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Innovative Approach to Grant Lifecycle Efficiency 

Problem Statement

Public health data systems are critical sources of actionable intelligence used
by federal, state, tribal, local, and territorial public health agencies to protect Americans against infectious and non-infectious health threats.

 

However, the nation’s public health data systems are antiquated, siloed, chronically underfunded, and rely on older surveillance methods, leading to delayed detection and response. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated a need to significantly improve the collection and use of critical health data at all levels of government while reducing the burden placed on those who provide the data. It is critical to recognize that these improvements are not solely technical upgrades.

 

A unified and comprehensive approach that addresses both technology and the broader factors impacting public health’s ability to share and use data – such as policies, interoperability standards, workforce skill development, and change management – is needed for sustainable, long-term success.

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For more than 20 years, CDC and awardees have managed the awardee grant management process using multiple systems. The use of multiple systems and the risk of human error have created a need for a single platform that allows for all the data to be collected into one system and easily compiled into usable data. Reducing the risk of human error and acting as a cost and time savings measure.

Solution

According to CDC’s Data Modernization Initiative (DMI) the nation will move
from siloed and brittle public health data systems to connected, resilient,
adaptable, and sustainable response-ready systems that can help us solve
problems before they happen and reduce the harm caused by the problems
that do happen. International Responder Systems (IRS) has created the GrantReady platform to interact with and enhance the public health data
system. GrantReady was developed by a team of former state, local and federal
(CDC) employees to ease the burden of reporting: financial and programmatic data.

One system gives the user the ability to collect, store, review, edit, approve,
and provide reports to other entities. GrantReady is currently able to meet 3 of
the 5 priorities of DMI with the ability to expand to meet all 5 priorities.

Priority 1: Build the Right Foundation
GrantReady provides a solution to strengthen and unify critical infrastructure
for a response-ready ecosystem by providing a secure and scalable
foundation with appropriate automated data sources to enable timely,
complete data sharing for public health action; break down silos that keep
critical data disconnected; and reduce the burden on STLT partners for
collecting and reporting data. Under this priority GrantReady allows its users

to transform legacy systems, processes, and activities and store, discover,
analyze, and visualize data.
Priority 2: Accelerate Data into Action to Improve Decision Making and
Protect Health
GrantReady ensures that the users can use data in a faster, more
interoperable way that, in turn, provides high-quality information that provides
a more real-time, comprehensive picture to improve decision-making and
protect health. Under this priority GrantReady can increase interoperability
through improved data standards and
increased data linkages.Equipping state and local users with the ability to
utilize ad hoc reporting across the span of the grant life cycle in real time.

Priority 4: Support and Extend Partnerships
Grant Ready allows state partners with the ability to better engage with local
partners, ensure transparency, quickly address policy challenges, and allow
for expedited reviews to solve problems.

GrantReady

GrantReady is a system that currently provides four interconnected modules for grant success: the Planning Guide; the Work Plan; the Spend Plan; and Reporting. Each of these modules provides a distinct advantage to the user due to the cost and time savings associated with the abandonment of individual or multiple spreadsheets and documents across varying systems.


The Planning Guide provides a customizable template for state users and can easily integrate with legacy systems. This module allows users to collate data and prioritize awards and plan for response activities and exercises, adhering to federal guidelines and meeting federal award criteria.


The Work Plan module allows the user to arrange data by domain, capability, and function; allowing the user to write, edit, copy, and paste data from any federal guidance. This feature acts as a time saving feature due to the ease of transferring data from system to system.


The Spend Plan provides a valuable linkage to the Work Plan and is also customizable. It includes budgets by budget period and fiscal year. It has an invoicing feature and allows the viewer to see the progress of funds being spent at each level.
 

Reporting and analytics are important to any program and GrantReady provides a solution for Mid-Year, Year End, and real-time reporting. At any moment, the user can view performance data and link data with legacy systems.

References

  1. CDC. (2023, March 2). Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program and Guidance. https://www.cdc.gov/orr/readiness/phep/index.htm
     

  2. ‌CDC. Data Modernization Initiative. (2022, April 7). https://www.cdc.gov/surveillance/data-modernization/index.html
     

  3. ‌Pub.L.13 -104th Congress (1995-1996): The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (2020). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-104publ13/html/PLAW-104publ13.htm
     

  4. CDC. PHEP ORR Reporting and Tracking System (PORTS). (2023, November 17). https://www.cdc.gov/orr/readiness/resources/ports.htm

Need more info?

Contact​

Graciela Malave
Clinical Laboratory Professional | Master Exercise Practitioner (MEP) / NIMS Instructor

grantready@internationalrespondersystems.com

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