REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
March 10, 2020
FROM
WILLIAM L. GILBERT, Director, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
SUBJECT
Title v
Non-Financial Reciprocal Transfer Agreements for Patients Requiring Higher Level of Care
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Non-Financial Reciprocal Agreement with the following hospitals to allow for transfer of patients who require higher level of care and services for the five-year period of March 10, 2020 through March 9, 2025:
1. Desert Regional Medical Center
2. Pomona Valley Medical Center
(Presenter: William L. Gilbert, Director, 580-6150)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of these non-financial reciprocal transfer agreements will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as the recommended agreement is non-financial in nature. No funds will be exchanged between these facilities for the transfer of patients and each facility will be responsible for the costs associated with patient care provided at their facility.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Approval of the non-financial agreements will allow ARMC to accept and transfer patients who require specialized higher level of care to and from Desert Regional Medical Center and Pomona Valley Medical Center. The agreements will facilitate the continuity of care and timely transfer of patients and their records between facilities. All patient transfers shall be in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations, standards of regulatory agencies, and reasonable policies and procedures of the facility.
State and federal law mandates that when a specialized healthcare facility with the ability to provide a patient with a higher level of care is contacted by an admitting hospital that is unable to provide the specific care that is needed, the specialized healthcare facility must accept the transfer of the critically ill patient.
The agreements outline the responsibilities of each healthcare facility. These responsibilities include, but are not limited to: physician communications, transfer of patient medical records and transportation requirements. Each facility will pursue payment for services on their own behalf via State Medi-Cal, federal Medicare and private insurances.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Michael Markel, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on February 11, 2020; Finance (Amanda Trussell, Principal Administrative Analyst, 387-4773) on February 20, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on February 24, 2020.