COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

San Mateo Medical Center

 

DATE:

September 24, 2007

BOARD MEETING DATE:

October 16, 2007

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Sang-ick Chang, Chief Executive Officer

SUBJECT:

Amendment to the Agreement with California Emergency Physicians

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board to execute an Amendment to the Agreement with California Emergency Physicians to:

    1. Add Go Live Emergency Department (ED) trainings in order to document ED services electronically.

    2. Reimburse Go Live trainings at no more than Agreement physician and physician assistant reimbursement rates and reimburse administrative fees at no more than EIGHT PERCENT (8%).

    3. Total reimbursement for Go Live activities shall not exceed THIRTY TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN DOLLARS ($32,015).

 

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: To Ensure Basic Health and Safety for All.

Goal 5: Residents have access to healthcare and preventive care.

The proposed Amendment to the Agreement contributes to this commitment and goal by expediting and improving medical record keeping in order to provide superior patient services.

 

Background

California Emergency Physicians (CEP) has provided the physician and physician assistant staff for the Emergency Department at the San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) for the last several years. Their group offers the hospital the benefits of a large practice with diverse specialization and administrative support. The Agreement between the County and CEP was for the period from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006. This Amendment would enable the County to reimburse CEP for services required by the County that were not included in the Agreement.

Discussion

In 2006, SMMC required CEP to provide their regular staff in the ED for additional hours to participate in Go Live training to incorporate electronic record keeping into the ED. In order to accomplish this, staff needed to work hours not originally included in the contract and/or to have their positions covered by CEP alternative staff. Information Services (ISD) budgeted for the roll out of electronic record keeping, but ran out of funds allocated for training expense. It is therefore necessary to amend the Agreement to include the training activities performed and reimburse CEP for those activities.

County Counsel has approved the Amendment.

 

Fiscal Impact

The funding for the Amendment to the Agreement is offset by some cost savings in the original Agreement. Therefore, there is no need to increase the funding in the Agreement. Funds are included in the San Mateo Medical Center’s FY2006-07 Adopted Budget. The original term and amount of the Agreement remains from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006 in an amount not to exceed TWO MILLION SIX HUNDRED NINETY ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY TWO DOLLARS AND TWENTY CENTS ($2,691,282.20).