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PRESS RELEASE. From San Mateo County District 3 Supervisor Ray Mueller’s Office on June 24th, 2024.
Redwood City, CA – The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors is poised to vote tomorrow to approve a grant agreement with Dignity Health Medical Foundation to address the urgent care needs of the Coastside region, following Seton Coastside’s temporary closure of its emergency rooms earlier this year.
The closure of the Coastside’s only emergency room created a significant shortage of healthcare facilities, compelling residents to travel long distances for immediate medical attention. Recognizing this critical gap, the County has partnered with Dignity Health Medical Foundation to enhance healthcare access for the community.
“This initiative underscores our unwavering dedication to guaranteeing every San Mateo County resident has access to vital healthcare,” said San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller. “Expanding urgent care on the Coastside marks a transformative leap in enhancing health outcomes for our coastal communities.”
Though the impetus of this agreement was the closure of the Seton Coastside Emergency Rooms, the project is being run as a pilot, to study the expansion of urgent care medical services on the Coastside. Under this agreement, Dignity Health Medical Foundation will receive $480,879 to expand its existing Primary Care Clinic at 799 Main Street, Suite D, Half Moon Bay, CA, to include urgent care services. The pilot term is from July 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.
The partnership between San Mateo County and Dignity Health Medical Foundation underscores the shared commitment to enhancing healthcare access and ensuring that residents receive timely medical care close to home.
The Board of Supervisors meeting begins at 9:00am and can be viewed here.
San Mateo County Supervisors Tuesday, June 25th, 2024 Consent Agenda, Health, Item #70
Adopt a resolution authorizing a Grant Agreement with Dignity Health Medical Foundation to provide a pilot for urgent care services for coastal residents south of Pacifica, for the term of July 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $480,879.
1. 20240625_r_Coastal Urgent Care Pilot Grant.pdf,
2. 20240625_a_Coastal Urgent Care Pilot Grant.pdf
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise F. Rogers, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Subject: Coastal Urgent Care Pilot Agreement provided by Dignity Health Medical Foundation
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution authorizing a Grant Agreement with Dignity Health Medical Foundation to provide a pilot for urgent care services for coastal residents south of Pacifica, for the term of July 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $480,879.
BACKGROUND
On April 1, 2024, Seton Coastside’s emergency room (ER) closed to undertake extensive building repairs because of severe storm damage to its aging structure. That closure raised concerns regarding whether coastal residents have adequate access to urgent healthcare services. Since the closure, residents have expressed concern that getting timely access to urgent care services requires going “over the hill” via a two-lane highway subject to frequent traffic jams and stoppages.
An additional concern is the large number of seniors that have challenges with being able to drive themselves long distances to get urgent care. This pilot provides the coastal community an opportunity to have access to urgent care services while Seton Coastside’s ER is closed.
DISCUSSION
San Mateo County is proposing to fund a pilot program to determine the viability of urgent care services through an existing Dignity Health Medical Foundation (Dignity) clinic in Half Moon Bay. The urgent care clinic will be operational Wednesday through Saturday from 9 AM to 8 PM to meet the needs of coastal residents that cannot access urgent care during working hours. The clinic will also be open one day on the weekend to cover those who cannot access services during the week.
The pilot will provide the County and coastal residents with data regarding the demand for urgent care services by coastal residents so that the community can make evidence-based decisions regarding the need for emergent or urgent care services at that location. The agreement provides for a three-month ramp up period for hiring and licensing with services starting on October 1, 2024, and that Dignity will provide the County with utilization reports at the end of a three-month period so that the parties may determine whether the pilot should be extended beyond the initial six months. The clinic is located on Main Street, close to many businesses, and is easily accessible. All residents and visitors can access the clinic for urgent care.
The total pilot cost is $480,879 for six months, with the option of renewing for another six months based on the results of the utilization reports.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provision allowing amendment of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
The agreement and resolution have been reviewed and approved by the County Attorney as to form. It is anticipated that the clinic will mobilize three urgent care staff by October 1, 2024.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE
|
Measure |
FY 2024-25 Projected |
|
Number of urgent care staff mobilized |
3 staff |
EQUITY IMPACT
This agreement will improve geographical access for all coastal residents to urgent care services where currently none exists.
FISCAL IMPACT
The term of the Pilot Agreement with Dignity Health Medical Foundation is July 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025. The amount of the Agreement is $480,879. This agreement with be funded with one-time Net County Cost and will be included in the FY 2024-25 September Budget.
More on Seton Coastside Moss Beach on Coastside Buzz
Age-Friendly HMBC Explores Better Coastside Healthcare Access by Considering Pooling Resources between Dignity, Stanford, Kaiser, Seton with a Pilot Program Lab Testing and Treatment Center
Supervisor Mueller Grills AHMC, Owners of Seton Coastside, on 9 Month Closure When No San Mateo County Permit has Been Pulled and When No Damage Occurred to Emergency Room
SMCo Supervisor Mueller Looks for Full Transparency from AHMC for the Closure of the Emergency Room at the Coastside Seton Medical Center
We Need Your Voice ~ Seton Coastside Update by Judy Macias
Seton Coastside Medical in Moss Beach is on the Edge of Extinction
Will Strategic Global Management Buy Seton Coastside Medical Center?
2024 Election
The 2024 Board of Supervisors, from left: Ray Mueller (D3), Noelia Corzo (D2), Warren Slocum (D4, BOS President), David J. Canepa (D5, BOS Vice President) and Dave Pine (D1, outgoing BOS President).
Author: Coastside Buzz
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