Advancing the Business of EH: A look Inside Los Angeles County Environmental Health’s Project to Reengineer its Business Services

In August 2012, the County of Los Angeles, Division of Environmental Health embarked upon a major multi-year project to modernize its business processes and services. The division will transition from paper-based inspection, permit, and licensing flows to a highly-integrated computer software system.

Through three project phases the County will deploy the overarching software solution, EnvisionConnect, to over 800 employees including 450 field inspectors. The effort spans all health programs and all offices. At the same time, the County’s forms and data-flows will be optimized and modernized.

The Division’s goals have a significant impact for the County, its businesses, and the community. The highest level goals include:

• To automate the collection of EH information
• To capture real-time EH information (inspection, violation, and payment information)
• To improve capability to manage information within EH programs
• To integrate with other County of Los Angeles Departments
• To improve the accuracy and integrity of data
• To develop a system consistent with County’s Strategic Plan goal of “Workforce Excellence and Fiscal Responsibility”

We are extremely fortunate to have the LA County Division of Environmental Health Assistant Director, Terri Williams, recount the project’s origins and progress. She will also expand on the significance that this project holds for the County and its objective to be a regional and national leader. Decade Software’s Product Manager, Darryl Booth, will recount the project’s technical successes, hurdles, and expectations going forward.

This presentation is relevant to every health department aspiring to achieve that next level of service and efficiency. Small or large, projects like this require leadership, teamwork, and management of organizational change.