Title
a. Ratify execution by the designee of the Chief Executive Officer for Natividad Medical Center (NMC) of an agreement with ECMO PRN, dated September 9, 2025, for one-time extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) services and ECMO interfacility transportation services; and
b. Approve Chief Executive Officer’s recommendation to accept non-standard insurance and limitation of liability provisions in the agreements; and
c. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to process payment to ECMO for specified outstanding invoices in the amount of $1,500 for ECMO services and ECMO interfacility transportation services.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the Board of Supervisors:
a. Ratify execution by the designee of the Chief Executive Officer for Natividad Medical Center (NMC) of an agreement with ECMO PRN, dated September 9, 2025, for one-time extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) services and ECMO interfacility transportation services; and
b. Approve Chief Executive Officer’s recommendation to accept non-standard insurance and limitation of liability provisions in the agreements; and
c. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to process payment to ECMO for specified outstanding invoices in the amount of $1,500 for ECMO services and ECMO interfacility transportation services.
SUMMARY:
This agreement allows us to place critically ill patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machines and transport them to centers that can support these machines. NMC does not provide ongoing ECMO care at its facility. AMR, the County-wide ambulance provider, does not provide ECMO interfacility transportation services for Monterey County hospitals. As a result, NMC must contract for ECMO services before, during and after transport of the patient to an ECMO receiving hospital for ongoing ECMO care.
DISCUSSION:
Patients who are candidates for ECMO may not survive without it and so bringing this life-saving technology will benefit our patients, their families and our medical staff. ECMO services are needed for critically ill patients with life-threatening heart or lung conditions. ECMO services are external life support permitting a patient’s blood to continue to be oxygenated externally while the patient’s heart or lung has time to heal or be readied for an organ transplant.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of County Counsel has reviewed and approved this agreement as to form, and the Auditor-Controller has reviewed and does not agree with the non-standard payment terms. The agreement has also been reviewed and approved by NMC’s Finance Committee and by its Board of Trustees on November 7, 2025.
FINANCING:
The cost for this agreement is $1,500 which is included in the FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget. There is no impact on the General Fund with this action.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC PALN GOALS SECTION:
This Board request meets one of the BOS Strategic Initiatives. ECMO services and ECMO transport services provide the Monterey County community with important services not available in the County. ECMO services support critically ill patients with life-threatening health conditions. ECMO interfacility transport services allow critically ill patients to be transferred to an acute facility that provides ECMO services.
__ Well-Being and Quality of Life
__ Sustainable Infrastructure for Present and Future
X Safe and Resilient Communities
__Diverse and Thriving Economy
__ Administrative
Prepared by: Craig Walls, Chief Medical Officer, 755-4196
Approved by: Charles R. Harris, Chief Executive Officer, 783-2553
Attachment(s):
Board Report
ECMO PRN LLC emergency short term Agreement, dated 09/09/2025
Attachments on file with the Clerk of the Board