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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20120158 RESOLUTION RE: APPROVE AGREEMENT CONCERNING CLINICAL EXPERIENCE AND AUTHORIZE CHAIR TO SIGN - HCA-HEALTHONE, LLC WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and WHEREAS, the Board has been presented with an Agreement Concerning Clinical Experience between the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and through the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the Weld County Paramedic Service, and HCA-HealthONE, LLC, commencing January 1, 2012, and ending December31, 2014,with further terms and conditions being as stated in said agreement, and WHEREAS,after review, the Board deems it advisable to approve said agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado,that the Agreement Concerning Clinical Experience between the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and through the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the Weld County Paramedic Service, and HCA-HealthONE, LLC, be, and hereby is, approved. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Board that the Chair be, and hereby is, authorized to sign said agreement. The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by the following vote on the 16th day of January, A.D., 2012, nunc pro tunc January 1, 2012. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WELD COUNTY, COLORADO ATTEST: . • 6 oins Innwir`Sean P. Conway, Chair (� Weld County Clerk to the Boar. E /,. 'a ea," iam F. Ga cia, Pro-)Tem BY: x 1 1161 ;fit=1� Deputy Clerk to the Boars4li. " ` �. ® ra Kirkmeyer AP DAS ‘`9 N")-4( avid E. Long o ttorney r 4 -5 ��q ouglai Rademacher) Date of signature: -Lo ! ,) ovica 4O 1Acctil1'lone E,w\S - I i - 13 Qt . QWt 2012-0158 3- 1 AM0021 HO060111 AGREEMENT CONCERNING CLINICAL EXPERIENCE THIS AGREEMENT, made as of the 1st day of January, 2012 is between HCA- HealthONE LLC ("HealthONE") and the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the Weld County Paramedic Service ("Agency"). RECITALS HealthONE desires that certain of its students (the "Students"), and when appropriate certain of its faculty members, be permitted to visit and utilize Agency's facilities in order to afford the Students the opportunity to have practical learning and clinical experiences at Agency. Agency desires to aid in the education and training of health professionals and, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, is willing to make its facilities available for such purposes. AGREEMENT In consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows: 1. Responsibilities of Parties. During the term hereof, Agency shall, at its sole discretion, make available to designated Students its physical facilities and clinical equipment to provide such Students the opportunity to obtain clinical training and experience and HealthONE shall coordinate with the respective Agency representative, for the supervision of its Students who are selected to participate in the clinical education program, all in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein. Nothing in this Agreement, however, shall be construed to indicate that Agency must accept any student from HealthONE into Agency's clinical/emergency medical services field experience educational program (the "Program"). 2. Student Selection for Program. Agency and HealthONE shall mutually agree on the accepted level of academic preparation required of each Student who will participate in the Program. HealthONE shall determine the adequacy of each Student's educational experience in theoretical training, basic skills and professional ethics and shall assess the Student's attitude and behavior before suggesting a Student for clinical assignment to Agency. Agency and HealthONE agree that there shall be no discrimination on the basis of age, race, religion, creed, sex, national origin, handicap or veteran's status in connection with Student selection for Program participation. Any Student selected to participate in the clinical experience must first submit to a fingerprint-based criminal history record check as required by statute. 2012-0158 HealthONE represents that it will timely have conducted a background check on each and every Student assigned to the Program. The background check shall include verification of the elements of performance set forth in The Joint Commission's Standard HR. 1.20. Background check includes the following elements: (i) Social Security number verification; (ii) Seven Year Multi-County or Statewide Felony and Related Misdemeanor Criminal Record search; and Violent Sexual Offender and Predatory Register search; (iii) HHS/OIG List of Excluded Individuals/Entities — GSA List of Parties Excluded from Federal Programs; and (iv) U.S. Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), List of Specially Designated Nationals (SDN). In some circumstances, Agency may also require evidence of: (v) Employment History as it relates to program needs; (vi) Education verification(highest degree received as evidenced by sealed transcripts); (vii) Professional Licensure or Certification Verification — Professional Disciplinary Action Check; (viii) Department of Motor Vehicle Driving History, based on • responsibilities; and (ix) Consumer Credit Report, based on responsibilities. Should the background check disclose adverse information as to any Student and/or member of the staff/faculty, HealthONE shall immediately remove the Student and/or member of the staff/faculty from the Program. 