Promoting and enhancing the quality of impartial workplace investigations.™
Credit Available - See Credits tab below.
Total Credits: 1.0 HRCI Credits, 1.0 SHRM, 1.0 SHRM, 1.0 CA MCLE
Session Description:
This webinar will address the nuances of workplace investigations in healthcare settings or that involve health information. Attendees will learn about the unique confidentiality obligations and privileges that could be applicable, including state and federal peer review and quality assurance privileges and HIPAA-protected health information. The presentation will address challenges of navigating an investigation that may be limited by the peer review privilege, as well as best practices for protecting privileged and confidential information while also conducting – and reporting – a robust and thorough fact investigation.
Objectives:
Through attending this session, students will understand and be able to:
Disclaimer:
The contents of this webinar and the positions taken are those of the presenter only, may be time-sensitive, and are not warranted, endorsed or otherwise recommended by AWI and are not intended to provide legal advice.
HR (General) Credits: 1.0
SHRM PDCs: 1.0
SHRM PDCs: 1.0
California MCLEs: 1.0
Sharon Peters is an experienced health care regulatory practitioner, management side employment lawyer, and strategic thinker who delivers practical, cost-effective solutions that align with clients’ objectives.
Hospitals, health systems, and other health care providers turn to Sharon for advice on medical staff and peer review, personnel issues, and state and federal regulatory compliance. She provides counsel regarding challenging patient and workforce issues, including difficult discharges, workplace violence prevention and response, consent for treatment and health care decision-making, state and federal administrative investigations of alleged discrimination or privacy breaches, policy drafting and revisions, and various other provider operations. Sharon is committed to guiding Catholic and faith-based health systems through a complex regulatory world consistent with her clients’ mission and ethical directives.
Additionally, hospitals and physician leadership seek Sharon’s advice concerning medical staff, credentialing, peer review, and quality improvement issues. She also drafts and revises medical staff governance documents and provides counsel to clients during medical staff proceedings, from early in the proceedings through fair hearings.
Besides her health work, Sharon has a robust management-side employment practice. She advises and defends employers on a wide range of employment law issues, including disability accommodations, leaves of absence, discrimination and harassment, restrictive covenants, wage and hour, terminations, and federal and state law compliance. She also conducts workplace investigations and implements creative and effective employment policies and practices.
In both the health care and employment law settings, Sharon is a trusted advisor and problem solver, always investigating ways to resolve and avoid risk. When litigation cannot be avoided, she approaches the case aggressively, with attention to detail and the objective of preventing a trial by securing an early dismissal. Her early investigative and crisis management strategies help clients manage or avert altogether liability exposure and media scrutiny that can tarnish their reputation.
Sharon is a frequent speaker who enjoys working with clients to develop best practices for claims avoidance.
Sharon serves on Epstein Becker Green’s National Health Care and Life Sciences Steering Committee. Before joining Epstein Becker Green, she was a partner of a national law firm and a member of its Healthcare and Labor & Employment Practices.
Ashwini Kulkarni is a seasoned attorney with a JD equivalent from one of India's premiere law schools, with over 15 years of expertise in corporate law. Previously affiliated with SASHA, where she spearheaded initiatives supporting over 50 workplaces across diverse verticals, specializing in policy formulation, grievance mechanisms, and investigation pertaining to sexual harassment, gender and equality. Prior to relocating to Plesanton, CA, she ran her own law firm, catering to start up legal needs. She is a member of AWI since 2022 and working with Law Options, Inc. as an independent consultant supporting investigative work and employment law related policy making and documentation.