| 1. They don't have an experienced contract lawyer | | | | to compare your contract to. All you know is that |
| evaluate their contract.Do not entrust your physician | | | | when you leave residency you'll be making a |
| employment contract to your local general | | | | tremendous jump in salary as an attending physician. |
| practitioner. While there are some similarities to | | | | That's good, but that's only part of the equation. You |
| general contracts and physician contracts, you should | | | | need to know much more.How do you learn more? |
| have an attorney who has extensive experience | | | | By reading books written by attorneys who have |
| reviewing physician contracts. There are more | | | | experience in this area. Learn all you can about your |
| differences than similarities and an experienced | | | | contract and physician employment contracts. Have |
| lawyer will be able to spot them and correct them | | | | your attorney give you a crash course on contracts |
| before they cause harm.You wouldn't want a family | | | | and negotiation. I guarantee you it'll be the best |
| practitioner performing coronary artery bypass | | | | money you ever spend. An experienced lawyer |
| surgery on you unless that physician has had years | | | | should know what the going rate is for your specialty |
| of training and fellowship in that field of medicine. The | | | | in your geographic area. He (or she) should know |
| same holds true for lawyers.2. A young doctor is | | | | whether the other benefits you're getting are |
| money-conscious and is afraid to spend money to | | | | consistent with other competing groups. You must |
| hire a lawyer.The common thinking is that if they can | | | | ask lots of questions.5. The young doctor fails to do |
| save a few dollars by not having to pay a lawyer, | | | | research about the group or hospital he is joining.This |
| then they're ahead of the game. Wrong. That's what | | | | is vital. You must investigate your group. Ask your |
| you call 'penny-wise and pound foolish'. By spending | | | | colleagues about their reputation, their ethics, their |
| money for a good lawyer now you will be protecting | | | | surgical or non-surgical abilities. Speak to members |
| yourself for years to come knowing that you have | | | | who have left the group if possible. The more |
| fought for everything you can possibly get in your | | | | information you have about the group, the better |
| contract.Remember, your contract will guide you for | | | | informed you'll be, and you'll be able to make |
| many years. If you make mistakes at the begining by | | | | judgment calls knowing full well what your options |
| not knowing and not being an informed consumer, | | | | are.CONCLUSIONBe informed, do your research, read |
| you will regret it for years to come. Believe me, I've | | | | your contract, and then hire an experienced contract |
| seen physicians kick themselves for not having their | | | | lawyer who specializes in doctors contracts.Attorney |
| contracts reviewed by an experienced lawyer before | | | | Oginski has been in practice for 17 years as a trial |
| signing it.3. The young doctor is afraid to make | | | | lawyer practicing exclusively in the State of New |
| waves with his new group or hospital.You've just | | | | York. He has recently published a book that will help |
| been hired. "You got the job!" But, once you see the | | | | every doctor in residency and every doctor changing |
| contract you realize that all is not rosy. However, | | | | jobs understand their employment contract. Take a |
| with good counsel, you can learn to negotiate, and | | | | look at his useful website, for more information.Over |
| you can have your lawyer be the bad guy and | | | | the last eleven years, Gerry has developed a |
| negotiate for you.It never hurts to say, "My lawyer | | | | specialized practice helping residents and physicians |
| felt this was inappropriate...", "My lawyer advised me | | | | who have been offered jobs or are changing jobs. |
| to have this re-worded...", "My lawyer felt this was | | | | He evaluates and negotiates their physician |
| unfair and needs to be removed." Let your lawyer be | | | | employment contracts. Gerry can be reached at , or |
| the bad guy. Do you think the groups' lawyer is | | | | 516-487-8207. All inquiries are free and totally |
| looking out for your interests? Never.4. The group | | | | confidential. |
| wants to give you as little as possible. You have little | | | | |