HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 01-24-2013 - 5f1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: January 24, 2013
Action Agenda
Item No. 5 -f
SUBJECT: Position Establishment Request -.50 Medical Office Assistant Position
DEPARTMENT: Health PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Colleen Bridger, Health Director
PURPOSE: To consider the reclassification of a vacant 1.0 full time equivalent (FTE) Public
Health Nurse II (PHN II) position into 1.5 FTE Medical Office Assistant (MOA) positions, allowing
the 1.5 FTE MOA positions to provide improved front desk and clinic support in handling
increased patients and help promote more efficient service delivery.
BACKGROUND: This request represents some division reorganization as the decision was
made not to fill the PHN II position in the care management program. The staff members in the
new program have become more efficient and the duties of this PHN II have been divided
among existing staff. Health Department staff believes that converting the 1.0 FTE PHN II
position into 1.5 FTE medical office support staff positions is critical for realizing the goal of
increasing clinic capacity, access and excellent customer service for clients. The County
Manager has the authority to redirect the existing 1.0 FTE PHN II position for the 1.0 FTE MOA
position. However, authorization for the additional .50 MOA position is needed for the full
conversion, and the Health Department is requesting approval from the Board of County
Commissioners to create the .50 MOA position as required by the Orange County Personnel
Ordinance.
The MOA position performs routine clerical and customer service duties in support of efficient
office operations. Work involves pulling and preparing charts; answering multi -line telephone;
providing customer service; receiving laboratory results; data entry and filing; processing
incoming /outgoing medical records; recording information; copying medical records and forms
as required; scanning medical records for entry into Electronic Health Records; preparing
courier mail; and cross - training for front desk receptionist, medical record assistant, and
financial interviewing.
The medical clinics provide critical services for the community including communicable disease
control as well as preventive health services for women and children. Access to care has been
identified as a problem in Orange County for those without health insurance. The Health
Department plays a critical role in serving as a safety net medical provider in the County.
Expanding access to services has been identified as a priority in the Community Health
Assessment and by the Board of Health.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The reallocation of funds budgeted for the 1.0 FTE vacant PHN II
position will not only increase efficiency in providing clinic services to the public, but will provide
an annual cost savings of $2,930 to the County. The vacant PHN II position has a combined
annual salary and benefits budget of $65,843. With reclassifying the position, the total
combined annual salaries and benefits budget for the 1.5 Medical Office Assistant positions
would be $62,913, resulting in a $2,930 annual cost savings for the County.
Converting the 1.0 PHN II position into 1.5 FTE Medical Office Assistant positions will allow for
sufficient office support in handling increased service capacity and help promote more efficient
service delivery. For the purpose of creating efficiencies while reducing costs, the Health
Department is requesting to establish the additional .50 MOA position to complete the
conversion of 1 FTE position into 1.5 FTE positions.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board, as part of the
reallocation of personnel resources and existing budgeted funds, approve the creation of a new
.50 FTE Medical Office Assistant position. This is a shift of full -time positions to modify
individual responsibilities to better fit staffing needs.