Title
Authorize the execution by the Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Natividad Medical Center (NMC) or his designee of amendments to an agreement with Huffmaster Crisis Response, Inc., for nurse and allied professional staffing services in the event of a labor strike at Natividad Medical Center, to increase the current maximum liability of $93,988 in additional amounts as needed, until the conclusion of the labor dispute. (ADDED VIA ADDENDA)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the Board of Supervisors authorize the execution by the Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Natividad Medical Center (NMC) or his designee of amendments to an agreement with Huffmaster Crisis Response, Inc., for nurse and allied professional staffing services in the event of a labor strike at Natividad Medical Center, to increase the current maximum liability of $93,988 in additional amounts as needed, until the conclusion of the labor dispute.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Huffmaster is a nationally-recognized healthcare staffing agency, providing strike staffing solutions to healthcare clients, including hospitals. By providing clinical personnel during a strike, hospitals can continue their vital operations during labor disputes.
On August 17, 2021, Natividad Medical Center was notified that a labor dispute, including walk off and possible strike, threatened Natividad’s ability to meet its licensure requirements and nursing and allied professional to patient staff ratios in medical-surgical and trauma units. When all regularly assigned day-shift Surgical Technicians called in and failed to report to work, Natividad, committed to patient safety, was compelled to cancel all elective surgeries, plan to divert emergency cases to other hospitals, and to execute an agreement with Huffmaster to ensure that by the following day, Natividad was able to provide appropriate staffing levels of nurses and allied professionals to meet the healthcare needs of its patients.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of the County Counsel approved the original agreement as to form. The County-Counsel-County Risk Manager approved the original agreement as to risk provisions. The Auditor-Controller approved the original agreement as to payment provisions. Due to the urgency of getting this agreement in place, the agreement and amendments have not been reviewed and approved by Natividad’s Finance Committee or Board of Trustees.
FINANCING:
The cost for these amendments is included in the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Adopted Budget.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
__ Economic Development
X Administration
The services rendered in this agreement contributes to assisting NMC in the care and treatment of patients.
X_ Health and Human Services
__ Infrastructure
_X_ Public Safety
Prepared by: Janine Bouyea, Human Resources Administrator, 783-2701
Approved by: Andrea J. Rosenberg, Assistant Administrator, Operations & Support Services,
783-2562
Attachments:
Agreement with HuffMaster Crisis Response, Inc.
Amendment template for use with HuffMaster Agreement
Attachments on file with the Clerk of the Board