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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHIA_SanBernardino_Operational_Plan-c1HEALTHCARE IN ACTION STREET MEDICINE SERVICES — OPERATIONAL PLAN City of San Bernardino Professional Services Agreement Service Commencement Date: September 1, 2026 Operational Plan Submission Date: August 14, 2026 Contractor Program Contact: Edward Menacho, General Manager, (909) 957-9921, emenacho@healthcareinaction.org 1. PURPOSE AND RELATIONSHIP TO AGREEMENT The purpose of this Operational Plan is to describe Healthcare in Action, Inc.'s ("HIA" or "Contractor") operational approach for implementing and delivering Street Medicine Services in accordance with the executed Professional Services Agreement ("Agreement") and Scope of Services (Exhibit A) between HIA and the City of San Bernardino ("City"). This Operational Plan is intended to provide the City with information regarding HIA's staffing, service delivery, field operations, coordination, safety, documentation, quality assurance, and medical record management procedures. This Operational Plan supplements the Agreement, Scope of Services, and Schedule of Charges and does not modify, replace, or supersede any provision of the executed Agreement. 2. PROGRAM STAFFING AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE 2.1 Organizational Structure Healthcare in Action is a nonprofit medical and social services organization exclusively dedicated to providing mobile medical care and supportive services to individuals experiencing homelessness. HIA currently operates mobile street medicine teams across multiple service areas in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties. The San Bernardino Street Medicine Program will be staffed and supervised through HIA's Inland Empire Region under the oversight of the General Manager, Inland Empire Region, who reports to HIA's executive and clinical leadership. Field operations are carried out by an interdisciplinary street medicine team consisting of a Medical Provider, Community Health Workers (Peer Navigators), and an HMIS Coordinator, supported by HIA's centralized clinical, compliance, and administrative infrastructure. Team members are cross-trained and, where applicable, share time across HIA's Inland Empire programs to ensure continuity and efficient use of resources, consistent with the staffing allocations reflected in the Program Budget (Section 12). 2.2 Program Staffing Position Title # of Staff Primary Responsibilities Required License / Certification Medical Provider (Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner) 1 Provides full-scope primary medical care, addiction treatment, and psychiatric care in the Active California PA-C or NP license; DEA Position Title # of Staff Primary Responsibilities Required License / Certification field; determines whether a client can be treated by the field team or requires referral registration, as applicable Community Health Worker (Peer Navigator) 2 Conducts outreach and engagement, client enrollment, care coordination, referrals to housing and social services, and follow-up with enrolled clients HIA-provided outreach/peer navigator training HMIS Coordinator 1 Enters and maintains client and program data in the County's HMIS (Clarity) system; supports monthly and quarterly performance reporting HMIS/Clarity system certification Medical Assistant* As needed Provides clinical support, vitals, and point-of-care testing support to the Medical Provider CCMA/RMA certification, as applicable Program Coordinator* As needed Provides scheduling, administrative, and logistics support to the field team N/A *Medical Assistant and Program Coordinator positions are budgeted for the Program but are not allocated dedicated FTE in Year 1 (FY26-27). HIA will add staff capacity to these roles, consistent with the approved Program Budget, as caseload or program needs require, and will notify the City of any resulting change in staffing per Section 10. 2.3 Clinical Oversight The Medical Provider operates under the clinical oversight and supervision of HIA's Medical Director / supervising physician, consistent with California scope-of-practice requirements for Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners. The supervising physician is responsible for review of clinical protocols and chart review, and is available for consultation on complex cases and clinical decision-making support. 2.4 Staffing Coverage HIA maintains service continuity through cross-training of field staff across its Inland Empire programs and a shared pool of licensed Medical Providers who can provide coverage in the event of planned or unplanned staff absences. An on-call clinician is available by phone twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week, to address urgent clinical questions or coverage needs. In the event of an extended staffing disruption, HIA will notify the City in accordance with Section 5.3 of this Plan and will implement a temporary coverage plan to maintain continuity of services. 