# Presentation: 525375

## Please Take a Handout Located in the Back of the Room

**Please Take a Handout Located in the Back of the Room**

## Managing Your Outsourcing Relationships

- Presented by
**Carol J. Law Ph.D.  - SAPA**

## Due Diligence

- Who are the partnering organizations?
- What can I expect of the MRO?
- Where are the collection sites?
- When can I expect my results, random selections, and reports?
- How are changes in rules and policy handled?

## The Contract

- Lowest Price - pure bid
- Best Service - negotiation
- Combination
- Is price your only consideration?

## Clear Communication & Understanding

- Trust
- Transparency

## TRUST

- Say what your going to do,
- and then do what you say
- you are going to do!

## Trust

- Trust begins during the negotiation process
- Trust is built over time
- Trust is dependant on clear responsibilities

## Clear Responsibilities

- Understand the roles of the:
- DER
- TPA
- MRO
- SAP

## Role of the DER

- Authorized by the employer to take immediate action to remove employees from safety-sensitive duties or cause employees to be removed from these covered duties
- Make required decisions in the testing and evaluation process
- Receives test results and other communications for the employer
- Service agents _cannot_ act as DER’s

## Role of the TPA

- Act as intermediary in the transmission of drug and alcohol testing information
- Operate random testing programs for employers and may assist employers with other types of testing
- May combine employees for more than one employer in a random pool
- Assist employers in ensuring that follow-up testing is conducted in accordance with the plan established by the SAP

## Role of the MRO

- Independent “gatekeeper”
- Advocate for accuracy and integrity
- Provide quality assurance
- Determine if there is a legitimate medical explanation for laboratory confirmed positive, adulterated, substituted, and invalid drug testing results
- Ensure the timely flow of test results
- Protect the confidentiality of drug test information

## Role of the SAP

- Evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation
- Make recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and after care
- SAP’s are an advocate for neither the employer nor the employee
- SAP’s function to protect the public interest in safety

## Location

- Where are your records and how are they maintained?
- Where are the collection sites located in relation to you?
- Where is your MRO located and where are the nearest available SAP’s?

## Record Maintenance

- Where are records located?
- How are they accessible?
- When are they updated?

## Collection Sites

**Location and Review of Collection Site**
**Urban** – Collections /  BAT’s /  SAP
**Suburban** – Collections /  BAT’s / SAP
**Rural** – The *Extra* Challenge

## The Laboratory

- SAMHSA Approved
- Do they provide a list of laboratories?

## MRO 

- Location and Review of MRO
- Is the MRO knowledgeable about the local community?
- Does the MRO have local physicians available if a special review becomes necessary?

## SAP

- Location and review of SAP’s
- Do you have a list of SAP’s to select from?
- Are the SAP’s certified and credentialed?
- Are they conveniently located?

## Timeliness

- Requests for information
- Records
- Reports

## TRANSPARENCY

-    Sharing of a business’ internal practices, processes, and results is a powerful force in business today.

## Candidness

- Reveal the Who, What, Where, When, and How of the participants relationship
- Rights and Responsibilities

## Credentials

- Who are their working partners?
- Are they associated with SAPAA- DATIA?

## Continuing Education

- Are they up to date on rules and policy changes?
- Do they provide training opportunities for supervisors?

## Technology

- Are they using the best available technology for testing, data storage, data transmittal, and record keeping?

## Security and Security

- Case Law
- Statutes
- Legislation
- i.e., D/L Isomer law suit to produce new protocol

## AUDIT

- If it’s not written
- down it didn't happen!

## Attitude

- TPA/ MRO
- Are they defensive?
- Do they encourage review?
- Are they experienced?
- What is their comfort level?

## Attendance

- DER Interview 30-90 Minutes
- Operations Personnel
- Discussion with HR
- Phone interview with MRO, TPA, and SAP
- The SAP _must_ be local!

## Follow Up

## Corrective Action

## New Protocol

## DER/ TPA