Agenda

Return

C. 53

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	William Walker, M.D., Health Services
Date:	September 13, 2016

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Add one (1) full time position in the Health Services Department

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 09/13/2016

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:

Arlene J. Lozada (925)957-5269

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 13, 2016
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ADOPT Position Adjustment Resolution No. 21924 to add one (1) Medical Interpreter position (VMVD) at salary level TC5-1275 ($4,090-$4,972) in the Health Services Department. (Represented).

FISCAL IMPACT:

Upon approval, this action has an annual cost of approximately $101,869, which includes $21,182 in pension costs. The cost will be funded by Hospital Enterprise Fund I.

BACKGROUND:

The Linguistic Access Services Unit of the Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) is mandated to provide language interpretation for their patients who speak other language than English. This group is currently comprised of over 30% of the County’s patient population. For the past several months, the Unit has experienced an increase in medical interpretation services due to the rise in clinic capacity and the use of the video interpreting equipment. CCHS now has more than 300 video interpretation devices mounted on exam room walls located in 10 Health Centers throughout the County. This new and improved convenience resulted to an increase in medical interpretation encounters as follows:

January 2016 - 9,774
February 2016 - 11,337
March 2016 - 12,485
April 2016 - 11,939
May 2016 - 11,890
June 2016 - 11,734

With Medical Interpreters currently handling an average of 500 calls per month, this additional Medical Interpreter position will support the Unit’s capacity to handle the corresponding increase in demand for services while decreasing our reliance on contracted providers.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If this action is not approved, the increase in demand for medical interpretation will not be addressed due to staffing shortage.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

Not applicable.