Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise Rogers, Chief, Health System
Nancy Lapolla, MPH, Director, Emergency Medical Services
Subject: Agreement with the California Department of Public Health for National Hospital Preparedness Program, and Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Initiatives
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with the California Department of Public Health to provide funding to San Mateo County Health System to conduct public health emergency preparedness activities, for the term of July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2022, to an amount not to exceed $5,165,465.
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BACKGROUND:
Federal funds have been made available through the states for the enhancement of national public health and medical emergency preparedness and response infrastructure. The funds are to be used for public health and medical emergency preparedness and response planning, training, public health, medical and laboratory supplies and equipment; disease and outbreak surveillance and response; vaccination and anti-viral medications distribution; and the development of caches of emergency stockpiles to support public health and medical surge needs.
DISCUSSION:
In June 2017, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) awarded the Health System new grant funding for public health and medical emergency preparedness activities. For the five-year grant term, the Health System will continue to work with our partners to ensure a health system ready and prepared to respond. Key grant funded activities include: (1) preparedness and collaboration activities with our existing health care partners; (2) expansion of our focus to including out-patient clinics, surgery centers, dialysis centers, Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), residential care facilities, and behavioral health providers in emergency preparedness efforts; (3) epidemiological and disease surveillance enhancements; (4) pandemic influenza planning; (5) implementation of a new emergency communication system, ReddiNet. Integrated with the County’s Public Safety Communications dispatch software, ReddiNet has: improved ability to track patients from the field to the hospital and beyond in large multi-casualty incidents (MCI); a tool for family reunification that integrates with American Red Cross tracking systems; expanded emergency communication ability with SNFs to identify available beds during emergencies; and the capacity to update information in the California Health Alert Network (CAHAN) communication system to ensure that our contact information for physician, key hospital personnel, schools, healthcare provider networks, and pharmacies is current for coordinated response during public health and medical emergencies.
The County’s Contract Compliance Committee has approved a waiver request for a five-year term for this agreement.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provision allowing amendment of County’s fiscal obligation by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
The agreement and resolution have been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form.
Approval of this agreement contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Healthy Community by providing funds to continue planning for public health emergency preparedness and other emerging public health threats to the County. It is anticipated that 8 hospitals (90%) in our County network will be able to respond within 15 minutes of an MCI alert to identify the number of patients they can receive, using the ReddiNet communication system.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2016-17 Actual |
FY 2017-18 Projected |
|
Number and percent of hospitals able to respond within 15 minutes of an MCI alert to identify the number of patients they can receive, using the ReddiNet communication system. |
N/A |
8 hospitals 90% |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2022. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $5,165,465 for the five-year term. Funds have been included in the Emergency Medical Services FY 2017-18 Adopted Recommended Budget. Similar arrangements will be made for future years. Because the County is receiving these funds, there is no Net County Cost associated with this agreement. As required in the terms of the agreement, all funds received will be placed in the Local Public Health Preparedness Trust Fund established for this purpose.