Kay Jenkins
Areas of Practice
Kay Cargill Jenkins, JD, BSN, RN, specializes in HealthLaw and Medical Malpractice Defense, wherein she advises and counsels clients in all aspects of hospital operations including physician credentialing; peer review and recruiting; physician and physician group contracts and employment agreements; vendor contracts; legal representation on various hospital committees (IRB, M&M, credentialing, peer review, all departments); review, revision, and writing policies/procedures; regulatory compliance; day-to-day operations (nursing, risk, QA, patient safety, etc.); fraud and abuse; managed care; and Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement. She also defends hospital and physicians in professional liability claims and lawsuits. She returned to El Paso and Kemp Smith after more than 4 years practicing in New Mexico as a partner at the well-regarded Atwood, Malone, Turner & Sabin, P.A., where her clients included Healthcare Indemnity, American Physicians Assurance, Community Health Systems, Medical Protective, Zurich Healthcare Insurance, and Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center.
From 1988 to 2004, Kay was a partner at Kemp Smith in our El Paso office where her clients included Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Self Insurance Plan, Tenet HealthSystem, Hospital Underwriting Group, and Community Health Systems.
A Martindale Hubbell AV rated attorney, Ms. Jenkins is one of two Kemp Smith partners who is also a Registered Nurse. Her nursing career spanned 1975-1988, with increasing responsibilities, until she graduated from law school.
Professional Affiliations
- State Bar of Texas 1988
- State Bar of New Mexico 1989
- Chaves County Bar Association 2004 - 2008
- Healthlaw Section Board of Directors 2004 – present, Board Chair 2008
- El Paso County Bar Association 1988 - 2004, 2008-present Board of Directors 1994 - 1999
- El Paso Women's Bar Association 1988 - 2004, President 1994
- American Bar Association, Health Law Forum member
- Texas Association of Defense Counsel
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
Bars & Courts
- Texas, 1988
- New Mexico, 1989
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico
Education
- Doctor of Jurisprudence, University of Texas at Austin, 1988, with Honors
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing, New Mexico State University, 1986, with Highest Honors
- Associate of Arts in Nursing, New Mexico State University,1977, Meritorious Graduate
- Registered Nurse licensure 1978
- Licensed Practical Nurse licensure 1975
Professional and Civic Involvement
Texas Tech University Breast Care Center, Charter Member and Chair, Board of Directors 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009
Esperanza House, Roswell, NM, Board of Directors 2005 - 2007
Visiting Nurse Association of El Paso, Board of Directors 2002-2004
American Lung Association, National Council 1999 - 2004, Field Operations Committee 2002 – 2004, Texas State Board of Directors 1996 - 2004; Vice-Chair 2002-2003; Chair-Elect 2003-2004
Planned Parenthood of El Paso, Board of Directors 1995 - 2004, President 1998, Secretary 2002, Treasurer 2003
Children's Justice Center of El Paso, Pro Bono representation of abused/neglected children in placement/parental rights termination proceedings 2000 - 2004
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Race for the Cure Partner 1997 - 2002
National Kidney Foundation, El Paso Chapter, Board of Directors 1994 - 1998, President 1997
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of El Paso, Inc., Board of Directors 1989 - 1994
El Paso Shelter for Battered Women Capital Campaign 1994 - Co-Chair advanced gifts division
Certifications
- Trauma Nurse Specialist, University of Chicago, Cook County Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, 1982, Certification 1982
- Cardiac Nurse Specialist, Arizona Heart Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, 1979, Certification 1979, CCRN 1980 - 1988
