REBACK MCANDREWS, KJAR, WARFORD & STOCKALPER, LLP

Erin Muellenberg is a partner in the Law Firm of Reback, McAndrews, Kjar, Warford & Stockalper, located at the Orange County office in Costa Mesa, California. Prior to receiving her law degree from Western State University in 1989, Erin was the Director of Medical Staff Services at St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, California. While in law school she served as Research Editor of the Law Review and published on the California Good Samaritan statute and subsequently graduated Magma Cum Laude. She then entered private practice and specialized in medical malpractice defense and medical staff matters. She has litigated multiple medical malpractice matters in both court and private arbitration proceedings and has represented physicians and hospitals in administrative hearings. Identifying a need for guidance through the peer review quagmire to organized medical staffs, Erin focused her practice on external peer review services and medical staff matters. Over 50 reviews of physicians and clinical services at hospitals throughout the United States have been conducted. The reports and clinical experts provided by Erin have become the basis for measurable service and individual performance improvement and when necessary, for disciplinary action. Erin has conducted numerous workshops and lectured throughout the country on medical staff peer review and negligent credentialing. In 2000 Erin left her position as a partner in the law firm of LaFollette, Johnson, DeHaas, Fesler, Silberberg & Ames and joined Tenet HealthCare System as inhouse counsel where she provided legal support to the Medical Affairs and Risk Management Corporate Departments and later to the Managed Care Litigation Unit. In July 2003 Erin re-entered private practice and resumed her litigation practice and external peer review services for physicians, hospitals, and their medical staffs. She has served as the interim Chief Compliance Officer at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Los Angeles and includes among her clients many of the non profit hospitals and systems. She has successfully represented physicians before the Medical Board and in peer review matters with commercial insurance carriers. She has joined the newly opened Orange County office of Reback, McAndrews & Kjar where she is specializing in medical staff compliance and governance, peer review and medical board matters and medical malpractice defense.

Born: Whittier, CA. Admitted to the State Bar in July 1989.

Education/Professional Certifications: Western State University College of Law, Fullerton, CaliforniaB.S.L., 1986, J.D., 1988, Magna Cum Laude, Research Editor, Law Review

University of San Francisco 1981 - 1984

Orange Coast College - Radiology Technology - 1972-1974

AHA Certified Professional Healthcare Risk Manager (CPHRM) - 2003

Affiliations: American Health Lawyers Association, Credentialing & Peer Review Section, Managed Care Section

American Society for Healthcare Risk Managers

Southern California Association of Risk Managers

Health Care Compliance Association

Mesa Surgery Center, Fullerton, CA - Board Member

Presentations & Publications: Making the Case for Peer Review: Motivating the Medical Staff to Deal with the Problem Practitioner October 2004, CHW Quality Summit

Making the Case for Peer Review: Effective Medical Staff Self-Governance October 2004, O'Connor Hospital Medical Staff & Board Governance Regreat

Peer Review: The Responsibility of a Self Governing Medical Staff; March 2004; CHW Chiefs of Staff

Peer Review: Medical Staff Liability following the United Memorial Case; October 2003; Daughters of Charity Risk Management Conference

Peer Review & Credentialing: The Cornerstone of an Effective Risk Management Program; July 2003, CORE Conference, Ascension Health

Engaging Your Medical Staff in Effective Peer Review; February 2002, Tenet Quality Conference

External Peer Review: JCAHO Requirements; May 2001, Tenet Quality & Risk Management Conference

External Peer Review as a Risk Management Tool; February 2001, CORE Conference, Ascension Health

California's Good Samaritan Statute 1987, Western State University Law Review

Member: State Bar of California.