Give employment contracts a thorough going-over

Contract Language. By Steven M. Harris, AMNews contributor. Dec. 6, 2004.

CONTRACT LANGUAGE

A column examining the ins and outs of contract issues

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Whether you are joining a practice or becoming employed by a health care entity, you likely will receive a proposed employment agreement. Make sure you carefully review the proposed duties, compensation and benefits, term of employment, covenants not to compete and liability insurance provisions detailed in the agreement.

First, it is important that your future employer's expectations of your role and responsibilities be translated into a concise description of your duties. Your employment agreement might include a job description, which is attached as part of your contract. If a job description is referred to in your employment agreement, make sure you have a copy of it as you review your contract. If you are going to provide administrative and managerial services in addition to clinical services, it is imperative that these services be included in writing.

You also should consider how your work and call schedules are determined. Does your employer determine the work and call schedule in conjunction with a schedule set in advance and applied to all employees, or is the schedule mutually agreed upon by both parties? Also, look at how your employer assigns patients to your care.

If you are involved in outside professional activities such as lecturing and writing, make sure continuing such endeavors is not prohibited. If you want to moonlight for a former employer or facility, your contract might have to be modified to let you provide these outside services.

Carefully consider any restrictions on your professional independence and how these restrictions could impact your employment and future objectives.