3. HOURS OF OPERATION The Program will operate Monday through Thursday or Tuesday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., providing direct field-based patient services including allocated time for documentation during standard business hours. In addition, an on-call clinician is available by telephone twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week, to address urgent clinical needs. 4. SERVICE DELIVERY PROTOCOLS 4.1 Service Delivery Model HIA will operationalize the Scope of Services through a mobile, street-based care delivery model in which the Medical Provider and Community Health Workers travel directly to street encampments, shelters, and interim housing facilities located within the City of San Bernardino. This approach removes common barriers to care by eliminating the need for clients to travel to a fixed clinic location. The Program prioritizes high-acuity individuals and is designed to serve at least seventy-five (75) unique unhoused individuals annually, with a maximum active caseload of forty-five (45) patients per Medical Provider at any given time; as clients stabilize and transition ("graduate") to a stable environment that no longer requires street medicine, new patients are enrolled to maintain caseload capacity. 4.2 Outreach and Engagement Community Health Workers (Peer Navigators) conduct systematic outreach to known and newly identified encampment sites, shelters, and interim housing facilities within the City to locate individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Outreach staff build trust and rapport over repeated contacts using a low-barrier, harm-reduction approach that does not condition engagement or enrollment on medication compliance for mental illness, participation in religious services or drug treatment services, possession of identification, or ability to pay. 4.3 Client Intake and Consent Prior to the initiation of services, HIA staff complete a client intake process that includes informed consent, a brief health and psychosocial assessment, and enrollment in HIA's electronic health record and, where applicable, the County's HMIS (Clarity) system. Participation is voluntary, and clients may decline any component of services without losing access to future outreach and engagement. 4.4 Medical Services In the field, the Medical Provider delivers full-scope primary medical care, addiction counseling and medication-assisted treatment, psychiatric care including medication management, laboratory testing, and point-of-care ultrasonography, and coordinates the dispensing and delivery of medications from pharmacies. The Medical Provider, operating under physician supervision as described in Section 2.3, determines in real time whether a client's needs can be safely addressed by the field team or require referral to a higher level of care, a specialist, or an emergency department. 4.5 Referrals and Care Coordination The team coordinates referrals, and transportation where needed, to medical specialists, hospitals, primary care, behavioral health, and substance use treatment providers, as well as County, State, and federal programs and nonprofit and social service agencies. Clients are enrolled in the Coordinated Entry System and connected to available housing and shelter resources, and staff assist clients with applications for food stamps (CalFresh), disability benefits, and other social service programs. 4.6 Follow-Up and Continuity of Care Peer Navigators conduct follow-up contacts with enrolled clients at regular intervals to monitor stability and sustain engagement, and HIA's care management function tracks each client's status against the Program's caseload limits. Clients who stabilize in permanent or interim housing "graduate" from active street medicine caseloads, and their outcomes are documented to support the Program's Quality of Life and performance targets described in Exhibit A of the Agreement. 4.7 Scope of Practice The Contractor will ensure that medical services are provided by appropriately licensed or credentialed personnel acting within their applicable scope of practice and in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards. 5. COORDINATION WITH THE CITY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS 5.1 City Coordination The Contractor's primary contact for coordination with the City's Housing & Homelessness Division: Name: Gabriela Leon, Homeless Solutions Manager Phone: (909) 998-2280 Email: Leon_ga@sbcity.org 5.2 Community Partnerships HIA coordinates with the City's Housing & Homelessness Division, the San Bernardino County Continuum of Care and Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH), County behavioral health and substance use treatment providers, area shelters and interim housing operators, and other County, State, and federal programs and nonprofit agencies to support referrals and successful transitions out of homelessness for enrolled clients. 