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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
Inter-Departmental Correspondence
Health System
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DATE:
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July 30, 2010
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BOARD MEETING DATE:
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October 5, 2010
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SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:
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None
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VOTE REQUIRED:
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Majority
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TO:
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Honorable Board of Supervisors
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FROM:
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Jean S. Fraser, Chief, Health System
Susan Ehrlich, MD, MPP, Chief Executive Officer
San Mateo Medical Center
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SUBJECT:
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Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement with Language Line Services, Inc.
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RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a Resolution authorizing the President of the Board to execute a second Amendment to the Agreement with Language Line Services, Inc. to provide interpretation services to San Mateo Medical Center for the term December 1, 2007 through December 31, 2010, increasing the fiscal obligation by $40,000, for a new maximum fiscal obligation of $180,000.
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BACKGROUND:
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Language Line Services, Inc., (Language Line) has been providing interpretation services to San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) since December 2007, with the goal of improving the ability of patients and their families who are not fluent in English or who are hearing impaired to communicate with providers at SMMC. The service is available twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week. They also provide access to American Sign Language (ASL) services for hearing impaired patients for use with a video interpretation system.
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The tremendous success of this service resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of patients accessing the system. The success of the program resulted in the need for an amendment to increase funding. On June 16, 2009, by Resolution 070208, your Board approved an Amendment increasing the funding by $80,000 to a new maximum fiscal obligation of $140,000.
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DISCUSSION:
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The number of patients accessing the system has continued to increase rather than leveling off. The success of the program has again caused the funds to be prematurely depleted. A second amendment is needed to increase funding to ensure continuation of the service and to allow for payment of invoices through the end of the current contract period.
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The Amendment and Resolution have been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form. 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.
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This Amendment contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Healthy Community by providing interpretation services to non-English speaking and/or hearing impaired patients of SMMC. It is anticipated that 80% of patients surveyed who use the service will rate their healthcare experience as improved by using the service.
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Performance Measure:
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Measure
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FY 2009-10
Actual
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FY 2010-11
Projected
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Percentage of patients surveyed who reported an improved healthcare experience as a result of the use of Language Line
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75%
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80%
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FISCAL IMPACT:
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The term of this Agreement is December 1, 2007 through December 31, 2010. The maximum obligation of the Agreement is $180,000. Funds in the amount of $40,000 are included in the SMMC FY 2010-11 Adopted Budget.
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Expenses at SMMC are covered by fees for services or third-party payors whenever possible. The portion of expenses for services provided to the medically indigent or to those covered by programs that do not meet the full costs of care are covered by the County’s General Fund contribution to SMMC.
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