NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.

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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

**Please see fiscal implications sections of this report.

Duplicates House Joint Memorial 50

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Memorial 40 requests the Legislative Finance Committee to study the employment practices relating to the professional medical staff at the Carrie Tingly Crippled Children's Hospital, including:

• •a comprehensive review of the employment policies and the hiring and firing of licensed physicians, including surgeons and licensed physicians placed in positions of authority such as department heads, department chairs and medical directors;



• •a review of the financial settlements made by the hospital as a result of the firing of any professional medical staff; and



• •an evaluation of the staffing patterns in the various departments and a determination as to whether such staffing patterns are efficient and provide for the best possible patient care.

The Legislative Finance Committee is to make a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislative Council no later than December 15, 2001.

Significant Issues

The memorial identifies a concern with a large turnover among the professional medical staff employed at Carrie Tingley Crippled Children's Hospital and recognizes that the hiring and retention of the highest-caliber professional medical staff committed to the long-term health cares needs of New Mexico's chronically impaired children is best accomplished through the implementation of sound employment practices.

FISCAL/ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

Presumably, the work required by the memorial would be performed by a combination of fiscal analyst and performance audit staff of the LFC. Currently, the LFC annually prepares a performance audit and fiscal analyst work plan. If the joint memorial were to be approved by the Legislature, the LFC would re-prioritize the plans to carry out the purposes of the joint memorial. Therefore, no additional FTE would be necessary to implement the joint memorial.

DKB/ar