TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Mark Danaj, City Manager
FROM:
Robert D. Espinosa, Fire Chief
SUBJECT:Title
Agreement with the Beach Cities Health District for Grant Funding for Paramedic Education and Medical Supplies (Fire Chief Espinosa).
APPROVE
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to: a) execute an Agreement with the Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) to purchase services and non-reimbursed medical supplies for eligible residents; and b) accept the grant in the amount of $29,364 from the Beach Cities Health District.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The grant allows the Beach Cities Health District to reimburse the City of Manhattan Beach for costs and expenses relating to the purchasing of medical supplies and contract services for a nurse educator to provide continuing education for paramedics and maintenance of an emergency medical services quality improvement program.
BACKGROUND:
In the late 1940s, the California State Legislature authorized communities to form special districts to build hospitals and operate health care facilities. The Beach Cities Health District was formed in 1955 to construct and run the South Bay Hospital. Leased to a private operator in 1984, it could not compete against other local hospitals and closed in 1998. Beach Cities Health District is the largest preventive health agency in the nation. They have served the communities of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Redondo Beach since 1955. The organization offers an extensive range of dynamic health and wellness programs, with innovative services and facilities to promote health and prevent diseases in every lifespan-from pre-natal and children to families and older adults. The Beach Cities Health District grant is for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. The City of Manhattan Beach has used grant monies in the past to purchase emergency medical supplies for paramedic ambulances and for training and education of the Fire Department's paramedic in emergency medical medicine.
DISCUSSION:
The City's Fire Department collects approximately 67% of patient billing for medical ambulance transports. Additionally, the department uses medicals supplies and equipment for patients our paramedics treat, but do not transport. The costs for these supplies ($16,239) are not billed to patients if a Manhattan Beach ambulance does not transport the person to an emergency room. The grant monies offset these costs. The grant also provides partial funding for a nurse educator ($13,125) for paramedic continuing education and maintenance of the department's quality improvement program. The City of Manhattan Beach has received grant funding from Beach Cities Health District annually since 1998 for nurse educator hours and medical supplies.
POLICY ALTERNATIVES:
There are no known pros for not executing this contract or accepting these grant funds. The cons in any alternative would require additional general fund monies or an alternative funding source(s) to pay for paramedic education or non-reimbursed medical supplies.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed the attached agreement and approved as to form.
Attachment/Attachments:
1. Beach Cities Health District Grant Agreement FY2016-2017