Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Colleen Chawla, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Chester J. Kunnappilly, MD, Chief Executive Officer, San Mateo Medical Center
Subject: Agreement with Broadband and Networking Consultants, Inc to Provide a Wander Management System and Services
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Broadband and Networking Consultants, Inc to provide a wander management system and services for the term of August 11, 2026 through August 10, 2031, in an amount not to exceed $300,000.
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BACKGROUND:
San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) serves a high-risk patient population, including individuals with cognitive impairment, dementia, and behavioral health conditions who may be at risk for wandering and elopement. These events pose significant patient safety concerns and may result in patient harm and regulatory risk. Currently, SMMC relies on staff observation and unit-based processes to monitor at-risk patients. As patient acuity and operational demands have increased, other processes are appropriate to ensure consistent and proactive monitoring. In February 2026, SMMC completed a Request for Proposals (RFP) process to identify a wander management system to enhance patient safety and reduce the risk of elopement.
DISCUSSION:
Broadband and Networking Consultants, Inc was elevated through a competitive RFP process as the proposer best able to meet SMMC’s operational and technical requirements. The proposed system provides real-time location awareness and alerts for patients at risk of wandering, enabling staff to respond promptly and reduce the likelihood of elopement. The solution supports implementation within existing clinical workflows and requires no significant infrastructure modifications, enabling efficient deployment. Approval of this agreement will support SMMC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen patient safety, enhance monitoring of vulnerable patient populations, and maintain compliance with applicable regulatory standards.
The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the resolution and agreement 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 Technology Services Department has reviewed and approved the IT component of this agreement.
It is anticipated that greater than or equal to 98% of wander alerts will be successfully triggered and delivered as designed.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2026-27 Estimated |
FY 2027-28 Projected |
|
Percentage of wander alerts that will be successfully triggered and delivered as designed |
≥ 98% |
≥ 98% |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
A wander management system at SMMC, a public safety net hospital, helps ensure patient safety and provide timely, high-quality care to SMMC’s patients. This system will monitor and protect patients who may be at risk of wandering due to cognitive or mental health conditions while still allowing appropriate freedom of movement. SMMC’s patients span a wide spectrum of races, ethnicities, gender, and gender-identities. Since November 1, 2024, half of the specialty care patients at SMMC were female and half were male, with the largest ethnic cohorts being Hispanic or Latino (58%) and primarily Spanish-speaking (48%).
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is August 11, 2026 through August 10, 2031. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $300,000 for the five-year term. Funds in the amount of $55,000 are included in the SMMC FY 2026-27 Recommended Budget. Funds in the amount of $60,000 will be included in the SMMC FY 2027-28 Recommended Budget. Similar arrangements will be made for future years.
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 is covered by the County’s General Fund contribution to SMMC and is within the existing annual appropriation.
ATTACHMENT:
RFP Matrix