Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise Rogers, Chief, Health System
Chester J. Kunnappilly, MD, Chief Executive Officer, San Mateo Medical Center
Subject: Agreement with Abhishek Gowda, MD to Provide Pain Management Medicine Services
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Abhishek Gowda, MD to provide pain management medicine services for the term of December 1, 2017 through November 30, 2018, to an amount not to exceed $300,000.
body
BACKGROUND:
San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) has experienced a continued need for the medical assessment and treatment of chronic pain. These services include the care of patients with concurrent substance abuse issues, chronic pain syndrome (including back pain, headaches, and musculoskeletal pain), and disease-related diagnoses such as cancer and rheumatologic pain. SMMC is addressing this need by providing comprehensive pain management services, which include direct clinical services to patients, obtaining patient history, conducting a physical assessment, and deciding on appropriate treatment plans and prescriptions.
Dr. Abhishek Gowda has provided these services at SMMC since June 2015.
DISCUSSION:
Dr. Gowda has agreed to continue providing these services at SMMC and SMMC’s Daly City Clinic. Dr. Gowda will supervise a clinic for the behavioral and psychological assessment, medical assessment, and interventional medication management associated with pain management services.
This agreement provides for a balanced approach to treating patient’s pain symptoms that leads to an appropriate ethical decision when prescribing opioids. This approach reduces the chance of over prescribing opioids and the possible risk of patient addiction, drug diversion, trafficking and addiction.
Dr. Gowda will provide up to six half-day clinics per week, and up to four educational lectures per year to SMMC’s medical staff addressing pain management, sports, spine, and/or electrodiagnostic medicine.
County Administrative Memorandum B-1 provides that contracts for physicians are exempt from the Request for Proposals process.
The agreement and resolution have been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions allowing amendment of the County fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
The agreement contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Healthy Community by providing pain management services to County residents. It is anticipated that the number of patients presenting to the SMMC Emergency Department (ED) with pain management issues will be reduced by 5 patients per day.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2016-17 Actual |
FY 2017-18 Projected |
|
Number of patients presenting to the SMMC ED with pain management issues reduced by |
5 patients per day |
5 patients per day |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is December 1, 2017 through November 30, 2018. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $300,000 for the one-year term. Funds in the amount of $175,000 are included in the SMMC FY 2017-18 Adopted Budget. Funds in the amount of $125,000 will be included in the SMMC FY 2018-19 Recommended Budget.
The payment provisions and level of services in this contract are essentially the same as the prior contract.
Expenses at SMMC are covered by fees for services or third-party payors whenever possible. The portion of expenses for services provided to the medically indigent or to those covered by programs that do not meet the full costs of care are covered by the County’s General Fund contribution to SMMC, and are within the existing annual appropriation.