Tara Cowell, esq. EXPERIENCE · Drafting and/or reviewing a wide variety of business agreements, covering technology, group purchasing, clinical trials, physician services, joint ventures, employment and confidentiality, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations, including fraud and abuse. · Facilitating the transition of hospital-based outpatient services, including obstetrics/gynecology, neurosurgery, general surgery, and plastic and reconstructive surgery from 1206(d) clinic models to 1206(l) foundation models, improving the integration of healthcare with physician providers. · Performance comprehensive audits of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the human subjects’ research activities of acute-care hospitals, including the review of patient charts and IRB files as well as participation in IRB meetings. Conducted staff and physician interviews. Presented findings and recommendations regarding research management options to the executive leadership. · Serving as the lead attorney for the acquisition of a $2 million physician-owned outpatient radiology center. · Restructuring joint-venture contracts to convert from pay-per-use arrangements to monthly flat fees, complying with new federal legislation for inpatient prospective rules (IPPS). · Conducting extensive organization-wide audit of job descriptions for proper classification of employees as non-exempt versus exempt, avoiding potential legal claims. · Monitoring new legislation and authored policies related to hospital-sponsored physician marketing, corporate philanthropy, disclosures of PHI to law enforcement, conflicts of interest, human subjects’ research, and IRB-related activities. · Creating and delivering educational presentations to board members, administration, physicians and staff on issues related to employment law, HIPAA compliance, harassment and discrimination, new legislation, advance health care directives, legal issues with volunteers, and behavioral health law. · Conducting internal investigations of alleged scientific misconduct matter, collaborating with the physician leadership and hospital administration. · Overseeing policy and procedure review, quality assurance, and internal audits of research activities. Juris Doctor Bachelor of Arts Member of the California State Bar, 2000-Present AWARDS Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Volunteer of the Year Award, 2008 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Developed and implemented the Family Advocates Medical-Legal Partnership at La Amistad de Jose Family Health Center, Served at the Bethany, a home assisting women in transition. Serve as a volunteer providing legal assistance.
An attorney with more than nine years of experience providing legal services with a strong background in healthcare, clinical research legal matters, including clinical trial agreements, billing and IRB activities, ensuring corporate compliance, consulting on business transactions, conducting organizational investigations and audits.
EDUCATION/CREDENTIALS