Kern Medical has been a community cornerstone since its founding in 1867. Today, we are an acute care teaching center with 222 beds, offering the only advanced trauma care between Fresno and Los Angeles. Kern Medical offers a range of primary, specialty, and multi-specialty services, including high-risk pregnancy care, inpatient psychiatric services integrated with county mental health programs, and a growing network of outpatient clinics providing personalized patient-centered wellness care. Kern Medical cares for 15,500 inpatients and 125,000 clinic patients a year.

Career Opportunities within Kern Medical include many benefits, such as:

• New Hire Premium: +6% of base rate of pay, matched up to 6% if contributed to Deferred Compensation Plan.
• A Comprehensive Benefits Package: includes Holidays, Paid Time Off, Retirement, Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance.

Position: Hospital Counsel

Definition:

The Legal Services Department is responsible for providing legal services to and managing the legal affairs of the Kern County Hospital Authority and its affiliated entities. The Hospital Counsel:

• Serves as a member of the Legal Services Department;

• Reports to and performs services under the direction and supervision of the Vice President & General Counsel or his/her delegate; and
• Provides quality legal services and effective legal counsel in support of the hospital authority’s business operations in a manner consistent with the hospital authority’s mission and applicable law.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A Juris Doctor or equivalent degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the State Bar of California.
• Professional licensure in good standing without any instances of suspension, revocation, censure, or other adverse events in any jurisdiction.
• A minimum of three (3) years of legal or legal-related work experience either with a law firm and/or in-house legal department involving the performance of legal services for hospitals, health systems, providers, health care delivery organizations, and/or integrated delivery systems.
• Demonstrated excellent working knowledge and the primary focus of prior work experience in the following substantive legal areas affecting operations (including applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations): hospital and health care operations generally; fraud and abuse, anti-kickback and physician self-referral (Stark law); hospital licensure, certification, accreditation and conditions of participation; legal compliance; reimbursement and payment for services; patient care, safety, consent, and treatment; care management; medical staff and peer review; medical records; HIPAA, privacy and security; physician recruitment; hospital-physician contracts; and non-physician and business contracts.

Education

• Doctorate or better in Law