5.3 Communication and Escalation ● HIA's Inland Empire Region leadership will promptly notify the City's designated contact identified in Section 5.1 of any significant operational issues, service disruptions, safety concerns, or other matters requiring the City's attention. ● Significant incidents involving clients, staff, or Program operations are documented using HIA's internal incident report process and reviewed by clinical and program leadership; the City is notified consistent with the Agreement and applicable reporting requirements. ● In the event of an emergency, staffing disruption, or vehicle/equipment failure, HIA will implement its internal continuity procedures — including reallocating staff or equipment from other Inland Empire programs — to restore services as quickly as possible, and will keep the City informed of status and expected resolution timelines. 6. SAFETY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES 6.1 Client Safety Field staff are trained to identify and respond to unsafe field conditions, including environmental hazards and situations requiring de-escalation, and travel in teams to encampments and other field sites whenever feasible. Staff are equipped with mobile phones and, where applicable, GPS-enabled devices to support real-time communication with program leadership and to allow staff location to be monitored for safety purposes. 6.2 Medical Emergencies In the event of a medical emergency in the field, HIA staff activate Emergency Medical Services (911) and provide first aid or stabilization within their scope of practice while awaiting EMS arrival. The Medical Provider consults with the supervising physician or on-call clinician as needed, and the incident is documented in the client's medical record and reported internally consistent with HIA's incident reporting procedures. 7. DOCUMENTATION AND DATA REPORTING PROCEDURES 7.1 Service Documentation HIA maintains a contemporaneous record of each client encounter — including services provided, clinical findings, and referrals — in HIA's electronic health record system to substantiate services provided under the Agreement. 7.2 HMIS/Data Systems HIA records client information and program outcomes in the San Bernardino County regional HMIS system (Clarity), in accordance with RTFH's HMIS Policies and Procedures, including standards for data entry, data quality, and timeliness. The City will be listed as a program administrator once the Program is enrolled in HMIS and registered with RTFH. HIA will submit monthly performance reports to the City — including total contacts and encounters, unduplicated individuals served, types of medical and behavioral health services provided, and housing referrals and outcomes — and will participate in quarterly performance reviews. Any performance reports provided to the City shall not be individualized to ensure protection of private personal information. 7.3 Record Retention HIA maintains service records, medical records, and financial and accounting records related to the Agreement for a minimum of four (4) years from the date of final payment, consistent with the Agreement, and will make such records available to the City for inspection or audit at mutually convenient times, subject to applicable confidentiality protections. 8. QUALITY ASSURANCE AND MONITORING 8.1 Quality Assurance HIA's Inland Empire Region leadership conducts regular case review and team meetings to monitor service delivery, caseload management, and progress toward Program performance targets, using monthly and quarterly reporting data to identify trends and areas for improvement. 8.2 Clinical Quality Oversight The supervising physician / Medical Director reviews clinical documentation and provides ongoing oversight of the quality and appropriateness of medical services delivered by the Medical Provider, including periodic chart review and case consultation. 8.3 Staff Training All Program staff complete HIA onboarding training — including HIPAA and confidentiality training, cultural competency and trauma-informed care training, CPR/first aid, and field safety training — prior to assignment to the Program, with ongoing training provided throughout the Term as required by HIA policy, licensure, or applicable law. 9. HIPAA COMPLIANCE AND MEDICAL RECORD MANAGEMENT 9.1 HIPAA Compliance The Contractor shall maintain policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), its implementing regulations, and other applicable federal and state privacy and confidentiality requirements. 