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Committee approves DPH request to boost registry staffing at Zuckerberg SF General amid rising census
Summary
The committee recommended a DPH contract amendment to expand Cross Country staffing for as‑needed registry personnel at Zuckerberg San Francisco General after hospital leaders reported census running ~313 versus a budgeted 285; BLA recommended approval but urged budgetary fixes for ongoing staffing needs.
The Budget and Finance Committee voted to send a resolution to the full Board recommending an amendment to Cross Country Staffing’s agreement to provide as‑needed registry personnel at Zuckerberg San Francisco General (ZSFG) to respond to increases in patient census.
DPH and hospital nursing leadership described a sustained increase in census. Chief Nursing Officer Terri D'Antoni said: "We have a budgeted census of, 285. We have been running a census of 313." She explained that the registry fills demand that exceeds budgeted FTEs and that many openings are seasonal or tied to higher‑acuity care needs.
The requested amendment raises the not‑to‑exceed contract from about $9.8 million to approximately $24.7 million through June 30, 2019, to cover registry staff costs while departments manage budgeted positions. The Budget Legislative Analyst's office noted the increase is largely attributable to higher average patient census and recommended approval while urging departments to address persistent staffing shortfalls in the FY2019–20 budget. Committee members pressed DPH on long‑term plans to reduce reliance on registry personnel and to fill permanent positions.
Public comment included an unrelated but forceful allegation referencing past DPH leadership: a speaker alleged former DPH director Barbara Garcia "embezzled a $100,000 a year, year after year for 7 years." That accusation was made as public comment and was not substantiated in committee testimony.
The committee acted to forward the item to the full Board with a positive recommendation as a committee report.
