Health Care and Employment

Bridging the Demands of Health Care Compliance and Employment Law

Health care providers operate in one of the most complex regulatory environments in the country – and the workplace challenges they face are equally demanding. Brooks Pierce’s Health Care & Employment practice offers tailored counsel to individual physicians, group practices, outpatient facilities, and other provider organizations navigating employment challenges unique to the industry.

With increased consolidation across the health care sector, it is especially important for health care professionals to have counsel knowledgeable in the range of considerations individuals need to navigate as organizations undergo integration. Whether you are a solo practitioner, part of a small group, or employed by a larger system, we understand the distinct challenges providers face. From practitioners building their careers to seasoned physicians navigating transitions, our attorneys provide personalized guidance tailored to the specific situation and career goals.

Our team represents both medical professionals and the entities that employ them in a broad range of employment matters, offering insight that bridges health care compliance and employment law. We help clients protect their interests, avoid risk, respond to internal issues, and remain compliant with overlapping state and federal laws that govern employment in health care settings.

We regularly assist providers, practices, and hospital systems with:

• Negotiating physician employment agreements at hiring, renewal, and departure, including guidance for physicians entering their first position, mid-career, or end-of career transitions
• Drafting, enforcing, and contesting restrictive covenants, including non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, helping individual physicians understand enforceability and negotiate reasonable geographic and temporal limitations
• Advising on personnel issues, including those related to compensation formulas, credentialing, performance management, discipline, and terminations
• Confidential counsel to individual providers facing workplace conflicts or performance concerns
• Developing employment policies and procedures that comply with HIPAA and other health care regulations
• Conducting internal investigations in response to personnel concerns
• Defending medical practices against employment claims brought by current or former employees
• Providing rapid counsel during public health emergencies or regulatory shifts, including by advising regarding recent changes in the federal funding and enforcement landscape
• Advising on peer review privilege issues

Our Health Care & Employment attorneys collaborate closely across disciplines to provide practical, forward-looking counsel that aligns with both your workforce strategy and your regulatory obligations. We serve as trusted advisors to individual health care professionals at every career stage, providing discreet, strategic counsel that protects your professional reputation and career interests while ensuring compliance with complex health care regulations.

How can we help your practice manage its people and its risk?