3. Clinical Education Program. (a) HealthONE and Agency shall mutually agree upon and arrange the objectives of instruction, the periods of assignment for each Student and the number of Students eligible to participate concurrently in the Program. (b) Agency shall designate a member of its staff to act as its program coordinator and work with a designated member of HealthONE's Emergency Medical Services Department (the "Department") in coordinating the Program for the Students at Agency. A program coordinator, the faculty member assigned by HealthONE, shall make on-site visits to Agency, when appropriate, to observe and supervise the Students. If HealthONE's program coordinator or any other faculty member desires to be involved in providing clinical instruction to the Students at the Agency, the HealthONE faculty member or program coordinator must first obtain Agency's approval for such faculty member's or program coordinator's participation in clinical instruction at Agency. 2 (c) HealthONE shall designate a member of the Department to be coordinator of the Program on behalf of HealthONE. This Department member shall be the person with whom Agency's program coordinator shall communicate regarding the conduct of the Program. HealthONE's Department coordinator shall work with Agency's program coordinator to develop program objectives, schedules and other details of the Program. (d) Students shall be permitted to perform services for patients only at the request of a designated employee of Agency and only when under the supervision of a designated employee of Agency who is also registered, licensed or certified in the appropriate field. Students shall work and perform assignments at the discretion of their supervisors designated by Agency and only pursuant to Agency policies and protocols. Students are trainees, not employees, and are not to replace Agency staff. Agency has ultimate responsibility for the quality of care given to patients. (e) During periods of clinical assignment at Agency, Students shall remain subject to the authority, policies and regulations imposed by HealthONE and shall be subject to all standards, rules, regulations, administrative practices and policies of Agency. Similarly, any of HealthONE's faculty visiting or participating in clinical instruction at Agency shall be subject to the standards, rules, regulations, administrative practices and policies of Agency. HealthONE and Agency shall arrange and provide orientation of faculty members and Students concerning Agency's standards, rules, regulations, administrative practices and policies. (f) HealthONE shall maintain all educational progress records pertaining to its Students and Agency shall only have the obligation to make reports to HealthONE regarding the Students participating in the Program. (g) Agency shall retain the right, in its sole discretion, and at any time, to request the removal of any individual from the premises, from the facility or clinical field area. The said removal may be a result of a temporary situation at the premises, facility or clinical area, or it may be a permanent withdrawal from the Agency's premises. Students and educational institution personnel shall promptly and without protest leave an area whenever they are requested to do so by an authorized Agency representative. Agency shall notify HealthONE of its request as soon as practical. 4. Insurance and Indemnity. (a) HealthONE hereby certifies that medical professional liability insurance, as stated on the attachment, in amounts of not less than $1 million per incident and $6 million per aggregate, is in full force and effect and insures each Student and faculty member of HealthONE while on the premises of Agency. Such insurance coverage shall, throughout the term of this Agreement, inure to the benefit of 3 Agency to the extent that it incurs any claim, loss, damage or liability as a result of the negligent acts or omissions of a Student during the period of his or her clinical assignment at Agency or of a faculty member during any visit or teaching stay at Agency. HealthONE shall give Agency written notice 30 days prior to the effective date of any changes in the terms of such insurance. In the event the insurance is canceled in whole or in part or as to any insured, HealthONE shall immediately notify Agency and Agency may immediately terminate this Agreement in whole or in part or require that an uninsured Student be removed immediately from the Program. (b) To the extent not covered by the insurance referred to in subsection (a) above, HealthONE hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Agency, its directors, officers, agents and employees from any claims, liability or damages (including without limitation reasonable attorneys' fees) resulting from the negligent acts or omissions of a Student or faculty member who is participating in the Program. (c) The parties hereto acknowledge that the Students are jointly enrolled in EMS education programs at HealthONE and Arapahoe Community College ("ACC"). ACC provides workers' compensation insurance covering the Students. The Students are participating in practical learning and clinical experiences at Agency pursuant to this Agreement and are not employees of Agency, HealthONE or ACC. (d) No term or condition of this contract shall be construed or interpreted as a waiver, express or implied, of any of the immunities, rights, benefits, protections or other provisions, of the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act §§24-10-101 et seq., as applicable now or hereafter amended. 