COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

San Mateo Medical Center

DATE:

March 8, 2006

BOARD MEETING DATE:

April 4, 2006

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Nancy J. Steiger, Chief Executive Officer, San Mateo Medical Center

SUBJECT:

Agreement with Per Diem Staffing Systems, Inc.

Recommendation

Adopt a Resolution:

A) Waiving the Request for Proposal (RFP) Process

B) Authorizing the execution of an Agreement with Per Diem Staffing Systems,

Inc. to provide San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) with temporary

respiratory staffing for the term of April 1, 2006 to March 31, 2007, in an

amount not to exceed $150,000

C) Authorizing the Chief Executive Officer of San Mateo Medical Center to
execute amendments not to exceed $25,000

Vision Alignment

Commitment: Ensure Basic Health and Safety for All.

Goal 5: Provide residents access to healthcare and preventive care.

This agreement contributes to this commitment and goal by continuing to provide respiratory care staffing at San Mateo Medical Center.

Performance Measures:

Measure

FY2004-05

FY2005-06

Percent of respiratory care registry use

15%

15%

Background

In the past, San Mateo Medical Center has had stable regular benefited staff in the Respiratory Department. In the last few years, however, SMMC has been unable to recruit new staff. This has led to increased use of traveler staff in order to maintain minimum staffing levels.

Discussion

SMMC provides respiratory care services 24 hours a day seven days a week. Currently SMMC has two full-time employees providing 48 hours of productive coverage per day. SMMC is so tightly staffed making it necessary to continue to utilize registry staff to cover any non-productive time requested by current staff or time to cover resignations or extended illness. The current budget for respiratory care allows two 12 hour extra-help positions, however efforts to recruit qualified extra-help staff have not been successful.

In addition to requiring increased use of supplemental traveler staff to provide adequate minimal staffing for the Respiratory Department, overtime for regular staff has been utilized to fill the gaps in department schedules. Utilizing regular staff for overtime has resulted in a savings of approximately $200 per shift compared to utilizing registry staff. The FY2005-06 budget request includes a new full-time therapy position replacing the two extra-help positions. This position will cover required shifts by rotating to days and nights.

Recruitment for new extra-help staff is currently in progress. It is necessary to continue to utilize traveler staff until new staff are hired. In order to maintain adequate minimal staffing for the department, it is necessary to have a contract with Per Diem Staffing Systems.

SMMC is requesting that the RFP process be waived. SMMC has contracts with 11 Nursing Registries that include respiratory staff. These registries, however, have not been able to provide SMMC with staff when needed. Per Diem is the only traveler registry willing to provide part-time temporary respiratory services. Other registries will only provide full-time temporary services.

County Counsel and Risk Management have both reviewed and approved this agreement.

Fiscal Impact

The term of the agreement is April 1, 2006 to March 31, 2007. The maximum amount of the agreement is $150,000. Funds are included in SMMC’s FY2005-06 Adopted Budget. Funds will be included in SMMC’s Recommended Budget for FY2006-07.