COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

San Mateo Medical Center

DATE:

November 16, 2005

BOARD MEETING DATE:

December 6, 2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Nancy J. Steiger, Chief Executive Officer

SUBJECT:

Agreement with Sequoia Anesthesia Consultants

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board to execute an Agreement with Sequoia Anesthesia Consultants for anesthesiology and pain management services from November 1, 2005 through October 31, 2006

Vision Alignment

This agreement keeps the commitment to Ensure Basic Health and Safety for All and goal number 5: Provide residents access to healthcare and preventive care.

The Agreement contributes to this commitment and goal by increasing anesthesia availability to county patients and allowing the San Mateo Medical Center to fully operate a third surgical suite.

Performance Measure:

Measure

FY2004-05

FY2005-06

1. Internal Customer Satisfaction: Percentage of physician surveys of anesthesia services assessing communication, timeliness, and overall quality rated at levels 4 or 5 on a 5 point scale.

2. Control the risk of healthcare-associated infections and adhere to infection control standards as defined by Joint Commission, Title 22, and other applicable standards.

3. Increase overall ASA productivity for anesthesiology services

N/A

N/A

29,661 units

>80%

100%

35,000 units

Background

San Mateo County is responsible for providing necessary medical care to its medically indigent population. This care includes professional anesthesia services. Anesthesia services were previously provided by Drs. Herbert and Cohen Medical Group, Inc. and their contract expired on October 31, 2005.

Discussion

The San Mateo Medical Center is increasing schedule time in its third surgical suite and is still in preparation for the labor and delivery service. The previous Contractor determined that they would not be able to fully staff the needs of an expanded anesthesiology program beyond October 31, 2005. An RFP for anesthesiology was issued August 1, 2005 to put in place a comprehensive anesthesiology program specifically addressing labor and delivery services and expanded pain management protocols. Five responses were received and after extensive review and interviews, Sequoia Anesthesia Consultants was selected as the most competitive bidder.

The Agreement budget of $1,660,000 is a 3.6% reduction from the previous anesthesia contract to reflect the delay in implementation of the labor and delivery service line. Anesthesiology productivity will continue to be tracked in terms of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) relative value units of measure. Actual number of surgeries are expected to increase, however, with the opening of a third surgical suite for two days a week effective November 1, and expanded to 5 days a week effective January 1, 2006.

Anesthesia services are provided under the general direction of the Deputy Director of Patient Care Services. Monitoring and evaluation of the quality of services provided by contractor are accomplished through peer review by the Quality Assurance Committee and the Executive Committee of the medical staff.

Fiscal Impact

The term of the Agreement is from November 1, 2005 through October 31, 2006. The maximum amount the County shall be obligated to pay Contractor is $1,660,000. Funds are included in the San Mateo Medical Center’s FY2005-06 Adopted Budget.