Ruby W. Wood

Ruby Wood counsels multi-institutional health systems, academic health centers, hospitals, medical staffs, health plans and medical groups in a variety of matters. Her practice focuses on the broad scope of medical staff legal issues, including internal governance and policy development, credentialing, peer review and quality assurance efforts, corrective actions, administrative hearings and litigation matters. Ruby has served as lead counsel in numerous medical staff hearings and litigation matters and appears in federal and state court as well as in arbitration proceedings on behalf of her clients.

Her work includes advising clients on their dealings with the state licensing boards, The Joint Commission and other regulatory compliance agencies. She works collaboratively with Medical Staff leaders and Hospital Administrations to address peer review matters, including credentialing, investigations, hearings, reporting issues, information sharing, return to practice assessments, Hospital Administration and Medical Staff interactions, HIPAA and privacy issues; exclusive contracting and closed departments; and the application of the protections afforded to medical staffs under state and federal law (with an emphasis on California Evidence Code Section 1157 protection). She has particular expertise addressing concerns relating to clinical competency and professional conduct, as well as harassment allegations. Her practice includes matters related to representation in connection with healthcare litigation encompassing medical staff issues, including writ proceedings, subpoena responses, patient safety concerns, retaliation claims, contract disputes and related allegations.

Much of Ruby’s practice involves highly sensitive issues of credentialing, privileging, and peer review disciplinary actions within healthcare provider organizations. She works to allow her clients to deliver the care patients need within the realities of a highly complex, imperfect system. Ruby’s core objective is to facilitate her client’s ability to make informed decisions and to arrive at effective, pragmatic solutions that balance quality of care with fair procedure and due process considerations. She evaluates each situation, determines the feasibility of various outcomes and the path to an optimum resolution, and then helps her clients navigate towards it.