The Quality Assurance Privilege: Why It Exists, What It Protects, and How Health Care Providers Can Effectively Utilize It

In order to provide quality care and anticipate care related issues, health care providers must have the ability to criticize themselves without retribution. Over the past twenty years, federal and state laws have recognized this need for internal examination and have carved out privileges aimed at keeping health care providers' internal investigations confidential. Courts have recognized the importance of confidentiality in this process; without it, health care providers would be reluctant to perform comprehensive self-reviews which could potentially be used against them in litigation.

This course, presented by Alexis A. Langella and Alexis A. Graziano, attorneys in Buchanan Ingersoll and Rooney, PC's Health Care Litigation department, addresses the evolution of the Quality Assurance Privilege, the current status of the law, and how health care providers can employ best practices to combat disclosure of their vital internal investigations and self-evaluations. 

1. Understand the purpose of the quality assurance privilege
2. Effectively interpret the federal and state laws and regulations recognizing and expanding the privilege
3. Develop skills to identify quality assurance issues when (and, hopefully, before) they arise
4. Build a working knowledge for effectively utilizing the privilege based upon practical guidance regarding same