| Physician employment contracts are increasingly | | | | Questions like: Who handles finance (receivables and |
| becoming the norm in recruiting physicians throughout | | | | payables)? Who is responsible for office |
| the country. This employment contract for physicians is | | | | management? And finally and most importantly the |
| not only an easy way for the parties involved (i.e. the | | | | remuneration model. |
| employer - hospital or peer group recruiting the | | | | Apart from that when the contract is in hand the |
| physician and the employee - the physician himself) to | | | | points that must be checked are: |
| be clear about their liabilities, duties, and responsibilities | | | | - Payment: |
| as well as their expectations from each other; but it | | | | - The current model |
| also serves as documentation in the court of law | | | | - The final mode of payment after initial term |
| should any of the parties choose to litigate against the | | | | - The guaranteed salary, if any? |
| other. In any practice there can be ups and downs but | | | | - Benefits, if any? |
| the physicians involved can play it safer by signing | | | | - Moonlighting arrangements, if any? |
| secure employment agreements. | | | | - Malpractice insurances? |
| Although physicians learn about the technical side of | | | | - Vocational business expenses? |
| their profession in their curriculum yet they have no | | | | Tenure and termination: |
| knowledge of the nitty gritty of the legal side of their | | | | - Primary term of engagement? |
| profession. So, while signing the contract it is imperative | | | | - Any automatic restitution? |
| that they either hire a legal professional or check | | | | - Right of termination of contract and its conditions |
| through the document themselves and ask people | | | | - Any restrictions of practice after contract |
| who are working in the same profession and also, if | | | | termination? |
| possible, their would-be colleagues what they feel | | | | Others: |
| about the organization they work in. Often such a | | | | - Who is the contracting authority? |
| measure could throw up interesting and surprising | | | | - Ownership of medical records of patients. |
| insights. | | | | - If multiple locations are owned by the organization |
| Although there might be a thousand points to take | | | | does the incumbent have any say in choosing his |
| note of in such a contract yet it is necessary to check | | | | working location? |
| out at least a few of the most important. These points | | | | - Are referral restrictions applicable for the incumbent's |
| are not only going to affect your current employment | | | | specialty or auxiliary services? |
| but your entire career. Professional satisfaction can | | | | - What are the factors on which compensation and |
| only be achieved if you can fulfill the objectives you | | | | employment levels depend? |
| set for yourself at the beginning of your career. | | | | - Does the organization reserve any right to bind the |
| Young physicians often make the mistake of waiting | | | | incumbent in any contract without his consent? |
| until the contract is drawn up to ask questions they | | | | Check these out to make sure you have a watertight |
| should have asked in the interview itself. But some of | | | | physician employment agreement. |
| the doubts are better clarified in the early stages. | | | | |