COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health System

DATE:

February 28, 2011

BOARD MEETING DATE:

March 29, 2011

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Jean S. Fraser, Chief, Health System

Susan Ehrlich, MD, MPP, Chief Executive Officer
San Mateo Medical Center

SUBJECT:

Position Changes at San Mateo Medical Center

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt an Ordinance amending the Master Salary Ordinance to add and delete positions in the San Mateo Medical Center division of the Health System.

BACKGROUND:

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH), updated licensure requirements for Laboratory Field Services in 2007 requiring Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) to have a Bachelor of Science or equivalent degree and added a new level of licensure called Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) which requires an Associate degree.

In 2009 Department of Labor’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), funded a High Growth and Emerging Industries (HGEI) Grant awarding funds to MLT educational programs throughout California. San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) in partnership with DeAnza College under provisions of San Jose State University Research Foundation (SJSURF) agreed to provide the necessary on-site clinical training for MLT students. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SJSURF and SMMC provides up to $50,000 to the SMMC’s Laboratory offsetting the cost of MLT stipends during internships from July 1, 2010 through December 31, 2013.

SMMC Laboratory began MLT student clinical training programs in July 2010 and has scheduled its third student rotation for July 2011. The laboratory benefits from acting as a clinical site by improved professionalism of seasoned staff now required to train students; added exposure as the “Employer of Choice” to MLT students entering the profession; and a total of $50,000 as stipends provided by the ARRA grant.

DISCUSSION:

The Civil Service Commission approved the addition of the MLT classification in January 2011. The MLT level classification provides a bridge opportunity for existing Laboratory Assistant and Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) positions. This request is to convert two vacant laboratory assistant positions into the new MLT classification. Costs are offset by deletion of a 1 vacant CLS position.

Below is a summary of the requested salary ordinance change needed

to implement the personnel changes at SMMC:

Action:

Add:

2 positions of F157 Medical Laboratory Technician

Delete:

2 positions of F156 Laboratory Assistant II

Delete:

1 position of F074S Clinical Laboratory Scientist II

The Salary Ordinance amendment has been reviewed and approved by the County Counsel.

This Amendment contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 of a Healthy Community by providing the laboratory with an increase in licensed staff who are able to release test results. Performance measures for FY 2010 – 2011 project increases in lab test volumes which have risen 41% since 2005. It is anticipated that there will be an increase from 423,108 laboratory tests performed annually to 500,000.

Performance Measure:

Measure

FY 2009-10
Actual

FY 2010-11
Projected

Number of Lab Tests Performed Annually

423,108

500,000

FISCAL IMPACT:

This action represents a net savings in annual salary and benefits of $16,926. It converts two vacant laboratory assistant positions (#04203 and #06737) for an increase in salary and benefits of $45,284 annually, and deletes a vacant CLS position #03563 for a net annual savings $16,926 annually.

Expenses at SMMC are covered by fees for services or third-party payors, whenever possible. 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.