Title
Support the Board of Supervisors designating a vacant 20-acre site located along Constitution Boulevard, east of the Jail and north Natividad Medical Center (corral property), on the Natividad campus for future healthcare facilities.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Capital Improvement Committee:
Support the Board of Supervisors designating a vacant 20-acre site located along Constitution Boulevard, east of the Jail and north Natividad Medical Center (corral property), on the Natividad campus for future healthcare facilities.
SUMMARY:
In consideration of visionary planning on County property jointly shared by multiple County departments between Laurel Drive and Constitution Boulevard, it is prudent to designate approximately 20 acres of land immediately adjacent to the Natividad Campus and County Jail for healthcare purposes.
DISCUSSION:
In June 2012, the federal government approved the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). California was the first state to pass legislation creating a Health Benefits Exchange marketplace, also known as Covered California, where consumers have access to information and financial assistance to purchase health care insurance. Additionally, new insurance options for low-income individuals were developed by MediCal that expanded the eligibility requirements.
Hospital-physician relationships have changed dramatically in recent years, with physicians moving from private practice to hospital employment. Hospitals are beginning to leverage this relationship for a variety of initiatives including; new revenue models, community partnerships and a focus on outpatient services.
Natividad Medical Center’s medical office building is now fully occupied. It is important that adjacent land for future expansion be preserved to ensure that Monterey County is able to meet the increase in demand for healthcare services. With increasing demands for healthcare services in Monterey County, Natividad Medical Center and the Health Department recognize a need to position themselves for this anticipated continued growth, specifically as to ambulatory care needs. To this end, Natividad Medical Center, in conjunction with the Health Department, and the RMA desire to formally designate space for future healthcare services to take place. The northeast side of the Natividad Medical Center campus has a vacant grassy parcel of land, approximately 20 acres in size, commonly referred to as the “Corrals” (see attached map for location). In the near term, the Corral space will be utilized as auxiliary parking while the County Jail Expansion project and Juvenile Hall project are underway. But in the future, the area would be used for an ambulatory care unit or other healthcare services unit.
FINANCING:
There is no current impact to the General Fund for seeking this designation.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Health Department, Natividad Medical Center, Sheriff’s Office, Probation - Juvenile Hall and Emergency Communications were consulted regarding this designation of the subject property and agree with the recommendation.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
The recommended action supports the following Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Initiative below:
X_ Economic Development
__ Administration
__ Health & Human Services
_ Infrastructure
__ Public Safety
Prepared by: Donald D. Searle, RMA Deputy Director of Public Works & Facilities
Approved by: Carl P. Holm, ACIP, RMA Director
Attachment:
Attachment A - Site Plan