Title
Authorize the Chief Executive Officer for Natividad Medical Center or his designee to execute renewal & amendment No. 5 to the agreement (A-13817) with CALSTAR Air Medical Services LLC, for patient transfer coordination and facilitation services, extending the agreement an additional five (5) year period (February 28, 2023 through February 27, 2028) for a revised full agreement term of December 15, 2014 through February 27, 2028, and adding $750,000 for a revised total agreement amount not to exceed $1,585,000.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the Board of Supervisors:
Authorize the Chief Executive Officer for Natividad Medical Center or his designee to execute renewal & amendment No. 5 to the agreement (A-13817) with CALSTAR Air Medical Services LLC, for patient transfer coordination and facilitation services, extending the agreement an additional five (5) year period (February 28, 2023 through February 27, 2028) for a revised full agreement term of December 15, 2014 through February 27, 2028, and adding $750,000 for a revised total agreement amount not to exceed $1,585,000.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The CALSTAR Air Medical Services, LLC (“CALSTAR”) patient transfer coordination and facilitation services involves coordinating and recording all incoming and outgoing emergency requests for patient consult or transfer. These requests are typically initiated by physicians in circumstances where patients need transfer to the appropriate level of care (either into or out of Natividad Medical Center). When a treating physician deems that there is a medical necessity for a patient to receive care not available at the sending facility, then that patient is transferred to a higher level of care.
This service is crucial for Natividad Medical Center as it provides a single point of contact (telephone exchange) for both physicians calling into Natividad Medical Center to transfer a patient to us as well as Natividad Medical Center physicians calling out to find an appropriate destination that has the staffing and expertise to receive a patient who needs a service that Natividad Medical Center cannot provide. The coordination and recording of multiple calls that need to occur in rapid fashion to safe life and limb is a specialized.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of County Counsel has reviewed and approved this renewal and amendment No. 5 as to form, and the Auditor-Controller has reviewed and approved as to payment provisions. The renewal and amendment No. 5 has also been reviewed and approved by Natividad Medical Center’s Finance Committee and by its Board of Trustees on April 12, 2024.
FINANCING:
The cost for this renewal and amendment No. 5 is $247,500 of which $40,000 which is included in the FY 2023-24 Adopted Budget. Amounts for remaining years of the agreement will be included in those budgets as appropriate.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
The CALSTAR transfer service provides all incoming and outgoing requests for patient consult or transfer; place patients with an admitting physician and consulting physician; verify bed availability; and coordinate transport. The service adheres to the physician’s declaration of medical necessity to ensure proper levels of care and patient placement are met, whether inbound to NMC or outbound to an appropriate receiving facility.
__ Economic Development
__ Administration
X Health and Human Services
__ Infrastructure
__ Public Safety
Prepared by: Craig Walls, Chief Medical Officer, 783-2521
Julie Ramirez, Trauma Program Manager, 772-7350
Approved by: Charles R. Harris, Chief Executive Officer, 783-2553
Attachments:
CALSTAR Air Medical Services Renewal & Amendment No. 5
CALSTAR Air Medical Services Renewal & Amendment No. 4
CALSTAR Air Medical Services Renewal & Amendment No. 3
CALSTAR Air Medical Services Renewal & Amendment No. 2
CALSTAR Air Medical Services Amendment No. 1
CALSTAR Air Medical Services Agreement
Attachments on file with the Clerk of the Board