Description:

Job Summary:
Associate General Counsel reports to the SVP General Counsel and works closely with outside counsel as directed by the SVP General Counsel, in-house attorneys, and Hospital representatives. The person in this position has a comfort level with healthcare's regulatory framework and reimbursement programs, with particular skills in drafting contracts, developing policies, advising staff and management on legal issues, regulatory, and administrative matters. This position is also responsible to be the primary legal resource for one or more key practice areas, (e.g. employment law) across all of Hospital's sites when legal involvement is needed as designated by the SVP General Counsel.

Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum Education: Graduation from an accredited School of Law with strong academic record.
Minimum Years of Experience: 5 Years of work in a law firm or in-house legal department, including at least 3-5 years of health law experience.
Substitutable Education & Experience: None.
Required Certifications/Licensure: Current member of the South Carolina State Bar. If not a member of the South Carolina State Bar, willingness and eligibility to join South Carolina State Bar promptly as decided by SVP General Counsel.
Required Training: Ability and willingness to demonstrate and maintain competency as required for job title and the unit/area(s) of assignment; Ability to conduct interviews, draft pleadings, Stark and Anti-kickback laws, and participates in court and administrative proceedings.

Essential Functions:

Serves as a legal resource for Hospital and its subsidiaries as requested by the leadership and as directed and approved by SVP General Counsel, which could include but is not limited to:

Stark and Anti-Kickback laws and regulations.
Physician Agreements.
Agreements in all other areas of Health Care.
Reviewing agreements, policies and procedures.
Participating in credentialing and medical staff activities.
Responding to operational events involving law enforcement, patients, consent issues, employment and adverse events .
Supporting strategic planning activities involving legal issues.
Assisting with governance activities.

Coordinating and monitoring litigation and assisting in risk management activities.
Engaging and monitoring contractors providing services that are to remain attorney/client privileged.
Providing legal updates to the board(s) and leadership.
Assisting with other matters as requested by the SVP General Counsel.
Willingness to work with employees at all levels within the organization to identify and resolve legal concerns and to facilitate process changes to prevent future occurrences as needed.
Prioritizes projects, stay on task and manage a fast-paced work environment related to varying legal demands across numerous subject areas.
Exhibits behaviors consistent with standards for performance improvement and organizational values.
Provide back-up legal services for legal needs across Hospital's sites and clinics.
Coordinate and oversee outside legal resources for Hospital and its subsidiaries as approved by the General Counsel.
Support physician contracting and documentation across all Hospital sites.
Serve as the primary legal resource for one or more key practice areas, (e.g. employment law) across all Hospital sites.
Engage and coordinate the engagement of outside legal resources relative to key practice area(s) assigned by the General Counsel.
Maintain confidentiality in matters relating to patient/family.
Interact with patients/families with a variety of developmental and sociocultural backgrounds.
Provide information to patients and families to reduce anxiety and convey an attitude of acceptance, sensitivity, and caring.
Maintain professional relationships and convey relevant information to other members of the health care team within the facility and any applicable referral agencies.
Initiate communication with peers about clinical priorities for care.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Relay information appropriately over telephone, pagers, and other communication devices.
Accept assignments based on acuity, needs, and the qualifications and competencies of self and of other staff members.
Work closely with other attorneys, the Compliance Officer and staff.
Report on legal matters to those who require information, including SVP General Counsel, Leadership and other staff.
Initiate problem solving and conflict resolution skills to foster effective work relationships with peers.
Report to work on time and as scheduled.
May take call for Legal Department as assigned by the SVP General Counsel.
Attend staff meetings, in-services, and continuing education.
Contribute to annual reviews of peer performance as requested by the unit/area supervisor, manager, or director.
Assist in the development of indicators, thresholds, study methods, and data collection as assigned.
Respond to problems/opportunities to improve care/customer service.
Support involvement in the hospital's Performance Improvement initiative.
Participate in and maintain competencies required for the position and specific unit/area(s) of assignment.
Performs all other duties as assigned by the SVP General Counsel.