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 Galen Inpatient Physicians, Inc. for Hospitalist Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Galen Inpatient Physicians, Inc. to provide hospitalist services for the term of October 1, 2017, through September 30, 2019, to an amount not to exceed $5,700,000.
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BACKGROUND:
San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) is committed to providing its patients with the best possible care experience, and hospitalists fulfill a critical role in communicating to patients about their condition and their continuum of care. For a period of nearly 30 years, San Mateo Multispecialty Physicians provided subcontracted (moonlighter) physicians to meet the needs of SMMC for hospitalist (inpatient) services on a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year basis. In 2014, a request for proposal (RFP) was conducted in order to recruit a group of dedicated full time hospitalist physicians to improve provider consistency and quality of care, and the current provider, Sound Physicians, was chosen to provide these services.
DISCUSSION:
SMMC appreciates the work the current provider has done to improve quality metrics and patient flow throughout SMMC's acute inpatient services. However, the finances of the contract have been a constant challenge from the perspective of both the current provider and SMMC, and these challenges have limited the provider's ability to offer care through a consistent core group of physicians and other professionals.
The current contract will not have sufficient funds to reach the end of its term on November 30, 2017, and rather than amend the agreement to add funds, SMMC conducted an informal solicitation for providers that could take over the hospitalist services. ...
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