9.2 Medical Records HIA creates and maintains client medical records in its electronic health record system, with access limited to authorized clinical and administrative staff on a need-to-know basis. Records are retained in accordance with Section 7.3 of this Plan and applicable HIPAA and California requirements. 9.3 Protected Health Information HIA safeguards Protected Health Information through role-based access controls, secure and encrypted transmission and storage, and limitations on disclosure to those authorized under HIPAA and applicable law. PHI is disposed of using secure destruction methods consistent with HIA policy. 9.4 Staff Confidentiality and Training All staff complete HIPAA and confidentiality training as part of onboarding and on a recurring basis thereafter, and sign confidentiality agreements as a condition of employment. 9.5 Medical Record Access HIA responds to authorized requests for medical records or information in accordance with HIPAA, applicable California privacy law, and client authorization requirements, while maintaining applicable privacy protections. 9.6 Privacy or Security Incidents HIA follows its internal policies for identifying, responding to, documenting, and reporting suspected privacy or security incidents, including potential breaches of PHI, consistent with HIPAA breach notification requirements and applicable law. 9.7 Information Provided to the City The Contractor shall provide the City with programmatic and performance information necessary to monitor compliance with the Agreement while maintaining the confidentiality of protected medical information. Unless otherwise authorized or required by law, the Contractor will utilize aggregate, de-identified, or otherwise legally permissible information when reporting program performance to the City. 10. OPERATIONAL PLAN UPDATES The Contractor shall notify the City of material changes to the operational procedures described in this Plan. Updates may include changes to staffing structure, service locations, hours of operation, safety procedures, data systems, or other operational components that materially affect the delivery of contracted services. Operational Plan updates shall not modify or supersede the requirements of the executed Agreement, Scope of Services, or Schedule of Charges. 11. CONTRACTOR CERTIFICATION The Contractor certifies that this Operational Plan accurately describes the Contractor's operational approach for implementing the Street Medicine Services required under the Agreement. CONTRACTOR: HEALTHCARE IN ACTION, INC. Name: Edward Menacho Title: General Manager, Inland Empire Region Signature: _________________________________________ Date: August 14, 2026 12. PROGRAM BUDGET The following Program Budget corresponds to the Schedule of Charges referenced in Exhibit B of the Agreement and reflects the total not-to-exceed compensation of $600,000.00 over the 24-month Term. Project Period Contract execution to 2 years Proposed Budget Amount $600,000.00 (total over 2 years) Total Grant Awarded (Year 1, FY26-27) $300,000.00 Budget Total (Year 2, FY27-28) $300,000.00 12.1 Year 1 Budget (FY 2026–27) Position Title Monthly Salary % Time on Project # Months Cost Medical Provider (Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner) $13,955 15% 12 $25,119 Medical Assistant $4,532 0% 12 $0 Community Health Worker (Peer Navigator) $5,858 10% 12 $7,030 Community Health Worker (Peer Navigator) $5,858 10% 12 $7,030 Coordinator $4,532 0% 12 $0 HMIS Coordinator $5,858 10% 12 $7,030 Total Salaries $46,209 Position Title Monthly Salary % Time on Project # Months Cost Benefits (30%) $13,863 Total Salary & Benefits $60,071 Operating Expense / Overhead Item Cost Medical Supplies and Equipment $5,012 Patient Problem-Solving Funds $5,000 Staff Mileage $0 Mobile Van & Related Expenses $180,000 Total Operating Expenses $190,012 Operating Expense / Overhead Item Cost Indirect Cost @ 20% $49,917 Total Overhead $49,917 Year 1 Budget Total: $300,000 12.2 Year 2 Budget (FY 2027–28) Position Title Monthly Salary % Time on Project # Months Cost Medical Provider (Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner) $14,374 25% 12 $43,121 Medical Assistant $ - 0% 12 $0 Community Health Worker (Peer Navigator) $6,034 75% 12 $54,306 Community Health Worker (Peer Navigator) $6,034 75% 12 $54,306 Coordinator $4,668 23% 12 $12,884 HMIS Coordinator $6,034 25% 12 $18,102 Total Salaries $182,719 Benefits (30%) $54,816 Total Salary & Benefits $237,534 Operating Expense / Overhead Item Cost Medical Supplies and Equipment $5,000 Patient Problem-Solving Funds $5,000 Staff Mileage $0 Operating Expense / Overhead Item Cost Van Related Expenses (fuel, registration, etc.) $3,000 Total Operating Expenses $13,000 Operating Expense / Overhead Item Cost Indirect Cost @ 20% $49,466 Total Overhead $49,466 Year 2 Budget Total: $300,000 Total Grant Awarded (Years 1–2): $600,000.00