Physician Contract Attorney

Helping Health Care Professionals With Employment Issues

Helping Health Care Professionals With Employment Issues

The healthcare industry continues to experience increasing demand for physicians. Strong demand for dentists and orthodontists also persists. 

Doctors within Louisiana and throughout the United States are being recruited by hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and rural Louisiana. In addition to the manner in which physicians and other medical professionals are compensated, offered contracts often address the complex business aspects of today’s medical field, including noncompete agreements and responsibility payment of professional practice insurance, using language that goes far beyond income and benefits. 

Physician contract attorney Robert Landry, represents physicians, physician groups, and other medical professionals, as well as hospital executives, in negotiating employment contracts.

Employment Contracts for Physicians

Physician-employer employment agreements often have unique aspects that require careful negotiation and drafting. When a well-drafted employment contract is in place, the employer and medical professional can clearly define their responsibilities, compensation, benefits, expectations, and obligations. 

In contrast to other professionals, physicians, dentists and orthodontists often enter into term contracts that bind them to their employers for a fixed period and have certain post-employment restrictions. A partnership agreement involving these professionals may pose similar restrictions on physicians who are partners or shareholders in the practice.

Physicians should pay particular attention to the following employment contract terms:

• Responsibilities and duties (including on-call duties)
• Resources in terms of equipment and staff
• Benefits and compensation
• Continuing medical education and professional dues
• Licensing requirements
• Malpractice coverage including tail coverage
• Hospital affiliations and credentialing
• Noncompete restrictions

If you’re a physician considering contracts involving key earning years of your life and often hundreds of thousands of dollars, you need an experienced attorney who understands healthcare employment contracts. Attorney Robert B. Landry III  will use his years of experience in employment and contract law to help you get the job and contract that you want and deserve.

Salary is just one aspect of employment contracts. You can count on us for guidance and assistance throughout every stage of the hiring process. It will be a pleasure to serve you.

FAQs

Protecting You And Your Career With A Physician Contract Lawyer

In contrast to some workplace contracts, physician employment contracts are more complicated. Health care contracts are highly regulated, and they can be difficult for those without legal experience to understand. Physician employment contracts are legally binding once signed. You could face serious consequences if you sign them without legal advice.

Negotiating employment contracts is common, but physician contracts are complex. An experienced lawyer will be able to determine what constitutes a fair contract. When salaries are standardized, it may not be possible to negotiate them, but there may be other options.

There may be provisions in the contract that a physician is unaware of, such as an inflation rider. In this clause, the cost of living is taken into consideration as time passes. There might be other important items that were in the Letter of Intent expressed verbally by the employer but are not included in the contract. In order to protect their rights, potential physicians are advised to keep a record of everything they discuss during their interview process and consult a physician contract lawyer about the resulting contract.

How Can Moonlighting Affect My Contract?

When negotiating physician contracts, part-time work (also called moonlighting) for other employers is an important factor to consider.  Physicians in New Orleans and Baton Rouge often work night shifts and pursue other opportunities outside of their main job.  However, when it comes to moonlighting, employers have different policies.  

There are some employers who prohibit moonlighting and require physicians to use their medical skills exclusively at that particular clinic or hospital. Others allow moonlighting, but only with the consent of the employer in writing. Still, others allow physicians to moonlight without obtaining consent.  

The higher-paid positions are usually prohibited from moonlighting, as the employer pays a premium to ensure that the physician only works for them. Regardless, those negotiating physician contracts should carefully consider whether they would like to moonlight and how to approach part-time work with their main employer. A physician contract attorney can assist you in this regard.

Protecting You And Your Career With A Physician Contract Lawyer

Physicians rely on the guidance of our physician contract lawyers to help them limit their liability and help them avoid restrictive contracts that could limit their earning potential. If you are a health care professional who faces a complex contract offer, it is always a good idea to have an experienced employment agreement lawyer review the contract before you sign it. Our employment attorney serves clients in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette, and throughout the region. Call 866-443-1731 or 866-924-9529 or use our online contact form to schedule a consultation.