Title
Adopt a Resolution to Amend the Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution No. 98-394 to Revise Section A.12.7: On Call Pay for Physicians, as Indicated in Attachment A.
Body
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution to amend the Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution No. 98-394 to revise Section A.12.7: On Call Pay for Physicians, as indicated in Attachment A.
SUMMARY:
Natividad Medical Center recommends an amendment to the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution No. 98-394 (PPPR), Section A.12.7: On Call Pay for Physicians, as indicated on Attachment A to appropriately compensate physicians for their on call assignments.
DISCUSSION:
Hospital operations require that physicians be scheduled for on call assignments to ensure immediate response to patient care needs. Physicians in both the X and U Units who are scheduled for on call assignments receive On Call Pay. Unit U physicians, who are at-will contract employees, receive On Call Pay as a matter of the terms and conditions of the physician’s individual employment agreement, which incorporates the PPPR by reference. When a physician is scheduled “On Call” s/he is required to hold him or herself available either on or off campus for immediate response. The method and amount of such payment is dependent upon the physician’s specialty (e.g., “In-house” call is paid for a 12-hour shift, as the physician must remain on campus; however, “Off-campus” of per day call is paid for a 24-hour shift, as the physician is not required to remain on campus).
Since the On Call rates paid to physicians have not been reviewed and adjusted since they were established, they are no longer sufficient to pay NMC’s highly qualified employed physicians for their on call shifts. As a result, NMC recommends an amendment to the PPPR language (as indicated in Attachment A) to increase the off campus call rate for Pediatricians to $800 per 24-hour on call shift...
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