COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health Services Agency

DATE:

May 20, 2004

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 8, 2004

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Charlene A. Silva, Director of Health Services

Brian Zamora, Director of Public Health and Environmental Protection

SUBJECT:

Agreement with the South Coast Collaborative under fiscal sponsorship of the La Honda/Pescadero Unified School District

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board to execute an agreement with the South Coast Collaborative under fiscal sponsorship of the La Honda/Pescadero Unified School District

Background

In 1999 the South Coast Collaborative, which represents the La Honda/Pescadero communities, sponsored a community-wide needs assessment. That survey found that community members faced difficulties in accessing health related services. The Public Health Division has used its Mobile Clinic staff and van to provide the residents of Pescadero with a broad range of health related services since 1996, but its use of the mobile health van was not frequent enough and left the South Coast communities without adequate access to health care.

Based on the needs assessment, the South Coast Collaborative awarded funding to Public Health in FY 2001-02 to increase services to the South Coast. Public Health opened a stationary clinic on the La Honda/Pescadero school district property. This funding allowed up to 20 hours per week of a Nurse Practitioner (NP) time and up to 20 hours per week of support staff time.

Discussion

This agreement provides the funding for the Public Health Division services at the fixed site for 2003-2004. The agreement also funds an extra-help nurse and related operating expenses for a total of 6 additional clinic days per month.

This will be the final year for Public Health to provide this service. The plan for continuation of service is to turn the Pescadero/La Honda school district clinic into a satellite of the Coastside Family Medical Center (CFMC). This conversion is a project of the South Coast Collaborative working with Public Health and the CFMC. By integrating the clinic into CFMC, the Public Health Division will use its Mobile Clinic staff and van to focus on its core mission of providing public health communicable disease services to transient populations on the South Coast.

Execution of this contract has been delayed due to difficulties by the La Honda/Pescadero School District, which is the fiscal agent for South Coast Collaborative, in awarding the grant to the Health Services Agency.

Performance Measures

FY 2001-02 Actual

FY 2002-03 Actual

FY 2003-04 Projected

Total number of visits to La Honda/Pescadero communities

1054

897*

1000

Number of case managed clients in La Honda/Pescadero communities

30

55

55

* The numbers for FY 2002-03 were lower than expected; this is primarily due to the lack of a NP for several months during the course of the year. However, the clinic remained open as a nursing clinic. This did limit the number of patients seen, especially with Pescadero. The site in La Honda remains busy and the numbers there have increased.

Vision Alignment

This agreement with the South Coast Collaborative under fiscal sponsorship of the La Honda/Pescadero Unified School District keeps the commitment of ensuring basic health and safety for all and goal number 5: Residents have access to healthcare and preventative care. The agreement contributes to this commitment and goal by providing basic clinical services for the populations on the South Coast.

Fiscal Impact

The agreement is for $114,920 for a period of one year beginning July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004. The Public Health approved budget for FY 2003-04 includes revenue and expenditure appropriations for this agreement. In-kind costs relating to project administration and clerical support have been provided for existing staff. There is no net County cost as a result of this agreement.