Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER APPROVING A CONTRACT WITH PHILIPS LIFELINE FOR THE EMERGENCY ALERT RESPONSE SYSTEM (EARS) PROGRAM (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
The Emergency Alert Response System (EARS) is a state-of-the-art medical communications and personal security system that assures a quick and efficient response to any emergency that may occur in the home of a Carson senior. For more than ten years, the City of Carson’s Senior Assisted Living Program has offered this service to ensure that seniors over the age of 60 can continue to live independently and safely. The City initially provided this service through partnership with Long Beach Memorial Hospital. Long Beach Memorial later transferred the program to Philips Lifeline, which necessitated the development and execution of a separate agreement with Philips Lifeline, which staff now presents to the City Council for approval.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. APPROVE the contract with Philips Lifeline for Emergency Alert Response System (EARS) program services in the amount of $21,721.00.
2. AUTHORIZE the Mayor to execute the contract with Philips Lifeline.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
The City of Carson’s Senior Assisted Living Section has been offering the EARS program to Carson seniors over the age of 60. This service provides a resident with an electronic unit that, when a button is pressed, sends a signal to a 24-hour Emergency Response Center. Within seconds there is direct voice communication with an operator at the Response Center through a speaker/microphone built into the unit.
Beginning in 2006, this service was initially implemented by Long Beach Memorial Hospital. In 2009, 2012, and 2015, the City Council approved contract amendments, each of which extended the contract term by three (3) years, with the contract ultimately ending in 2018. Prior to the contract terminating, Long Beach Memorial Hospital transferred the program to Philips Lifeline (Long Beach Memorial’s EARS program subcontractor), albeit without prior notice to the City of the assignment, to continue services to EARS program participants.
As of April 2017, Philips Lifeline has been providing EARS program services to the City’s participants. Philips Lifeline provides twenty-eight (28) units to the City - one for each program participant - at a cost per unit of $26.75 per month, plus taxes and maintenance fees.
The attached agreement memorializes the ongoing services Philips Lifeline provided from March 2017 to the present, and authorizes payment of $21,721 for EARS program services rendered through August 31, 2019. Staff recently invited bids for EARS program services and has selected another vendor (LifeStation), who is expected to commence services on September 1, 2019.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
Should the City Council approve staff’s recommendation, funds to pay these outstanding invoices are budgeted in Human Services/Senior Assisted Living Account Number 101-90-980-227-6004.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Philips Lifeline Contract. (pgs. 3-30)
Prepared by: Amanda Valorosi, Senior Assisted Living Coordinator II