Andy Gordon Discusses the Impact of Trump’s Border Wall with CBS 5

As President Trump asserts that a wall will reduce drug trafficking and illegal immigration across the Southwestern border, CBS 5 called upon Andy Gordon to discuss the potential impact of such a wall. Recent discoveries by Mexican police have confirmed that drug smugglers have tunneled beneath the 25-foot border fence in Nogales, Mexico, circumventing the wall altogether. Others hide drugs in produce shipments and drive them through ports of entry. In Yuma, footage has surfaced of people jumping the fence. Andy notes that the areas where a border wall would be most effective already have a fence in place. The remaining land is mostly privately-owned land that the government would need to confiscate via lengthy legal proceedings. He says that while a wall seems like a logical solution, it won’t halt drug trafficking, crime, or immigration, and...

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Karen Owens Breaks Down Documentation Needs in Peer Review Processes with Hospital Peer Review

Karen Owens discussed the importance of proper documentation in the healthcare peer review process in an interview with Hospital Peer Review magazine. While some believe that keeping broad records of peer review meetings is sufficient, Karen recommends taking a more detailed approach, explaining that more substantial meeting minutes can provide proof that certain issues or topics were discussed if adversarial proceedings arise. However, meeting minutes shouldn’t be a full transcript of the meeting, which may cause unnecessary concern or retract from the issue at hand. Each hospital will have its own protocol for peer review meeting documentation, and Karen stresses the importance of finding the balance that works best for the individual facility – and its peer review committee. She also recommends that legal counsel review meeting...

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Scott Bennett Shares Tips to Reduce Risk, Comply with New Cybersecurity Law in Az Business

Az Business magazine called upon Scott Bennett to discuss the business impact of Arizona’s latest cybersecurity law in its September issue. The law, which went into effect in August, requires companies to notify consumers affected by a data breach within 45 days of the breach. Companies that don’t comply face up to $500,000 in fines. If more than 1,000 Arizonans are affected, the company must notify the attorney general and the nation’s three major consumer reporting agencies. Scott shared common situations that cause data breaches, noting that the new law is meant to penalize companies with poor cyber data management and ensure they implement better security practices. Scott has extensive experience assisting clients with information privacy and security. He helps clients avoid data breaches by assessing and improving...

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Karen Owens Discusses Negligent Credentialing with Hospital Peer Review

Karen Owens shared her expertise in medical staff credentialing with Hospital Peer Review, a leading publication for hospital quality managers across the nation. Karen shared possible outcomes of lawsuits relating to negligent credentialing of non-employed medical staff members, noting that there are certain situations in which aggrieved patients may have a case against a hospital. She also provided best practices for hospitals to protect themselves against such legal action. She explains that confidentiality rules for the peer review and credentialing processes can make it difficult for hospitals to defend themselves against a negligent credentialing claim, illustrating how various internal review processes may be interpreted differently by a jury than by hospital staff. Karen represents health care systems, hospitals, clinics, and other providers in matters of quality management, medical...

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Coppersmith Brockelman Recognized for Commercial Litigation, Health Care Law in 2018 Edition of Ranking Arizona

Coppersmith Brockelman was honored for outstanding work in the commercial litigation and health care practice areas in the 2018 edition of Ranking Arizona, an annual publication that ranks the state’s top companies in a variety of industries. The firm claimed the No. 6 spot for Health Care and the No. 5 spot for Commercial Litigation. This is the second year the firm has been recognized on the Health Care list. Coppersmith Brockelman’s commercial litigation group has deep experience representing clients in a wide range of commercial litigation and arbitration matters. The health care group specializes in navigating complex business, regulatory, and operations issues facing health care providers and institutions, health plans, and the businesses serving them. Learn more about Ranking Arizona here....

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Karen Owens Breaks Down Peer Review Process and Pitfalls with Hospital Peer Review

Karen Owens recently shared her expertise in peer review for Hospital Peer Review, a leading publication for hospital quality managers that explores the latest news, techniques and protocols. She discussed typical peer review requirements for hospitals and how they impact quality of care, noting that Arizona’s peer review statute requires physicians to form committees to review professional practices at the hospitals where they work. Karen explained that confidentiality and immunity for physicians allow the peer review process to go more smoothly. She provided four rules for hospitals to follow in the peer review process to avoid legal liability and shared common pitfalls in substantive reviews. Karen has extensive experience representing health care systems, hospitals, clinics, and other providers in matters of peer review, quality management, medical staff credentialing,...

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