General Counsel

Overview

Responsible for providing, directing, supervising, and coordinating

Legal services

Risk Management

Board of Directors support

Patient Liaison, Advocacy and Issue Resolution

and related services programs of the DCH Health System, its subsidiary and affiliate organizations.

Responsibilities

Performs and directs various legal services for DCH Health System including

• Analyze, research and advise with respect to general business, employment, and legal issues impacting health care providers including ethics, consent, policy making, privacy, billing, and medical practice, etc.
• Advises on state and federal regulatory and licensure matters and collaborates with compliance, audit and privacy staff to achieve maximum compliance
• Coordinates the utilization of external counsel including engagement, scope of work and compensation, service, performance and final invoice authorization

Drafts contracts, policies, leases and other documents;

Manages and participates in the contract approval and review process; and provides counsel; assistance; drafting and negotiation services to all constituencies.

Work collaboratively with the compliance staff to establish priorities, minimizer risk and manage issues related to corporate compliance and privacy

Responsible for and provides oversight to the claims management and litigation management process.

Develops, implements, and conducts transactions related to the risk financing/insurance process with input from various stakeholders.

Provides direction/oversight, including staff development, budget management and quality of service for both legal services and risk management.

Compose reports and provide information/education to Administrative staff and Board as necessary. Attend various Board, Administrative and Organizational functions as required. Anticipates organizational needs for information and data and provides such information proactively whenever possible.

Provides on-call coverage through:

• Participation in the Administrative Call rotation
• Lawyer/Risk Management On Call

Provides oversight for risk management programs to meet needs of organization including risk assessment, mitigation planning, evaluation and education. Evaluate programs and effect changes as needed to improve programs and assure compliance with regulatory and statutory requirements.

Provides education on a variety of relevant topics to a variety of constancies, both internal and external

Provides advice to medical staff as necessary in connection with malpractice litigation and medico-legal matters.

Directs and coordinates release of records and information in response to subpoenas, court orders, attorney requests, state federal agency investigations, and other inquiries from outside sources.

Participates in professional activities to keep abreast of developments in the Health Law and Medico-Legal Risk Management fields.

Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.

Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.

Must manage the following administrative functions:

• Manages departmental budget
• Interviews, selects, hires, and retains employees, including other management positions
• Ensures orientation and training for employees, including other management positions
• Manages performance, including other management positions
• Promotes, demotes, or transfers employees to meet organizational needs, including other management positions
• Executes progressive discipline up to and including termination
• Manages departmental productivity standards
• Provides strategic leadership for department(s)
• Performs long range planning and overall direction setting at the departmental level
• Responsible for department organizational structure and alignment to meet forecasted business needs
• Responsible for development, implementation and interpretation of system policies within a major organizational/functional area or the development and review of system policies within a recognized discipline
• Approves payroll and is responsible for accurate payment of employees, including other management positions
• Assures meeting/exceeding of DCH mission and vision, departmental goals and 5 keys of excellence.

DCH Standards:

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook
• Must adhere to the DCH Mission, Vision, and Values including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.
• Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees.
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees.
• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in a related field and a Juris Doctorate. A license to practice law in the State of Alabama. Knowledgeable in law, healthcare and regulatory matters. Minimum of 10 years of legal, insurance or risk management experience required. Healthcare and progressive management experience are preferred.

Must write and other wise communicate effectively

Must possess the ability to recognize and analyze issues from multiple perspectives and achieve consensus to resolve issues and conflict.

Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.

Working Conditions:

Mobility, vision, and hearing must be normal or correctable to normal.

Demonstrates leadership skills, delegating to team members, addressing conflict, communicating with all types of personalities, and being responsible for outcomes/results.

Physical presence onsite is essential. Ability to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking and to climb stairs. Ability to lift and carry 25 pounds. Ability to move briskly in emergency situations. Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range. Able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation