Title
Authorize the Chief Executive Officer for Natividad Medical Center (NMC) or his designee to execute a Preceptorship Agreement with Touro University - California for rotation of Osteopathic Medicine students at NMC with an agreement term retroactive to January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2028.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the Board of Supervisors:
Authorize the Chief Executive Officer for Natividad Medical Center (NMC) or his designee to execute a Preceptorship Agreement with Touro University - California for rotation of Osteopathic Medicine students at NMC with an agreement term retroactive to January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2028.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
For more than 10 years, a cohort of medical students from Touro University have spent their third-year clinical clerkships at NMC. Currently NMC has 10 medical students each year doing their core clinical rotations in medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, surgery, orthopedics, and OB/GYN. Having medical students on the teams contributes to our clinical learning environment, enhancing teaching opportunities for residents and faculty, which is one of the big attractions of joining NMC’s medical staff.
This partnership is mutually beneficial, allowing a cohort of students to learn and receive mentorship from residents and faculty in a county hospital who are committed to the mission of serving this community. This serves as a pipeline for future residents and attending physicians. In the last 2 years NMC has had Touro California graduates in the residency at NMC and one Touro graduate hired to the Vytuity group that staffs the NMC Emergency Room (ER).
In return for helping educate their students, Touro University medical school provides financial support for our educational administrative staff, as well as free faculty development services for our clinical teachers.
This agreement is being renewed as it expired when contract staff were out on leave. The reimbursement rate for NMC was increased during the renewal process.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of County Counsel has reviewed and approved this agreement as to form, and the Auditor-Controller has reviewed and approved as to payment provisions. The agreement has also been reviewed and approved by NMC’s Finance Committee and by its Board of Trustees on August 9, 2024.
FINANCING:
NMC receives a $48,000 payment per agreement year for this agreement from Touro University - California. In addition, NMC also receives a $750 payment per student for each four-week clinical rotation.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This program provides future physicians with an excellent clinical experience at NMC. As a result, some of these students return to practice here, either for residency training or as attendings in other specialties, strengthening the pool of medical professionals in the area, and thereby further enhancing healthcare opportunities for Monterey County residents. The presence of medical students enhances the clinical learning environment for our residents and attending physicians by creating a more academic atmosphere with an emphasis on teaching and practicing evidence-based medicine, which contributes to an increased quality of care for our patients.
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Prepared by: Melissa Nothnagle, Residency Director, 755-4201
Approved by: Charles R. Harris, Chief Executive Officer, 783-2553
Attachments:
Clinical Preceptorship Agreement with Touro University
Attachments on file with the Clerk of the Board