Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise F. Rogers, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Chester J. Kunnappilly, MD, Chief Executive Officer, San Mateo Medical Center
Subject: Agreement with Carol Tabak, MD for Palliative Care and General Surgery Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Carol Tabak, MD for palliative care and general surgery services for the term of June 1, 2019 through May 31, 2020, in an amount not to exceed $145,000.
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BACKGROUND:
Palliative care offers pain and symptom management and emotional and spiritual support for patients who face a chronic, debilitating, or life-threatening illness. The palliative care specialist works with patients, their families, and the care team to help improve the quality of life during and after treatment for specific medical concerns.
Dr. Tabak has provided general surgery services to the patients of San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) since September 2016 and palliative care services since December 2017.
DISCUSSION:
Dr. Tabak will continue to provide palliative care services at SMMC and inpatient and outpatient consulting with patients’ families for advanced care planning and bioethical issues on an “as needed” basis.
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 palliative care services to County residents. Palliative care supports patients in making thoughtful decisions regarding care for late stage diseases. It is anticipated that more than 50% of all palliative care patients discharged from inpatient services will have “Goals-of-Care” completed within seven days of discharge.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2018-19 Estimated |
FY 2019-20 Projected |
|
Percentage of all palliative care patients discharged from inpatient services that will have “Goals-of-Care” completed within seven days of discharge |
>50% |
>60% |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is June 1, 2019 through May 31, 2020. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $145,000 for the one-year term. Funds in the amount of $12,000 are included in the SMMC FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget. Funds in the amount of $133,000 will be included in the SMMC FY 2019-20 Recommended Budget.
This contract’s payment provisions differ from that of the previous contract. Specifically, this contract reflects a 10% increase due to a rise in rates for this specialty published in the 2018 Medical Group Management Association Provider Compensation and Production Report, a tool SMMC uses to benchmark physician contract compensation.
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.