Title
Approve and authorize the Purchasing Manager for Natividad Medical Center (NMC) to execute Renewal and Amendment No. 5 to the Agreement (A-11512/MYA447) with CyraCom International for Language and Interpretation Services at NMC, extending the Agreement to June 30, 2014 and adding $50,000 for a revised total Agreement amount not to exceed $171,000 in the aggregate.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the Board of Supervisors approve and authorize the Purchasing Manager for Natividad Medical Center (NMC) to execute Renewal and Amendment No. 5 to the Agreement (A-11512/MYA447) with CyraCom International for Language and Interpretation Services at NMC, extending the Agreement to June 30, 2014 and adding $50,000 for a revised total Agreement amount not to exceed $171,000 in the aggregate.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Approximately 52% of the patient population at NMC identify themselves as limited English proficient (LEP). The Joint Commission, the agency that accredits NMC, has standards which require effective communication for LEP patients through the use of competent qualified interpreters. The California and Federal laws that regulate equal access to all patients, including Title VI of the Civil Right Act of 1964, prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin and require that healthcare be delivered with effective communication for non-English speakers. The provision of interpretation services helps NMC reduce liability for medical errors due to a breakdown in communication and improves the quality of healthcare.
CyraCom International Inc. provides on-demand, over-the-phone interpretation services to NMC's healthcare providers allowing them to communicate with their patients in a safe, secure and professional environment. The service is available 24/7 in 150 languages and serves as a safety net to NMC's healthcare providers when all other resources have been exhausted. Additionally, this Renewal and Amendment No. 5...
Click here for full text