5. Health Care and Other Benefits, Costs and Expenses. (a) HealthONE shall perform its duties hereunder as an independent contractor and not as an employee. HealthONE shall be solely responsible for its acts and those of its agents Students, and employees for all acts performed pursuant to this Agreement. Neither HealthONE nor any agent, student or employee of HealthONE shall be deemed to be an agent or employee of Agency. HealthONE and its employees, Students and agents are not entitled to unemployment insurance or workers' compensation benefits through Agency and Agency shall not pay for or otherwise provide such coverage for HealthONE or any of its agents, Students or employees. Unemployment insurance benefits will be available to HealthONE and its employees, Students and agents only if such coverage is made available by HealthONE or a third party. HealthONE shall pay when due all applicable employment taxes and income taxes and local head taxes (if applicable) incurred pursuant to this Agreement. HealthONE shall not have authorization, express or implied, to bind Agency to any agreement, liability or understanding, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement. To the extent permitted by law, HealthONE shall have the following responsibilities with 4 regard to workers' compensation and unemployment compensation insurance matters: (a) provide and keep in force workers' compensation and unemployment compensation insurance in the amounts required by law and (b) provide proof thereof when requested to do so by Agency. (b) Agency shall be under no obligation to assume any costs incurred by the Students or the faculty of HealthONE during their scheduled time at Agency. Agency shall not be required to provide any form of transportation for Students or faculty of HealthONE. (c) Agency shall be responsible for arranging immediate emergency care of Students in the events of accidental injury or illness, but shall not be responsible for any costs involved in providing such emergency care or for follow-up care or hospitalization. (d) HealthONE shall ensure that Students comply with Agency's immunization requirements and will provide education to Students as described in the OSHA Bloodborne Disease Standards. 6. Student Withdrawal from Program. Agency may require HealthONE to withdraw from Agency any Student whose performance is determined by Agency to be unsatisfactory or whose characteristics and activities are deemed by Agency to be detrimental to Agency's responsibilities for health care. Written requests for withdrawal of a Student shall be given by Agency to HealthONE and shall contain a statement of facts describing the Student's unacceptable conduct. Upon receipt of such notice from Agency, HealthONE shall immediately withdraw the Student from clinical assignment at Agency. 7. Medicare Statutory Requirements. To the extent required by Section 1861 (v)(1)(I) of the Social Security Act, as amended, and its implementing regulations, Agency agrees: (a) Until the expiration of four (4) years after the furnishing of services to HealthONE pursuant to this Agreement, Agency shall make available upon written request from the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services or upon request from the Comptroller General of the United States, or any of their duly authorized representatives, this Agreement and all books, documents, and records of Agency that are necessary to certify the nature and extent of such costs relating thereto; and (b) If Agency carries out any of its duties pursuant to this Agreement through a subcontract with a related organization, such contract shall contain a clause to the effect that until the expiration of four (4) years after the furnishing of such services pursuant to such subcontract, the related organization shall make available, upon written request from the Secretary, or upon request from the Comptroller General, or any of their duly authorized representatives, the subcon- 5 tract, and all books, documents, and records of such organization that are necessary to verify the nature and extent of such costs relating thereto. (c) If Agency is requested or ordered to disclose any books, documents or records relevant to the Agreement for the purpose of an audit or investigation, Agency shall notify HealthONE of the nature and scope of such request and shall make available, upon written request of HealthONE, all such books, documents, or records. 8. Warranty of Non-Exclusion from Federal Healthcare Programs. Each party represents to the other that it (i) is not currently excluded, debarred, or otherwise ineligible to participate in the federal health care programs as defined in 42 U.S.C. §1320a-7b(f) (the "federal health care programs"); and (ii) is not under investigation or otherwise aware of any circumstances that may result in Agency or Facility being excluded from participation in the federal health care programs. This shall be an ongoing representation and warranty during the term of the Agreement. Agency and Facility shall immediately notify each other of any change in the status of the representation and warranty set forth in this section. Any breach of this section shall give Agency or Facility the right to terminate the Agreement immediately for cause. Agency shall perform all services under this Agreement in accordance with any and all regulatory and accreditation standards applicable to HealthONE, including, without limitation, those requirements imposed by The Joint Commission, the Medicare/Medicaid conditions of participation and any amendments thereto, and all federal, state and local laws, rules, regulations and policies. 