Deputy General Counsel

West Tennessee Healthcare

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Responsible for oversight, management, coordination and direction of all aspects of the legal and risk management functions for the West Tennessee Healthcare system, including supervision of department directors and attorney staff. This role involves developing and implementing departmental policies, managing budgets, hiring and evaluating staff, and providing legal advice and services to hospital management. The Deputy General Counsel will also oversee litigation, respond to administrative requests, and assist the General Counsel with legal research and administrative functions. Additionally, the position includes oversight of Risk Management activities, such as insurance procurement, claims coordination, and risk reduction programs. The role requires developing educational materials and teaching in-service training courses, contributing to a positive work climate, and projecting a professional image. Effective communication with various internal and external stakeholders is essential, along with strict adherence to legal ethics.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in business, management or a related field
Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from an accredited law school with membership on Law Review
Active Tennessee law license and current bar card
Admitted to practice in the local state and federal courts
Passage of a bar exam and an unrestricted license to practice law in the State of Tennessee is required
Minimum of two (2) years’ experience as in-house counsel in a hospital or health system, with principal experience and assignments in the areas of fraud and abuse, contract development and management, litigation and medical malpractice, non-profit organization requirements, medical staff issues, employment law, risk assessment and evaluation
At least ten (10) years’ experience in private or public law practice in the areas of employment law, litigation, mediation, insurance defense, and contracts.
At least five (5) years of people management experience.
Knowledge of insurance law and claims management
Ability to appropriately assess organizational risk and make recommendations for settlement or defense of claims
Ability to design and present educational programs for hospital staff on a variety of topics designed to increase awareness of legal and risk concepts

Responsibilities

Oversight of the development and implementation of departmental and division policies and procedures to facilitate efficient processes, customer satisfaction, and coordination of the activities and services of the Legal and Risk Management departments.
Develop the personnel, expense and capital equipment budgets for the department. Plan and analyze purchases of the department, negotiate contracts, and monitor expenses to keep within budgetary limits.
Interview, hire, train, monitor, and evaluate performance of department attorneys, paralegals, risk managers and support staff.
Represent the department/division in hospital-wide projects, including committees, etc.
Develop, in cooperation with department directors, quality improvement plans in accordance with organizational goals and complete documentation as required for organizational initiatives.
Provide legal advice and services to hospital management in all areas of hospital and clinic operations and contracting, with concentration in the areas of physician and physician groups, medical staff, employment law, human resources, employment contracts, independent contractor arrangements, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, corporations and other areas as assigned.
Oversight of litigation, including communication with and management of outside attorneys and law firms, and serving as hospital representative in mediation and settlement negotiations.
Respond to EEOC, Office of Civil Rights, Department of Labor and other administrative requests.
Provide telephone advice, legal research, and written opinions to management and the Board of Trustees in any area of law upon request or as assigned by the General Counsel.
Assist the General Counsel through legal research and writing and other legal and administrative functions as assigned.
Provide legal supervision, training and advice to paralegals and administrative staff of the Office of the General Counsel, and appropriately utilize the services of the staff.
In the absence of the General Counsel, or as assigned, attend meetings of the Board of Trustees, Medical Executive Committee, Medical Staff, or other groups.
Oversight of Risk Management activities, including the procurement of insurance coverage for the system and coordination of claims activity, investigation of complaints and occurrences, variance and other reporting requirements, and risk reduction programs.
Develop educational materials and teach in-service training courses on legal and risk management topics as needed or assigned.
Review and revise management guidebook policies as assigned.
Contribute to a positive work climate and the overall team effort of the division.
Project a positive image of the Risk and Legal Departments and West Tennessee Healthcare, both internally and outside the organization.
Communicate clearly and effectively in person, by telephone or by email with internal and external customers of the division, including Trustees, Chief Executives, Department Directors, other employees of the West Tennessee Healthcare system; government officials and employees; attorneys for other hospitals and health systems and their support staffs; private attorneys and their support staffs; insurance company employees and agents; vendors and prospective vendors and their agents; patients and family members of patients, and the general public, including effective communication of legal concepts in a clear and understandable manner.
Comply with all applicable standards of legal ethics imposed by the State of Tennessee and all federal agencies with whom he or she deals in an official capacity.
Perform related responsibilities as required or directed.