Assistant Legal Counsel

ST. CHARLES HEALTH SYSTEM

JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE:                                      Assistant Counsel

REPORTS TO POSITION:         Director of Legal Affairs

DEPARTMENT:                         Legal Department

DATE LAST REVIEWED:          May 2025

OUR VISION:                            Creating America’s healthiest community, together

OUR MISSION:                         In the spirit of love and compassion, better health, better care, better value

OUR VALUES:                          Accountability, Caring and Teamwork

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY: The Legal Department provides internal legal advice to the health system concerning operational, administrative, employment, business, litigation, and other matters related to the lawful conduct of the health system’s business. The department responds to questions about legal rights and responsibilities; counsels on health-related statutes and regulations, including the Stark Law, False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, HIPAA, EMTALA; provides general corporate governance counsel per the Oregon Nonprofit Corporation Act and IRS nonprofit and tax-exempt regulations; manages claims and lawsuits filed against the health system and its caregivers; provides proactive advice and counsel to caregivers and leaders in a preventive capacity; provides other services to mitigate the legal risk faced by the health system; and conducts legal review of contracts and contract drafting for health system transactional needs. 

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Assistant Counsel at St. Charles Health System, Inc. (“St. Charles”) is a hybrid in-office position in Bend, OR that provides legal counsel and representation to the health system and its personnel with an initial focus on contract drafting, review and negotiation in an independent manner with minimal day-to-day direct supervision.  As health care law experience and expertise develop through training and mentorship within the Legal Department, the Assistant Counsel will assume other substantive duties including helping ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and policy requirements and best practices that impact the health system.  This position does not directly manage other caregivers, but provides oversight of paralegal and legal assistant / contracts coordinator personnel.

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES:

Draft, review, and negotiate contracts and other legal documents relevant to St. Charles’ business and operations, including without limitation service, procurement and purchase agreements.

Use St. Charles’ contracts management software to manage all stages of contract lifecycle, from initiation through drafting, negotiation and signature phases, ensuring that the services provided in connection with the software continue to meet the needs of the health system and its caregivers.

Monitor contract turnaround times and throughput rates, making adjustments as necessary, to ensure that contracts are completed in a timely manner that properly balances protection of St. Charles, legal risk mitigation, and the operational needs of the service line.

Draft and review St. Charles policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Assist with interpretation and delivery of subpoenas, warrants, court orders, and other administrative demands received by St. Charles.

Assist in researching, analyzing, guiding, educating, and coaching the organization on contract interpretation and negotiation, and health care laws to mitigate risk to St. Charles.

OTHER FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES:

Research, analyze, and develop an in-depth knowledge of federal and state laws, regulations, legal decisions and administrative guidance pertaining to health care law.

Counsel on health care laws and regulations, including the Stark Law, Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, EMTALA, HIPAA, Joint Commission standards and IRS nonprofit regulations.

Maintain knowledge and inform caregivers, providers, and management of current regulations and policies affecting patient care and St. Charles business practices.

Participate in various meetings throughout the health system, offering advice and counsel to caregivers on legal and risk matters, as they arise.

Respond to calls and other communications on legal issues on various legal matters and questions, with responsibility for responding to urgent after-hours calls from caregivers and providers regarding legal and risk matters. 

Listen attentively and respond respectfully and promptly to caregivers, patients, and others who have legal concerns or questions, and deliver customer service in a manner that adds value, promotes goodwill, is timely, efficient, and accurate.

Communicate and behave in a manner that is consistent with, and that helps support, St. Charles’ mission, vision, and values, and conduct all activities with the highest standards of professionalism and confidentiality.

May perform additional duties of similar complexity within the organization, as required or assigned.

EDUCATION:

Required: Law degree 

Preferred: N/A

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION/REGISTRATION:

Required: Licensed with (or the ability to waive into) the Oregon state bar.

EXPERIENCE:

Required: At least one (1) year experience working as a lawyer with extensive experience in contract drafting, interpretation, review, negotiation, and management.  Must demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail, with a problem-solving mentality.

Preferred: 2 to 5 years’ experience as a practicing attorney, with emphasis on regulatory and transactional experience in a health law related field and/or litigation experience handling medical/professional malpractice cases.  Working knowledge of health care statutes and regulations, including the Stark Law, Federal False Claims Act, Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, EMTALA and HIPAA, as well as knowledge of applicable nonprofit law.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:

Must be able to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to perform the job safely.

ADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION:

Travel: Ability to travel to business functions, meetings, and trainings at all St. Charles worksites required.

Skills:

Position Specific:

Knowledge of health care laws and regulations, including the Stark law, the Anti-Kickback law, EMTALA, HIPAA, Joint Commission standards, as well as IRS nonprofit law.

Ability to learn and apply basic computer skills including locating and opening documents, completing forms, opening, and sending e-mail messages.

Maintains a constant awareness of the legal aspects of position and demonstrates this awareness in decisions and communications. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Continually (75% or more): Ability to communicate effectively.

Frequently (50%): Sitting, standing, walking, lifting 1-10 pounds, keyboard operation.

Occasionally (25%): Bending, climbing stairs, reaching overhead, carrying/pushing, or pulling 1-10 pounds, grasping/squeezing.

Rarely (10%):  Stooping/kneeling/crouching, lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling 11-15 pounds, operation of a motor vehicle.

Never (0%):  Climbing ladder/stepstool, lifting/carrying/pushing, or pulling 25-50 pounds

Exposure to Elemental Factors

Never (0%):  Heat, cold, wet/slippery area, noise, dust, vibration, chemical solution, uneven surface.

Blood-Borne Pathogen (BBP) Exposure Category:

No Risk for Exposure to BBP

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