Healthcare

5 Practical Ways Healthcare Companies can Mitigate Litigation Risk

Messner Reeves LLP knows that the risk of litigation is always a concern for healthcare organizations, as companies strive to nimbly adapt to changes in state, local and federal regulations across the industry as well as maintain stringent policies and guidelines protecting employees, patients and the company.

Non-compliance with rules of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) can result in significant financial penalties and reputational damage, as well as leaving organizations vulnerable to potential lawsuits by patients claiming negligence or focusing on non-compliance with state and federal laws.

Thus, it’s imperative that healthcare companies adopt a few practical and proactive strategies for minimizing vulnerability to legal issues:

Stay on top of regulatory compliance:

Ensure your organization adheres to state and federal healthcare regulations on patient care, health and safety, data and patient privacy, and administrative and human resources. Regular security audits and risk assessments keep your organization ahead of any potential pitfalls in addition to giving you time to quickly address any shortcomings before they evolve into legal issues.

Create clear, comprehensive policies and procedures:

Ensure that employees, contractors and patients are well-informed of the processes and procedures that apply to them, as well as general company policies on employment practices, intellectual property, etc. Include a well-documented plan for responding to any legal issues that arise, and review those policies periodically for effectiveness and compliance.

Educate employees on potential legal issues and risk management:

Make sure all employees and contractors have a thorough understanding of HIPAA regulations and data and patient privacy protocols, explaining the risks to the company associated with non-compliance or security breaches.

Maintain stringent information and record-keeping:

A thorough information and record-management protocol can make all the difference when a legal issue arises. Establish tight protocols for document and information storage, and maintain records of all transactions, communications and activities. Organized documentation helps attorneys in the discovery process, and shows regulators proof of an organization’s commitment to all compliance and HIPAA regulations, as well as to patient care and privacy.

Engage a strong legal team:

Working with experienced healthcare attorneys can help organizations develop the proper practices and precautions to have in place, as well as identify any potential exposures to risk. Messner Reeves LLP’s award-winning, nationally acclaimed healthcare practice works with physicians, professional corporations and healthcare providers of general medicine, mental health, dental care, specialty services, ambulatory surgery, diagnostics and more. Our Las Vegas Healthcare Litigation Practice was recently recognized by Best Lawyers for the outstanding work we do.

We can help minimize company litigation risk through our extensive knowledge and experience representing businesses before the full range of federal and state regulatory agencies. Contact us today to find out about our full scope of healthcare services!

Published by
Messner Reeves LLP

Recent Posts

Messner Reeves Announces Managing Partners of Las Vegas Office

Messner Reeves LLP announces Katherine Turpen and Karie Wilson as co-Managing Partners of its Las…

1 week ago

Messner Reeves Arizona & Nevada Teams Collaborate for Case Win

Messner Reeves LLP is pleased to announce a successful team effort between the Arizona and…

1 week ago

Client Alert: What Employers Need to Know about the August 15, 2025, Change to USCIS Immigration Policy

Authors: David Asser Trevor Gallaway Many American corporations in industries such as hospitality, restaurants, and…

2 weeks ago

14 Messner Reeves Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2026 Edition

Messner Reeves LLP is proud to announce that 12 attorneys across five cities and four…

2 weeks ago

Messner Reeves Launches Artificial Intelligence Legal Services with Addition of AI Law Leader Beverly Rich

Messner Reeves strengthens capabilities with the hiring of AI attorney and scholar Beverly Rich to…

2 weeks ago

What Intellectual Property Should Restaurants Protect?

For many restaurant owners, branding and innovation are just as important as quality ingredients and…

3 weeks ago