San Bernardino County Amongst Top 10 for Digital Innovation

When it comes to technology, San Bernardino County is one of the most innovative and pioneering counties in the nation, according to the Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties. San Bernardino County ranked 8th in the nation following the Center for Digital Government’s 2015 Digital Counties Survey, which identifies best technology practices of counties in the United States. The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute focused on technology policy and best practices in state and local government. “Once again, San Bernardino County shows its excellence on a national scale,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman James Ramos. “I commend our Information Services Department for staying ahead of the curve in an ever-changing industry and serving the public with convenience and transparency.” The Digital Counties Survey found the Countywide Vision was a driving force to make the County’s business transparent with open data, public-facing websites, mobile apps and social media. The County’s Open Government Portal provides the public with information on campaign finance disclosures, property records, employee pay, and budget information. Public safety initiatives include upgrading a communication system that is compatible with neighboring governments and a radio policy that standardizes communications between emergency medical services personnel and hospitals. In addition, the Information Services Department in partnership with other County departments designed an automated referral system for Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, eliminating an outdated manual process to improve data accuracy and integrity. The 2015 Digital Counties Survey ranked Fairfax County, Virginia first in counties with a population of 500,000 or more. Regionally, San Diego County ranked second and Ventura County ranked 10th. The Center for Digital Government will present the awards today during the NACo annual conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. During the past four years, San Bernardino County has claimed nearly 150 national and state innovation awards for developing or improving services for county residents and investors. Last month, the county led the nation in claiming 46 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties.