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