Becoming an Employee
As an employee—whether in a physician practice, hospital, managed care organization or academia—you are responsible for creating the best possible opportunity for yourself. Before you take any new position, understand the organization and the duties involved.
Get to know the company you are considering through careful research. Ask questions about the organization so that you can understand important issues that will affect you, including:
- Short- and long-term goals of the organization, including those related to technology and staffing
- Current finances
- Management style
- Business strategy
- Past lawsuits and legal issues
- Upcoming investments or costs
A contract should be a component of the hiring process. Contracts protect your interests and those of your potential employer.
Hiring a lawyer who specializes in health law can be invaluable to you through the contract review and negotiation process. The entity hiring you likely has legal support, and you should too. Your lawyer will help you understand your full compensation—salary, benefits, fees and insurance premium payments, vacation and leave benefits—and your responsibilities within the organization.
Consider finding a mentor in your location or specialty. A mentor’s experience can offer incredible insights to newly practicing physicians.
Physicians are increasingly entering into employment and other contractual relationships with hospitals, group practices, and other entities. Visit the AMA Physician Employment web page to learn about the variety of resources offered by the AMA to help meet the unique needs of this growing population of physicians.
With service line agreements between independent physicians and hospitals becoming both more popular and more complex, the AMA introduces a new resource to assist physicians and their legal counsel in navigating and negotiating these contracts. AMA members may view the interactive Co-Management Service Line Agreement online for free. Coming soon, non-members will be able to purchase access to the current edition through the AMA Bookstore. View the table of contents.
