Agenda

Return

D.5

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	William Walker, M.D., Health Services Director
Date:	September 22, 2015

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Contract #26-618-1 with Medical Solutions, Inc. (dba Nurse Bridge Consultants)

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 09/22/2015

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Patrick Godley 925 957-5410
cc:	J Pigg N Rios

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: September 22, 2015
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

Approve and authorize the Health Services Director, or designee, to execute Contract #26-618-1 with Medical Solutions Inc. (dba Nurse Bridge Consultants), a corporation, in an amount not to exceed $3,700,000, for the provision of replacement registered nurses at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers, for the period from September 22, 2015 through December 31, 2015.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This Contract will be funded 100% Enterprise I funds. Upon submission of a written job order, the terms of the contract will provide for (1) a preparation fee to begin the recruitment and selection process; (2) a fulfillment order to secure the recruited staff and schedule them on stand-by status to travel to and from the medical or health centers; and (3) a pre-paid charge for nurse labor. Each payment in the process is non-refundable. The actual dollar amount of the contract is dependent upon the skill level and number of nurses recruited. The County is optimistic that the contract services will not have to be triggered. However, if it becomes necessary to execute a job order, the range of expense is projected to be between $2.7 million and $3.7 million. While the County remains optimistic that an agreement can be reached with CNA, if CNA calls for a strike, and the County needs to use the services authorized by this contract, the costs incurred under this contract would be offset by the wage savings associated with CNA members’ labor action.

BACKGROUND:

Under Contract #26-618-1, Medical Solutions, Inc. (dba Nurse Bridge Consultants) will provide the County with qualified staff nurses to work temporarily at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers in the event of labor actions. The Memorandum of Understanding between Contra Costa County and California Nurses Association (CNA) expired on July 31, 2014. Bargaining began in May 2014. A strike authorization vote was recently taken by CNA members. The County believes that a mutually beneficial agreement with CNA can be achieved, and will continue working towards such a resolution. However, because a work stoppage would severely impair the delivery of health care to the residents of this County, the Health Services Director needs to be prepared to maintain critical public services in the event of a strike, including the protection of those who are seriously ill and require immediate medical attention.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If this contract is not approved, patients at Contra Costa Regional Medical and Contra Costa Health Centers would have longer wait times and possibly go untreated.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

Not Applicable.