Title
a. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer for Natividad Medical Center (NMC) or his designee to execute an agreement with Quality Assurance Services, Inc. for radiation physics and performance testing of radiology equipment services at NMC for an amount not to exceed $72,900 with an agreement term January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022.
b. Approve the NMC Chief Executive Officer’s recommendation to accept non-standard insurance, limitations on liability, and limitations on damages provisions within the agreement.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the Board of Supervisors:
a. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer for Natividad Medical Center (NMC) or his designee to execute an agreement with Quality Assurance Services for radiation physics and performance testing of radiology equipment services at NMC for an amount not to exceed $72,900 with an agreement term January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022.
b. Approve the NMC Chief Executive Officer’s recommendation to accept non-standard insurance, limitations on liability, and limitations on damages provisions within the agreement.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Quality Assurance Services, Inc. (QAS) is a company that provides board certified Medical Diagnostic Physicists that perform evaluations and testing to equipment found in the Radiology department. Natividad Medical Center Radiology Department is required per Joint Commission and CDPH to have at least annually performance testing evaluations on radiographic, magnetic resonance imaging equipment (MRI), computed tomography (CT) equipment, ultra sound and nuclear medicine equipment by a qualified medical physicist who is board certified by the American Board of Radiology in the field of Medical Diagnostic Physics. The performance testing evaluation shall include the required elements identified by Joint Commission and American College of Radiology.
NMC has one CT scanner (soon to be two), one MRI scanner, one Fluoroscopy, four x-ray machines, four x-ray portables, three c-arm radiographic, one mini c-arm radiographic, one bone scanning machine, one nuclear medicine gamma camera, and four ultrasound units requiring annual testing by the physicist. In addition, the nuclear medicine and ultra sounds units are required to be tested twice a year.
Any new equipment, relocation of equipment, or major repairs of equipment need performance testing evaluations completed prior to using on patients. It is a required for us to meet regulatory standards, in order to continue services.
NMC Radiology does monitor QAS for contract deliverables on the following items.
• Certification of the Physicist
• Annual and Bi-Annual testing
• Completion of performance evaluation report and corrective actions included in the report
• Inclusion of Joint Commission Standards, and ACR standards that are required elements in the performance evaluation testing report.
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 was also been reviewed and approved by NMC’s Finance Committee and by its Board of Trustees on September 11, 2020.
FINANCING:
The cost for this agreement is $72,900 of which $72,900 is included in the Fiscal Year 2020-21 Adopted Budget.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This amendment supports the Health and Human Services strategic initiative by providing the appropriate physics reports necessary to continue operating imaging services to the community. Without their help we have no internal staff members that are licensed to complete these assessments. They work with us to ensure that our equipment is operating at an optimal levels in compliance with Joint Commission and American College of Radiology.
__ Economic Development
__ Administration
X Health and Human Services
__ Infrastructure
__ Public Safety
Prepared by: Daisha Marsh, Diagnostics Imaging Manager, 772-7616
Approved by: Gary R. Gray, DO, Chief Executive Officer, 783-2553
Attachments:
Quality Assurance Services, Inc. Agreement
Attachments on file with the Clerk of the Board