DATE: March 24, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Pomaville, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Retroactive Waiver of Extra-Help Maximum Hours Limitation
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Retroactively authorize a waiver of the 28 hours per week and/or 960 hours per calendar year maximum hour limitation for the Extra-Help position(s) listed on Attachment A in the Department of Public Health, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the Salary Resolution, section 1100 and Personnel Rules 2040 and 4240.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action provides a retroactive approval for an Extra-Help Communicable Disease Specialist and an Extra-Help Public Health Nurse (PHN) who will exceed the 28-hours limitation and possibly the 960-hours per calendar year limitation to address operational needs, with no increase of Net County Cost. This item is Countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action due to the need to operate and maintain public health and communicable disease services to the public.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues for the additional costs are included in the Department of Public Health’s Org FY 2019-20 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Department’s Communicable Disease Investigation (CDI) Program is committed to promoting good health and disease prevention in Fresno County by investigating cases of infectious diseases. The CDI program also focuses on prevention through education and monitoring the health status of our community through vital data.
Currently, the CDI Program has been dealing with a high number of communicable diseases and an increase in the number of outbreaks. This coupled with the recent developments with the Novel Coronavirus, an evolving situation, has increased the call volume staff has received. As part of the process, staff must monitor returning travelers as well as monitor suspected outbreak patients through the 25-day incubation period. The increased workload has required us to rely on Extra-Help staff more than usual.
The Department’s California Children’s Services (CCS) program is a statewide program that pays for treatment, equipment, and rehabilitation services to qualified clients up to the age of 21. The program also provides case management, medical evaluation, and information about community resources. PHNs in the CCS program perform the case management function which includes determination of medical and program eligibility, authorization of medically necessary services, and referral to medical specialists, treatment centers, and, when the need arises, conduct home visits.
An Extra-Help PHN went over the allowable 28-hours per week while working with clients in Coalinga, Huron and Mendota. When working on an annual review for a client, an education session took longer than expected because the PHN had to wait for the client to get home from school. The alternative would have been for the PHN provide the education session to client’s mother, who would then be tasked with relaying the information to the client.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #47, September 10, 2019
BAI #9, June 20, 2017
BAI #37, June 7, 2016
BAI #19, January 13, 2015
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Attachment A
CAO ANALYST:
Raul Guerra