9. Confidentiality Compliance Requirements. The parties agree to comply with the federal Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 (the "HITECH Act"), the Administrative Simplification provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as codified at 42 U.S.C. § 1320d through d-8 ("HIPAA"), and the requirements of any current and future regulations promulgated under either the HITECH Act or HIPAA including without limitation the federal privacy standards as contained in 45 C.F.R. Parts 160 and 164 (the "Federal Privacy Standards") and the federal security standards as contained in 45 C.F.R. Pails 160, 162 and 164 (the "Federal Security Standards"), all as may be amended from time to time, and all collectively referred to herein as "Confidentiality Requirements". To the extent applicable under HIPAA, the parties shall make their internal practices, books, and records relating to the use and disclosure of Protected Health Information available to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to the extent required for determining compliance with the Federal Privacy Standards. 10. Compensation. HealthONE agrees to compensate the Agency for the cost of the clinical experience for Students as follows: 6 During each twelve (12) month period commencing on the effective date of this Agreement, HealthONE shall provide four (4) hours of instructor time for educational workshops, seminars, and the like, for emergency medical technicians, or other employees, or both, employed by the Agency, in exchange for every 100 hours of Student ride, or clinical experience time clocked by Students. Such programs will be pre- approved by the Agency for content and as qualifying for offset under this Agreement. Agency shall present a statement to HealthONE at the end of each month in which a Student participated in any clinical experience at Agency, such statement to include the number of participating students, and the number of "rides" in which Students participated for that month, together with a running total of hours of clinical experience provided to Students for which there has been no reimbursement. HealthONE shall reimburse Agency for the clinical experience hours utilized by its students as set forth above, when that the total number of unreimbursed hours utilized equals or exceeds 100. The above described educational programs will be provided at such time that an instructor becomes available and a program has been mutually agreed upon by the parties, recognizing that HealthONE would prefer to provide such educational workshops, seminars, and the like, after any then currently scheduled clinical course has been completed. Reimbursement for the total number of hours must be completed in a timely manner, and, in any case, must be completed within eighteen (18) months of the date the hours are incurred, whether or not the total number of hours has reached 100. Agency shall notify HealthOne in writing of any unreimbursed hours which have been outstanding and not reimbursed for eighteen (18) months or more ("the 18 month balance"). The parties shall immediately and in good faith negotiate plans for reimbursement of the 18 month balance. The parties may agree to any form of reimbursement, including, but not limited to, HealthOne providing either instruction for a time period that is pro-rated to conform with the number of unreimbursed hours, or instructional materials for Agency's use. An agreement for reimbursement for the 18 month balance must be reached within sixty days of the date of the written notice of the outstanding balance. If no agreement has been reached within 60 days of the said written notice, then HealthOne agrees to make payment on the portion of the balance that constitutes the 18 month balance at the rate of twenty-five ($25.00) dollars per twelve hour ride. 11. Term; Termination. (a) The initial term of this Agreement shall be three (3) year(s), commencing January 1, 2012 and terminating December 31, 2014, unless earlier terminated as provided in this Agreement. (b) Termination. This Agreement may be terminated upon 30 days prior written notice from either party to the other. Should such notice of termination be given, Students then assigned to the Agency shall be allowed to complete any previously scheduled clinical assignment then in progress at the Agency. 