COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

San Mateo Medical Center

 

DATE:

December 19, 2006

BOARD MEETING DATE:

January 9, 2007

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Nancy J. Steiger, Chief Executive Officer

SUBJECT:

Amendment to the Agreement with Seton Medical Center

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution authorizing the President of the Board to execute an Amendment to the Agreement with Seton Medical Center for tertiary medical services, increasing the maximum Agreement obligation by $150,000 from $600,000 to $750,000.

 

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: To Ensure Basic Health and Safety for All.

Goal(s): Provide residents access to healthcare and preventive care.

The Amendment contributes to this commitment and goal by continuing to provide highly specialized medical services to County patients.

 

Performance Measure(s):

Measure

FY 2005-06
Actual

Number of patient referrals for treatment at Seton Medical Center

195

BACKGROUND:

San Mateo County is responsible for providing medical care to its medically indigent adult population. San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC), as a general acute care hospital, does not provide certain highly specialized services. A contract with Seton Medical Center ensures that specialty services are readily available.

Services provided under this agreement are required medical services that are not presently provided at SMMC. The majority of referrals to Seton are for inpatient cardiac and outpatient services. Examples of other services include higher resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), radiation therapy, sleep lab, and cardiac specialty services.

 

DISCUSSION:

All patients referred to Seton Medical Center undergo utilization review to minimize hospital stays and maintain control over costs. Comprehensive per diem rates are negotiated as part of tertiary care contracts to account for patient transitions through each level of care, including intensive (ICU), telemetry (step down), stabilized (med/surg), observation, and eventual discharge.

The term of the Agreement with Seton was July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006 with a maximum amount of $600,000. In preparation for an impending nursing strike in the months of May and June 2006, SMMC increased its outside referrals and follow-up care to area hospitals to ensure continuity of care for SMMC patients. A majority of the transfers for inpatient and emergency care were referred to Seton. These additional referrals depleted the maximum amount in the Agreement. The Agreement is being amended to increase the maximum amount by $150,000 to pay invoices for expenses incurred during those two months.

The contractor has assured compliance with the County's Contractor Employee Jury Service Ordinance, as well as all other contract provisions that are required by County ordinance and administrative memoranda, including but not limited to insurance, hold harmless, non-discrimination and equal benefits.

County Counsel has reviewed and approved this Agreement. Risk Management has approved the insurance coverage.

This amendment is only now being addressed due to staff vacancies in the two key contracting positions at the Medical Center.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Agreement is being amended to increase the maximum contract amount by $150,000 to $750,000. The term of the Agreement remains the same. Funds were included in the San Mateo Medical Center’s FY2005-06 Adopted Budget.