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DPH director highlights new commissioner, homeless outreach transition, Ebola readiness and a new warm line
Summary
Director Garcia announced Dr. David Pating as incoming Health Commissioner, described a temporary scale-back while the homeless outreach team transitions to a new contractor (Public Health Foundation Enterprises) and detailed preparedness steps after a recent earthquake. She also announced a 24/7 mental-health warm line funded with a $1.2 million state grant and a managed-care arrangement with Northeast Medical Services (enrollment target Nov. 1, 2014).
Director Garcia opened the director's report by announcing Dr. David Pating (also transcribed as Padian/Paden) as the city'appointed health commissioner; Garcia said Dr. Pating is a psychiatrist specializing in addiction medicine with a background at Kaiser and as an assistant clinical professor at UCSF and is expected to attend the commission's next meeting.
Garcia reviewed recent operational matters: an RFP awarded operation of the homeless outreach team to a different entity (Public Health Foundation Enterprises). To manage the organizational transition, the department will run a five'day, 24'hour schedule for at least 60'90 days while it rehires and reorganizes; Garcia said providers were notified about reduced weekend availability and staff expect full capacity to return in two to three months.
Garcia reported the department'wide response to a recent magnitude'6 earthquake, noting staff checked facilities, confirmed the network remained online and found no damage to DPH buildings. She said the department participated in a special disaster council meeting to plan for aftershocks and continuity of operations.
On infectious-disease readiness, Garcia said "there is no Ebola in San Francisco, and the risk of Ebola to San Francisco's general public is extremely low." She said DPH is coordinating with the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control to share updated information with clinicians and hospitals and to issue health advisories as new information arrives.
Garcia announced two program developments. First, the department entered an agreement with Northeast Medical Services to expand its managed'care network for specialty and hospital services, with patient enrollment targeted to begin on Nov. 1, 2014. Second, the department launched a mental'health triage warm line operated by the Mental Health Association of San Francisco, funded by a $1,200,000 State Mental Health Services Act grant to provide peer counseling 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
What happens next: Staff will return to the commission with updates on the homeless outreach transition, managed'care enrollment milestones, and public communications about the warm line and infectious'disease advisories.
