Assistant Healthcare Counsel

WVU Medicine; Morgantown (WV); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

West Virginia University Health System (WVUHS) seeks an Assistant Healthcare Counsel to assist the AVP and Senior Clinical Operations Counsel in managing the health system’s legal affairs in coordination with the Legal Services department.

The role covers litigation support, policy development, and contract review to ensure regulatory compliance and effective representation of WVUHS hospitals and providers.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree required.
• West Virginia Bar membership or eligibility announced.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in litigation.
• Experience in health care law preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support AVP and Senior Counsel in managing WVU Health System legal matters.
• Litigation support across medical negligence, employment, and general liability claims.
• Conduct legal research and draft memoranda for hospital and provider matters.
• Advise on compliance with fraud, privacy, HIPAA, and healthcare regulations.
• Prepare contracts, policies, and bylaw updates as needed.
• Represent WVU Health System in hearings, mediations, and trials where applicable.

Skills

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Legal research

Written communication

Oral advocacy

Multitasking

Policy interpretation

Education

Juris Doctor

West Virginia Bar membership or eligibility

Job description

The Assistant Healthcare Counsel (AC) is responsible for assisting the Assistant Vice President & Senior Clinical Operations Counsel (AVP) in managing the legal affairs of West Virginia University Health System, Inc. (WVUHS). This responsibility includes daily interaction with the members of the WVUHS Legal Services department. The position reports to the AVP. Tasks may also be assigned by the Chief Legal Officer, Assistant Vice President and Senior Litigation Counsel.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE

1. 1. Juris Doctor
2. 2. West Virginia Bar membership or eligibility.

EXPERIENCE

1. 1. Three (3) years’ experience in litigation

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

EXPERIENCE

1. 1. Five (5) years’ experience in health care law.

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. 1. Provides assistance and back up to the AVP in the pursuance of their responsibilities.
2. 2. Performs designated tasks in litigation-related matters including medical negligence, employment and general liability claims and cases.
3. 3. Performs legal research and prepares legal memoranda addressing legal issues presented in cases involving System hospitals and employed healthcare providers.
4. 4. Performs research and provides advice regarding compliance with Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse, Stark and tax exemption, HIPAA and privacy / security regulations, state and federal healthcare laws and regulations, and other medico-legal matters.
5. 5. Performs research to update and revise bylaws and medical staff bylaws.
6. 6. Performs research regarding the development of policies, procedures, consents and other forms and all forms of medical record documentation. Additionally, engages in preparation of policies, procedures, consents, and other medical record documentation in collaboration with healthcare providers and/or administrative leaders.
7. 7. Prepares and reviews case summaries, pleadings and motions, and administrative filings as necessary to provide effective legal representation to System hospitals and employed healthcare providers.
8. 8. Engages in supporting system administrative leaders, Medical Staff leaders, and/or Human Resources in interviews, investigations, and/or processes independently or with AVP.
9. 9. Appears as counsel on behalf of System hospitals and employed healthcare providers at hearings, mediations and trials, either independently or with AVP.
10. 10. Develops and delivers educational programs regarding legal matters for System hospitals and employed healthcare providers.
11. 11. Performs research and provides legal updates for the CVO.
12. 12. Performs research related to the regulations surrounding clinical trials, devices, and recalls.
13. 13. The AC provides assistance in dealing with legal issues.
14. 14. Conducts legal research in an accurate, thorough, and timely manner, and draws appropriate conclusions from that research.
15. 15. Gathers facts, through personal interviews and other investigatory activities, as are necessary for the development of appropriate legal strategies or documents.
16. 16. Timely produces legal documents reflecting conducted research including the conclusions necessary to address the legal needs of the System and System hospitals.
17. 17. Reviews and prepares contracts.
18. 18. Participates in legal representation of System and System hospitals in administrative proceedings.
19. 19. Participates in meeting the goals and objectives of the work unit and department to ensure that the department contributes to the attainment of the employer’s goals and objectives.
20. 20. Diligently and in a responsible and timely manner, pursues and addresses legal needs of System and System hospitals as they arise.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

1. 1. Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

1. 1. General office work.
2. 2. Travel to courts and administrative agency offices within West Virginia.
3. 3. Occasional out-of-town travel may be required.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

1. 1. Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.
2. 2. Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
3. 3. Ability to manage multiple tasks at one time.
4. 4. Ability to work under stress and with short deadlines.
5. 5. Ability to solve problems in a timely and practical fashion.
6. 6. Knowledge of litigation process and procedures.
7. 7. Knowledge of the general operations of corporations, limited liability companies, and joint ventures.
8. 8. Knowledge of academic medical center operations preferred.
9. 9. Ability to communicate and interact with administration, department heads, medical staff and other hospital personnel.

Additional Job Description

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Exempt/Non-Exempt

United States of America (Exempt)

Company

SYSTEM West Virginia University Health System

Cost Center

509 SYSTEM Legal Services

Address

1240 Suncrest Towne CentreMorgantownWest Virginia

Equal Opportunity Employer

West Virginia University Health System and its subsidiaries (collectively "WVUHS") is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. WVUHS strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, and local law. All WVUHS employees, other workers, and representatives are prohibited from engaging in unlawful discrimination. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment.