To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Public Health
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Professional Services Agreement with Preferred Healthcare Registry, Inc. for Temporary Placement of Occupational or Physical Therapist
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached professional services agreement between Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) - Public Health and Preferred Healthcare Registry, Inc. for temporary placement of one (1) Occupational Therapist or Physical Therapist in the California Children’s Services’ Medical Therapy Program for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021;
2. Authorize the Public Health Director, or designee thereof, to sign future amendments to this agreement thereto after review by County Counsel and Risk Management; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return the signed agreement to DHHS - Contract Unit for further processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Public Health Fund
DISCUSSION:
California Children’s Services (CCS) is a statewide program that authorizes diagnosis and treatment services for children with certain physical limitations and chronic health conditions or diseases. CCS provides specialty pediatric physical and occupational therapy at the Medical Therapy Program (MTP) located at Glen Paul School in Eureka. DHHS - Public Health has been administering the MTP since 1980. The MTP caseload consists of children with a variety of diagnoses including rheumatoid arthritis, childhood cancers, chronic orthopedic conditions, cerebral palsy and infants with prenatal drug exposure.
The MTP typically staffs 3.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) Occupational and Physical Therapists. The program has experienced ongoing difficulty finding qualified licensed therapists despite continued recruitment efforts. In July of 2017, DHHS - Public Health entered into an agreement with Preferred Healthcare Registry, Inc. for temporary placement of Occupational Therapists for the Fiscal Year 2017-18. In July of 2018, the agreement was broadened to include physical therapists as well as the occupational therapists allowing the MTP to resume providing adequate occupational therapy and physical therapy services to children while continuing the search for permanent placements. By keeping this agreement in place, it will allow the MTP to continue to provide services to between 100 and 120 children in need.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Approval of this agreement will allow DHHS-Public Health to temporarily place one occupational or physical therapist, employed by Preferred Healthcare Registry, Inc. during the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 for a total not to exceed $154,070. This amount was included in the proposed FY 2020-21 annual county budget in Fund 1175, Budget Unit 493 - California Children’s Services. There is no impact to the county General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by protecting vulnerable populations and providing community-appropriate levels of service.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could choose not to approve the agreement with Preferred Healthcare Registry, Inc. This is not recommended as it would impact the MTP’s ability to provide occupational and physical therapy services to children in the immediate future.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Professional Services Agreement with Preferred Healthcare Registry, Inc. for Temporary Placement of Occupational or Physical Therapist
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-15; C-23; C-21
Meeting of: 07/11/17; 06/26/18; 07/09/19
File No.: 19-951; 20-565