It is not unusual for a doctor to be asked to sign a contact governing his or her employment and/or ownership of a business as a doctor. The issues to consider in reviewing these contracts are many:
– Med mal insurance
– Staffing (nurses, assistants, etc)
– Provision of medical equipment
– Billing
– Compensation structure
– Employee versus owner
– Non complete clauses
– Non solicitation clauses
– Scope of practice
These issues are critical not just to peace of mind, compensation, and productivity, but for your own protection as well. For example, if a doctor switches from one practice to another, there is a very real risk that the doctor could be left uninsured for medical malpractice purposes. There are two different types of malpractice insurance: occurrence policies and claims made policies. If you switch from one policy type to another without obtaining a very specific “rider” you could find yourself on the uninsured end of a malpractice lawsuit. The real point here is to consult a qualified professional before signing any contract. Your peace of mind, and liability, could depend on it.
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