Physician Employment Agreements

RALEIGH, NC LAWYERS PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

The attorneys of the law firm of Law Offices of Robert Crawford represent doctors and medical professionals throughout North Carolina. As lawyers serving the medical community, we are familiar with the issues and problems that arise in medical practices and with physician employment agreements (PEA). If you have any questions regarding a physician employment agreement that you have signed or are about to sign, contact our Raleigh office to arrange a consultation.

Elements of a Complete Physician Employment Agreement

Because it is a contract between an employer and employee, the physician employment agreement should clearly detail the terms for all involved parties. Future conflicts are often avoided when doctors and medical practices understand their rights and obligations to the agreement. With this in mind, certain key elements need to be covered in the actual physician employment agreement document. These include:

• A Description of the Employer-Employee Relationship – Is the doctor an employee or an independent contractor? How will salary and benefits be paid? Will the practice withhold taxes?
• A Description of the Employee's Duties – How many hours must the doctor work? Is he or she required to bring his or her own equipment? Who will maintain the medical records? What are the on-call requirements? Even things that seem like common sense, such as keeping medical licensure current, should be outlined in the PEA.
• Incentives to Contract – Any bonuses or perks that are being paid to the physician as additional incentive should be outlined in the physician employment agreement. If there is an early termination fee for exiting the practice ahead of schedule, it should also be included as well.
• Fringe Benefits – Compensated time off, insurance, 401ks, and expense reimbursements should be detailed in the language of the PEA.
• Professional Liability Insurance – A comprehensive PEA should mandate which party is responsible for maintaining professional liability insurance, the amount of coverage required, whether it has to be occurrence or claims made insurance, responsibility for "tail" coverage, et cetera.
• Term of the Agreement – The PEA has to have a finite conclusion. It can end after a predetermined period of time or once a specific obligation has been met. Naturally, an agreement can be renewed or extended by the mutual consent of both parties.
• Grounds for Termination – This section should not only discuss under what conditions a physician can be terminated, but also when it is allowed for the doctor to exit the contract.
• Restrictive Covenants – Many medical practices have non-compete clauses to prevent physicians from going to a direct competitor or establishing his or her own practice in the same market.

Contact a Professional North Carolina Medical Practice Attorney

If you are a physician or represent a medical practice in North Carolina, you should retain the services of a lawyer whose focus is on the issues facing the healthcare industry. The attorneys of Law Offices of Robert Crawford have built their reputations by protecting the interests of professionals in the North Caroling medical field. To schedule an initial consultation to discuss a physician employment agreement or any other issue affecting your professional environment, contact the Raleigh, NC law office of Law Offices of Robert Crawford. Our number is 919-296-8508.