Medical Professional Liability Defense
Our attorneys defend healthcare providers—including most of the major hospital systems and clinics in the region—in medical malpractice and corporate negligence actions. We represent hospitals, physicians, dentists, nurses, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other healthcare providers in simple and complex cases of alleged malpractice. We defend clients in state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate level as well as before administrative agencies, and provide counsel ranging from prevention and claim investigation to discovery, trial, and appeal.
Licensing and Disciplinary Actions
Our attorneys represent clients in state licensing and disciplinary actions at every stage of the process, from anticipation of possible investigation through contested hearings and administrative appeals. We have extensive experience with the Washington State Medical and Dental Quality Assurance Commissions. Because discipline also involves reporting (for example, to the National Practitioner Data Bank), we represent professionals in contesting and correcting errors in the reporting process. Additionally, we represent clients in connection with interstate licensing compliance, corporate practice of medicine, and scope of practice.
Medical Staff, Peer Review, Privileging/Credentialing
Our attorneys represent both providers and hospital systems in their staffing, peer review and credentialing needs. We work with hospitals and in-house counsel to prevent and address problems by modifying and adapting bylaws to reflect the realities of modern hospital medical staff leadership efforts and provider contracting issues. We also provide assistance with and review of peer review proceedings, and represent both providers and hospitals involved in a variety of credentialing disputes.
Healthcare Risk Management
Our attorneys provide timely advice and counsel to hospitals and health systems regarding policies, procedures and guidelines, opinion letters, quality improvement/assurance issues, Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), privacy issues and mandatory reporting obligations under Section 111 of the Medicare, Medicaid and S-CHIP Extension Act (MMSEA). We also provide risk management and investigative services and crisis management and media relations services to our clients who are faced with sentinel events, Department of Health surveys and other adverse outcomes.
Regulatory Reform and Compliance
As a result of our hands-on experience and expertise in healthcare litigation and appeals, our attorneys are routinely retained by healthcare organizations and healthcare advocacy groups to assist in the creation of and address the implications of healthcare reform legislation. We also assist healthcare providers in their efforts to comply with the complex and changing rules and regulations governing the healthcare industry, including those issued by the federal and state levels of Office of Civil Rights, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Occupational Safety & Health Administration, the Department of Health & Human Services and the Affordable Care Act.
Behavioral Health/Guardianships
Our attorneys have experience representing all types of behavioral health and residential care providers, offering advice and counsel to hospitals and treatment facilities regarding both inpatient and outpatient treatment of patients with behavioral health needs. Our services include representation of providers before courts and administrative panels as well as review and drafting of policies and procedures, risk management, treatment of minors, single bed certifications and staff training. We also assist with civil commitment proceedings, guardianships and licensing/disciplinary proceedings.
Appeals
Our attorneys have decades of experience representing healthcare institutions and professionals in all phases of medical negligence litigation, including appeal. We handle healthcare appeals related to medical professional liability, state Certificate of Need (CON) decisions, challenges to state regulations, and adversarial presentations to administrative review panels.
