To: Board of Directors
From: Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Report Title: Purchase Order with Kerecis LLC
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent, or designee, to execute on behalf of the Health Services Director, a purchase order with Kerecis LLC in an amount not to exceed $600,000 to procure fish skin and biological dressing supplies for the Operating Department at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCRMC) for the period from February 1, 2024 through July 31, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This action will result in expenditures of up to $600,000 and will be funded by Hospital Enterprise Fund I revenues.
BACKGROUND:
Kerecis's trademarked fish skin has little processing to preserve its similarity to human skin as opposed to animal-derived skin replacements. Human and pig tissues are used to make the majority of skin replacements. These are not the ideal options because thorough processing is necessary to eliminate the chance of disease transmission. This intense antiviral treatment removes most of the material's natural components, setting it apart from human skin.
Research has shown that fish skin is more structurally similar to human skin than other skin substitutes. Since there is no known risk of viral infection transmission, fish skin is processed as minimally as possible to retain its constituent parts and structural integrity. Fish skin in its intact state is used to treat chronic wounds, including pressure ulcers, vascular ulcers, diabetic wounds, draining wounds, trauma wounds, and surgical wounds.
Kerecis LLC pricing is provided by the Vizient, Inc. Group Purchasing Organization. Approval of this purchase order will allow this vendor to provide fish skin and biological dressing supplies to CCRMC through July 31, 2025.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this action is not approved, CCRMC will not be able to provide the surgical needs of the general population of Contra Costa County. This can lead to delays or cancellation of surgeries, and lead to negative outcomes for our patients.