Title
a. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Natividad Medical Center (NMC) to execute a Program Letter of Agreement with Desert Star Institute for Family Planning, Inc. for rotation of NMC physician residents with an agreement term of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2028.
b. Approve the NMC Chief Executive Officer’s recommendation to accept non-standard insurance provisions within the agreement.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
a. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Natividad Medical Center (NMC) to execute a Program Letter of Agreement with Desert Star Institute for Family Planning, Inc. for rotation of NMC physician residents with an agreement term of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2028.
b. Approve the NMC Chief Executive Officer’s recommendation to accept non-standard insurance provisions within the agreement.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
This Program Letter of Agreement is intended to provide NMC physician residents with a concentrated experience in family planning and reproductive health care during an elective two-week rotation. Desert Star Institute for Family Planning, Inc. is a nationally renowned training site for family planning with excellent clinical supervision and teaching.
To gain competency in procedural skills, it is helpful for trainees to have a focused experience with daily repetition to become technically proficient. This is not possible at any current clinical sites in the State of California, therefore, residents interested in procedural competency in family planning are seeking out-of-state opportunities to consolidate their skills.
Costs such as travel, lodging, and licensure are self-funded by the resident or supplemented by grants through the Natividad Foundation. There are no costs to NMC associated with this agreement.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of County Counsel has reviewed and approved this Program Letter of Agreement as to form, and the Auditor-Controller has reviewed and approved as to payment provisions.
FINANCING:
The costs associated with this agreement are paid for by the rotating Resident and/or through the Natividad Foundation. There are no costs to NMC associated with this agreement.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Given the high prevalence of unintended pregnancy, miscarriage, and abortion in the United States, all family physicians care for patients facing these issues. More than half of pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended, up to twenty percent of recognized pregnancies end in miscarriage, and one in four U.S. women will have an abortion during their reproductive years.
Comprehensive reproductive health education for family physicians benefit patients by improving access to safe care for unintended pregnancy and early pregnancy loss and by improving safety and continuity of care, especially for rural and low-income pregnant people.
Many NMC Family Medicine residency graduates practice in Monterey County after they complete their training, and their preparation to provide comprehensive reproductive health care will improve access to these essential services for residents of Monterey County.
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Prepared by: Dr. Melissa Nothnagle, Director Family Medicine Residency, 783-2582
Approved by: Charles R. Harris, Chief Executive Officer, 783-2553
Attachments:
Program Letter of Agreement with Desert Star Institute for Family Planning, Inc.
Attachments on file with the Clerk of the Board