7 (c) Termination or Amendment as the Result of Government Regulation. HealthONE shall have the right to terminate or amend this Agreement in order to comply with any legal order issued by a federal or state department, agency or commission, without liability. In the event HealthONE is required to amend this Agreement, HealthOne shall notify Agency of such requirement, and the parties will use their best efforts to negotiate the addition and wording of such amendment. If the amendment is unacceptable to the Agency, the Agency may choose to terminate this Agreement within thirty (30) days after such notice without liability for such termination. (d) In the event (i) Medicare, Medicaid, any third-party payor or any federal, state or local legislative or regulatory authority adopts any law, rule, regulation, policy, procedure or interpretation thereof which establishes a material change in the method or amount of reimbursement or payment for services under this Agreement, or if(ii) any or all such payors/authorities impose requirements which require a material change in the manner of either party's operations under this Agreement and/or the costs related thereto, then, upon the request of either party materially affected by any such change in circumstances, the parties shall enter into good faith negotiations for the purpose of establishing such amendments or modifications as may be appropriate in order to accommodate the new requirements and change of circumstances while preserving the original intent of this Agreement to the greatest extent possible. If, after thirty (30) days of such negotiations, the parties are unable to reach an agreement as to how or whether this Agreement shall continue, then either party may terminate this Agreement upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice. 12. Miscellaneous (a) The terms and conditions of this Agreement may be amended only by written instrument executed by both parties. (b) Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered in person or three days after mailing by United States registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, and addressed as follows: To HCA-HealthONE LLC: Swedish Medical Center EMS 333 West Hampden Avenue, Suite 200 Englewood, CO 80110 Phone: 303.788.6236 8 To Agency: Weld County Paramedic Service 1121 M. Street Greeley, CO 80631 (c) The parties expressly agree that nothing contained in this Agreement shall require Agency or Agency's representatives to refer or admit any patients to, or order any goods or services from HealthONE. Notwithstanding any unanticipated effect of any provision of this Agreement, neither party will knowingly or intentionally conduct himself in such a manner as to violate the prohibition against fraud and abuse in connection with the Medicare and Medicaid programs (42 USC § 1320a- 7b). (d) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado. (e) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, their successors and assigns. (f) Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to require the Weld County Paramedic Service or the Weld County Board of County Commissioners to provide funding for any purpose under this Agreement that has not previously been budgeted. (g) It is expressly understood and agreed that enforcement of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and all rights of action relating to such enforcement, shall be strictly reserved to the undersigned parties, and nothing contained in this Agreement shall give or allow any claim or right of claim whatsoever by any other person not included in this Agreement. It is the express intention of the undersigned parties that any entity, other than the undersigned parties, receiving services or benefits under this Agreement shall be deemed an incidental beneficiary only. Students and employees and faculty of HealthONE are specifically considered to be incidental beneficiaries under this Agreement (h) Nothing in this Agreement shall require Agency to follow any protocols, procedures or regulations other than those which Agency is required to follow and/or which Agency has adopted, and chooses to follow. (i) Colorado law, and rules and regulations established pursuant thereto, shall be applied in the interpretation, execution, and enforcement of this Agreement. Any provision included or incorporated herein by reference which conflicts with said laws, rules and/or regulations shall be null and void. (j) The signatories to this Agreement aver that to their knowledge, no employee of 9 Agency has any personal or beneficial interest whatsoever in the service or property which is the subject matter of this Agreement. HealthONE has no interest and shall not acquire any interest direct or indirect, which would in any manner or degree conflict with the performance of HealthONE's services and HealthONE shall not employ any person having such known interests. During the term of this Agreement, HealthONE shall not engage in any in any business or personal activities or practices or maintain any relationships which actually conflict with or in any way appear to conflict with the full performance of its obligations under this Agreement. Failure by HealthONE to ensure compliance with this provision may result, in Agency's sole discretion, in immediate termination of this Agreement. (k) In the event of a dispute between Agency and HealthONE concerning this Agreement, the parties agree that Agency shall not be liable to or responsible for the payment of attorney fees and/or legal costs incurred by or on behalf of HealthONE. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed on the date first above written. WELD COUNTY PARAMEDIC HCA-HEALTHONE LLC SERVICE Bf Name: Dave Bressler Jefff`ey A. Dorsey, Senior Vice Presnt Title: Director of Paramedic Services Date: JAN 1 2012 ATTEST: ` �j�-_�-� ff`/-�. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CLERK TO THE BOARD OF WELD COUNTY, On Behalf of Weld County '*`'" Paramedic Service • By: [W,� d By: C Deputy Clerk t the Board J—\ : ; Sean P. Conway, Chairman JAN 16 2012 to D/& —c /$A7 Hello