Because reasoned advice and well structured protocols avoid litigation, hospitals have also turned to this firm’s litigators for counseling on a wide variety of legal issues. Our Office has counseled hospitals and physician groups on such issues as patient confidentiality and HIPAA obligations. We also have reviewed policies, procedures and consent forms, drafted medical staff bylaws and analyzed reporting obligations to the National Practitioner Data Bank and state agencies. The Office also counsels hospitals and their medical staff on physician credentialing issues and where necessary, provides representation in contested medical staff hearings. The Office advises on virtually all health law issues with the exceptions of compensation and reimbursement issues. Our clients have found that having a litigator’s eye on such issues in advance often avoids costly litigation.