Agenda

Return

D.5

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	William Walker, M.D., Health Services Director
Date:	March 31, 2015

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Temporary Hire of County Retiree - Extension Request

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 03/31/2015

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor

ABSENT:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Melissa Carofanello - melissa.carofanello@hsd.cccounty.us - 925-957-5248

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: March 31, 2015
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the hiring of retiree Joseph Barger as a temporary part-time County employee for the period of March 31, 2015 through March 31, 2016 as recommended by the Health Services Department Director.

FISCAL IMPACT:

If the request is granted, there will continue to be salary and employment tax payment for the hours provided of approximately $86,044. These costs will be offset by savings due to the vacancy of the permanent position.

BACKGROUND:

Dr. Barger has served as EMS Medical Director for Contra Costa County since 1996. EMS is a specialized area of expertise that combines emergency medical knowledge as well as knowledge of EMS system function. By statute, each organized EMS system (by county or region) requires a physician with substantial experience in the practice of emergency medicine. Dr. Barger’s roles include:

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

Medical oversight of Emergency Medical Dispatching (EMD) at three fire/medical dispatch sites in Contra Costa;

Development and modification of treatment guidelines to be administered by all 9-1-1 personnel in the Contra Costa EMS system;

Medical oversight of all paramedic ambulance programs in the Contra Costa 9-1-1 system;

Medical oversight and prescribing of medications for use in all Contra Costa fire agencies participating in the 9-1-1 system;

Oversight of EMS specialty care programs in trauma, stroke, and STEMI (high-risk heart attack).

Dr. Barger retired on March 29, 2014. There is no other current EMS employee to provide these services. Dr. Barger has stayed on as a retired annuitant to serve as EMS Medical Director. After extensive internal and external recruitment efforts since 2013 an internal candidate has accepted an offer to take on the position. However, the candidate is still performing his current duties in another assignment until his position is filled. Additionally, the transition and training of this individual will require up to eighteen months for the transition, training and orientation to the local system. There are currently a significant activities in EMS (EMS system modernization and development of the ambulance RFP), as well as ongoing medical supervision of the EMS system require the position to be filled with a person knowledgeable in this specialized area.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Failure to receive Board approval would result in absence of medical leadership in the EMS system and lead to vacancy in a role required by statute for oversight of the EMS system

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

Not applicable.