COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Employee and Public Services Department

 

DATE:

December 24, 2003

BOARD MEETING DATE:

January 13, 2004

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Mary Welch, Director of Employee and Public Services
Priscilla Morse, Risk Manager

SUBJECT:

Amendment to Agreement with Workforce Medical Group

 
 

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board to execute an amendment to an agreement with Workforce Medical Group to increase the amount of the contract by $150,000 to provide pre-placement and occupational health monitoring physical examinations and services.

 

Background

On September 18, 2001, your Board approved Resolution No. 64770 authorizing the execution of a three-year contract with Workforce Medical Group that expires on September 30, 2004. Workforce Medical conducts pre-placement physical examinations for applicants in selected classifications to determine the applicant's ability to perform the essential functions of the job, and if accommodation is necessary and/or feasible. Additionally, employees may receive inoculations against communicable diseases such as Hepatitis A and B that they may be exposed to on the job.

Federal and State standards mandate that the County provide certain occupational safety and health monitoring of employees including respiratory protection, hearing conservation, hazardous materials and DMV physicals. Overall, approximately 2500 employees and applicants fall under the services provided by the pre-placement and occupational health monitoring program.

 

Discussion

The increase in the cost of the contract is primarily due to the fact that approximately 200 employees were hired to staff the Burlingame Long Term Care facility in October 2003. All these employees were required to have a pre-placement physical examination and Hepatitis A and B vaccination series. Additionally, more employees than anticipated were hired in FY 2001-2002, before the hiring freeze was imposed.

Feedback from employees continues to indicate a high level of satisfaction with the convenient location, quality of services and courtesy of staff at the clinic. Additionally, Risk Management has received positive feedback about Workforce Medical from other physicians in the community who have consulted on cases involving employees of the County. Of great benefit is that the primary physician at the clinic is fully certified on Occupational Health.

 

Vision Statement

This item keeps the commitment of responsive, effective and collaborative government through goal number 20: Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain.

 

Fiscal Impact

The amount of the contract will increase from $412,500 to $562,500. The costs of the services continue to be paid out of the workers' compensation trust fund.