Agenda

Return

C. 57

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Anna Roth, Health Services
Date:	June 26, 2018

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Add one Medical Interpreter position in the Health Services Department

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 06/26/2018

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Jo-Anne Linares, (925) 957-5240

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: June 26, 2018
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ADOPT Position Adjustment Resolution No. 22313 to add one (1) Medical Interpreter (VMVD) position at salary plan and grade TC5-1275 ($4,213 - $5,121) in the Health Services Department. (Represented)

FISCAL IMPACT:

Upon approval, this request has an annual cost of approximately $105,280 with pension costs of $21,818 already included. This cost is 100% offset by Hospital Enterprise Fund I.

BACKGROUND:

The Health Services Department is requesting to add one Medical Interpreter position allocated to the Healthcare Interpreter Network (HCIN) within the Public Health Division. HCIN is experiencing an increased need for interpretation services related to an influx of refugees over the last few years. The refugees are primarily from Afghanistan and speak Dari, Farsi, Pashtu or Udu, and are primarily settled in East Contra Costa. The refugee program is responsible for establishing health care for identified community members which last year serviced 350 patients. The interpretation requests from our health system for these languages average 844 per month for a total of approximately 18,000 minutes. Duties and responsibilities include providing medical interpretation for patients and family members either face-to-face, or by telephone or video during encounters with medical providers and staff.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If this action is not approved, there is not adequate staff to assist patients who need medical interpretation to enter into our health system, which negatively impacts patient healthcare.