Ruby W. Wood

Ruby Wood counsels multi-institutional health systems, academic health centers, hospitals, medical staffs, and medical groups in a variety of matters. Her practice focuses on Medical Staff legal issues including governance, credentialing, internal investigations and hearings, reporting requirements and information sharing, return to practice assessments, Hospital Administration and Medical Staff interactions, and litigation matters.

Her work includes advising clients on their dealings with the state licensing boards, The Joint Commission and other regulatory compliance; peer review matters; internal investigations, including clinical competency issues, behavior concerns and allegations of harassment; formal hearings and arbitrations; HIPAA 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). Her practice also includes matters related to representation in connection with healthcare litigation encompassing medical staff issues, including writ proceedings, subpoena responses, retaliation claims and related allegations.

Ruby also advises clients on compliance issues and fair procedure considerations in connection with medical staff practices and procedures, including investigations and risk assessment. She has served as lead counsel in numerous medical staff hearings and litigation matters and appears in federal and state court and in arbitration on behalf of her clients. 

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 objective is to arrive at effective, pragmatic solutions. This requires an awareness of both the big picture, as well as the minute details that constitute it. She evaluates each situation, determines the feasibility of various outcomes and the path to an optimum resolution, and then helps her clients navigate to it.