MEETING DATE: 5/10/2016
DEPARTMENT: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
DEPT HEAD/DIRECTOR: Alan Yamamoto
AGENDA ITEM PREPARER:
SBC DEPT FILE NUMBER: 810
SUBJECT:
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT - A. YAMAMOTO
Approve contract Renewal with Dr. Wallace B. Mendelson, M.D. Psychiatrist for the period of July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017, for a total amount not to exceed $122,000.00.
SBC FILE NUMBER: 810
AGENDA SECTION:
CONSENT AGENDA
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
This contract renewal is for the provision of psychiatry services through Dr. Wallace B. Mendelson, M.D. Dr. Mendelson is an experienced psychiatrist who specializes in providing services for adults and children. Psychiatrist M.D. providers are a very difficult resource to procure due the national shortage of individuals trained in psychiatry and the limited numbers willing to work in publicly operated mental health service and particularly in non-metropolitan locales.
Dr. Mendelson has an accomplished work history in the management of psychiatric medications which includes work as an instructor of psychopharmacology at the University of Chicago School of Medicine and as a consultant on psychopharmacology for NASA, (Natl. Aeronautics and Space Admin.). Dr. Mendelson also has many years of experience with direct practice in the management of psychiatric medications with mental health clients. It is difficult to keep the Medication Support element of our services intact with such limited psychiatrist resources to draw from and to be competitive with rates of reimbursement required to successfully recruit these individuals. Dr.Mendelson as a contract service provider is essential to maintain the continuity of medication support services for our clients.
BUDGETED:
Yes