To: Board of Directors
From: Lewis Broschard, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Report Title: Contract with Recon Performance Physical Therapy
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Acting as the governing board of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Fire Chief, or designee, to execute a contract with Recon Performance Physical Therapy, in an amount not to exceed $1,250,000, for the development of physical therapy and strength training programs for Fire District personnel in an effort to reduce job related injuries for the period of January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2026, including the potential of two one year extensions through December 31, 2028.
FISCAL IMPACT:
$1,250,000 of the physical therapy and strength training programs will be funded by the District General Fund. These amounts will be expended at rates outlined in the contract, approximately $250,000 annually, not to exceed a total of $1,250,000, with future funding for the authorized work to be approved annually as part of the Fire District’s annual budget process. A yet to be determined portion of these costs may be offset by a recent $2.5 Million Firefighter Health and Wellness Grant from the State.
BACKGROUND:
The District has consistently placed a premium on the health, well-being, and optimal performance of its firefighters and other personnel. In line with this commitment, the District has been actively exploring approaches to enhance the physical readiness and injury prevention measures for all its staff. In December 2020, the District initiated a pilot Physical Therapy (PT) program, enlisting the services of a part-time physical therapist to offer personalized support to suppression personnel. Responding to the demand of the pilot program, a second physical therapist was added in April 2021. The presence of two physical therapists not only accommodates the increased demand for assistance but also facilitates swifter recovery and the timely return to duty for District employees.
The program has engaged with 322 District employees at least once since its establishment in December 2020. Currently, the program operates at Station 10 in Concord on Tuesdays and the District’s Health and Wellness Center in Pittsburg on Thursdays, the program is planned for expansion in 2024. The plan includes the addition of a physical therapist who will be available one day a week at Fire Station 70 in San Pablo, extending coverage to the western part of the District. Furthermore, the PT program is integrated into Firefighter Recruit Academy 60, which started in January, aiming to proactively prevent injuries. The emphasis lies in cultivating positive habits such as appropriate exercise, recovery techniques, sound nutrition, and sufficient sleep from an early stage, recognizing their pivotal role in establishing a foundation for long-term health and optimal performance of our fire suppression members.
The Department of Defense’s Human Performance Optimization (HPO) framework “provides a holistic approach for enhancing the performance, health and well-being of U.S. soldiers and their families…The time has come to discuss the use of similar concepts that are best suited for members of public safety” (A New Model for Optimizing Firefighter Human Performance, NSCA vol. III, numb 4, 2021). Physical therapy falls into the performance piece of HPO and has already improved injury recovery and return to work times. Statistics garnered from the District’s current PT program have shown injuries sustained by its personnel are chronic in nature. When these cases were subjected to the PT program, improvements were recorded. On average, 3.8 visits resulted in an enhancement of 3.3 points on a 10-point recovery scale (where 0 = very poorly recovered and 10 = fully recovered). Additionally, in a study conducted by Denver Fire, analyzing the efficacy of internal versus external PT programs, the internal program results showed personnel reaching Max Medical Improvement (MMI) 30 days faster; six fewer lost work days; and nine fewer restricted days.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the agreement is not approved, the District will not be able to engage qualified physical therapists to support our personnel in recovering from work related injuries.