HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04012014 - D.2RECOMMENDATION(S):
1. CONSIDER waiving the 180-day “sit out period” for Joseph Barger, MD, Exempt Medical Staff physician, who
serves as the Medical Director for Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Health Services Department;
2. FIND that the appointment of Joseph Barger is necessary to fill a critically needed position;
3. APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the hiring of retiree Joseph Barger as a temporary part-time County employee for
the period of April 7, 2014 through March 31, 2015 as recommended by the Health Services Department Director.
FISCAL IMPACT:
If the request is granted, there will continue to be salary and employment tax payment for the hours provided of
approximately $86,044. These costs will be offset by savings due to the vacancy of the permanent position.
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 04/01/2014 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: Terrina C. Manor,
957-5248
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: April 1, 2014
David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc:
D.2
To:Board of Supervisors
From:William Walker, M.D., Health Services Director
Date:April 1, 2014
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Waiver of 180 Day "Sit Out" Period for Temporary Hire of County Retiree
BACKGROUND:
Dr. Barger has served as EMS Medical Director for Contra Costa County since 1996. EMS is a specialized area of
expertise that combines emergency medical knowledge as well as knowledge of EMS system function. By statute,
each organized EMS system (by county or region) requires a physician with substantial experience in the practice of
emergency medicine. Dr. Barger’s roles include:
Medical oversight of Emergency Medical Dispatching (EMD) at three fire/medical dispatch sites in Contra Costa;
Development and modification of treatment guidelines to be administered by all 9-1-1 personnel in the Contra Costa
EMS system;
Medical oversight of all paramedic ambulance programs in the Contra Costa 9-1-1 system;
Medical oversight and prescribing of medications for use in all Contra Costa fire agencies participating in the 9-1-1
system;
Oversight of EMS specialty care programs in trauma, stroke, and STEMI (high-risk heart attack).
Dr. Barger retired on March 29, 2014. There is no other current EMS employee to provide these services. In 2013, an
internal recruitment process to find another candidate currently employed with the county (Contra Costa Regional
Medical Center medical staff), in anticipation of his upcoming retirement, was unable to find a suitable candidate to
fill his role. Further recruitment and hiring of a replacement may require up to a year, and once that position has been
filled there will likely be a need for transition for training and orientation to the local system. Current ignificant
activities in EMS (EMS system modernization and development of the upcoming ambulance RFP), as well as
ongoing medical supervision of the EMS system require the position to be filled with a person knowledgeable in this
specialized area.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Failure to receive Board approval would result in absence of medical leadership in the EMS system and lead to
vacancy in a role required by statute for oversight of the EMS system.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
not applicable
CLERK'S ADDENDUM
CONSIDERED waiving the 180-day “sit out period” for Joseph Barger, MD, Exempt Medical Staff physician,
who serves as the Medical Director for Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Health Services Department;
FOUND that the appointment of Joseph Barger is necessary to fill a critically needed position; APPROVED and
AUTHORIZED the hiring of retiree Joseph Barger as a temporary part-time County employee for the period of
April 7, 2014 through March 31, 2015; and DIRECTED staff to report back on or about June 1, 2014 on the
recruitment and transition plan for this position.