Resource Connection Network Frequently Asked Questions
The Resource Connection Network
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Because we want to emphasize the following:
Community-led decision making
Community-based, equity driven access
Connecting all sectors together (Community Based Organizations (CBOs), healthcare, schools, & government)
Interoperability
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It is available to all who would like to use it, not just for large systems and health centers.
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We are building the Resource Connection Network using the Community Information Exchange Model to support cross-sector coordination among diverse partners from health and behavioral health care, social services, education, the legal system, tribal entities, and other organizations.
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Our Community Information Exchange model has a broader focus. (i.e., ACCESS and Apricot are focused on smaller subsets of data)
Ninepatch is dedicated to interoperability to be able to talk to any system that is willing to connect with them.
Opportunities to expand regionally.
NinePatch
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NinePatch is the technology vendor that SCSU (Sonoma Connect I Sonoma Unidos), Community Action Partnership (CAP), and Aliados Health (AH) have partnered with as well as the name of the platform.
After vetting multiple products this was the platform that was selected by our community leaders or the RCN Action Team.
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During our Request for Proposal process NinePatch was the technology that scored the highest for its ability to meet community desired functions, which included the ability to connect and communicate to existing platforms and allow for close-loop referrals.
The platform is designed to help the end-user (focused on the client and the user).
It has an easy to use and intuitive interface.
The system upholds the value of a patient-centered approach.
Eligibility requirements for participation are clear for organizations. (Please see Client Pathways and Referrals section for more information on In-Network and Out-of-Network providers.)
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NinePatch focuses on three main concepts: Whole Person Care (WPC), Community Convener Services, and Referral Information Exchange (RIE).
NinePatch Whole Person Care (WPC) - Streamline care coordination with no wrong door support, robust identity consent, Social Drivers of Health (SDOH) screening tools, reporting, and time-saving referral processes.
NinePatch Community Convener Services - Collaborate with public, private, and community providers to foster high-value care coordination and referrals. Simplify the steps for beneficiaries, members, patients, clients, and consumers to receive support services.
Referral Information Exchange (RIE) - links clinicians with community-based organizations offering programs and services to address social determinants of health. The referral information exchange platform simplifies data exchange data across organizations—both in-network and out-of-network. The idea being to initiate and close the loop on in and out-of-network clinical or social care referrals regardless of an organization’s technical capabilities.
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Yes, a patient portal implementation has been discussed and currently the NinePatch team is working on this as well as other updates. The portal will have client-facing fields available in both English and Spanish.
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Ninepatch is currently exploring how to implement case management into their platform.
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For a video demo of the NinePatch system please click here.
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User cost is $50 per person at a starting rate and will decrease as more users begin to use the system.
AH/CAP/SCSU will be responsible for paying these fees during the duration of the pilots.
Privacy and Security training will also be a cost for users to consider.
AH/CAP/SCSU will provide a stipend for you to use as you wish.
Consent
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The number one concern from the community during the initial implementation process was consent, therefore we partnered with Intrepid Ascent and NinePatch on developing clear and concise language around consent.
The consent process is client-focused and client-driven.
There are multiple tiers of consent allowing the client to choose who their information is shared with.
To view the RCN Consent Form please click below.
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Please see RCN Consent Tiers PDF for more information
Organizations will be able to request consent from their clients through text, email, in person (electronic upload), or via the website.
The consent document used within the RCN system acts as the Release of Information (ROI) document.
Consent is a more comprehensive term, hence there is no need to have an individual ROI form as well.
However, individual organizations can upload specific ROIs into a document vault should they wish to.
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Please see the Client Pathway Diagram for more information.
Currently, ONLY social referrals are being made. We hope to share medical and behavioral health resources in the future as well.
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During the piloting phase, only pilots will be able to refer to each other with the intention of slowly expanding through each consecutive phase.
The Resource Connection Network will incorporate the 211-resource directory thereby providing access to a variety of social services in which clients can be referred to such as food, housing, legal aid, senior services, transportation, etc.
Each organization will need to opt in to participate (In-Network) and close the loop on referrals for the system to get the full impact.
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In-Network providers are the organizations that have signed on to use the RCN system.
These entities have signed the necessary paperwork and completed both platform specific and Privacy & Security trainings.
NinePatch licenses are provided for each user associated with the organization.
They will have the most access to the system in terms of managing client data and closing the loop on referrals.
Out-of-Network Providers are those organizations that have not contracted with us to use the RCN system.
These entities can still be referred to using the RCN resource directory which will pull organization data from 211-United Way.
These organizations receive a one-time log-in when referred to electronically and are not allowed to have access to any personal client data.
An option to print out the care packet (complete with referral information) is also available for the client to follow up manually should they wish to do so.
Due to limited access, these entities will not be able to use the system to close the loop on client referrals, however the system will still indicate that the client was referred for services to the organization in question.
*Please note the words “entity” and “organization” are used interchangeably
Client Pathway & Referrals
Referrals and Resource Directory
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See Pathway Diagram
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Currently, only social referrals are being made. Eventually medical and behavioral health information will also be shared.
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During the piloting phase, only pilots will be able to refer to each other with the intention of slow expansion.s can you refer to within NinePatch?
The Resource Connection Network will have the 211 resource directory in it so there will be a variety of services available to refer clients to such as food, housing, legal aid, senior services, transportation, etc.
Also each organization has to also opt in to participate and receive and close the loop on referrals for the system to get the full impact.
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We are partnering with 211 United Way of the Wine Country to have our resource directory be powered through them.
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Currently, this option is not available, however we are exploring what a bi-directional connection may look like.
The correct process to make updates to data herein 211 is to submit a resource update form, which you may access here.
The update form takes 1 business day to process.
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For questions related to the 211 directory please contact Yesenia Gaytan at yesenia.gaytan@unitedwaywinecountry.org
211 United Way also holds office hours that you are welcome to drop by and ask questions during.
Register here for upcoming office hours with Yesenia.
Data Governance
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Sonoma Connect owns the data and fosters community-based data equity.
NinePatch offers a robust system of data governance features.
Users of the NinePatch system will have tiered data access permissions.
For instance, any entity or user added into the system can be masked from seeing parts of the client’s personal history that are not prevalent to them.
E.g., A homeless shelter will have no need to see the client’s medical history so this part will be inaccessible to their users.
Different consent options will also allow who is able to see Protected Health Information (PHI) based on the client’s preference.
You may view a copy of the RCN Intake Fields & Custom Intake Form here.
For questions related to the Resource Connection Network platform, Action Team, or Ninepatch please contact Harman Basra, RCN Network Manager