mission is to empower public health systems with tools that meet today’s challenges while preparing for tomorrow’s uncertainties. Together, we can ensure every patient receives timely, quality care—no matter the circumstances. I’m available to provide more details on how our Connect PHL interoperability solution can enhance lab efficiency, workflows, and emergency preparedness.
