Our neurosurgery contract attorneys can review your contract, identify the areas that could improve, and assist you in negotiating the best neurosurgery medicine contract possible.
Each doctor that requests our assistance receives the following:
- Available in any state
- Flat-rate pricing with no hidden costs
- Review of your proposed employment agreement
- Phone consultation with our lawyer, reviewing the contract term by term
- Follow up with a review of the needed clarifications of the neurosurgery contract
Medical Agreements Review Lawyer
A thorough contract review can benefit new residents, attending physicians, doctors entering their first employment contract, or established physicians looking for new employment. By employing an experienced attorney for your representation, you can ensure that you will be able to fully understand the extensive and complex wording included in your contract.
By having a complete understanding of neurology contracts, you will be in a better position to decide whether or not you want to enter into the neurological surgery contract that will affect your career life for years to come.
Contract reviews will provide general information and specific details about your specialty and location.
Important Terms in an Agreement
The present-day conclusion is simple: physicians should only enter into neurosurgeon contracts by having the neurological surgeons’ agreement reviewed by legal counsel. There is too much at risk for a physician to take medical contract matters into their own hands. In addition to the specific professional implications, terms of medical contracts can significantly impact a physician’s family, lifestyle, and future.
There are many important terms and clauses in medical contracts which can present complex and diverse issues for physicians, including:
- Non-compete clauses
- Inadequate professional liability insurance and tail coverage
- Unfavorable call schedules
- Practice support
- Production Bonuses (RVU, net income, or hybrid structures)
- Not enough paid time off (PTO) or Vacation time
- Biased Termination Provisions (With or Without Cause)
- Continuing Medical Education (CME)
- Dues and Fees (AMA, Health Care Board)
- Compensation
Non-Compete Clauses Reviewed by a Neurological Surgery Contract Attorney
Most courts find that a non-compete is enforceable if it is reasonable.
The general test for reasonableness by a court or arbitrator would be:
- The restraint is not more than required to protect the employer,
- It does not inflict any untold hardships on the employer, and
- The restraint is not detrimental to the public.
Neuro Surgeon Career Tips
As a neurosurgeon, your role is paramount in the healthcare industry. While ensuring the highest quality patient care is the cornerstone of your practice, there are strategies you can adopt to maximize your professional earnings as well. Here are some tips:
- Pursue Subspecialization: The field of neurosurgery has numerous subspecialties, such as pediatric neurosurgery, neurovascular surgery, and spine surgery, among others. Acquiring additional training in these areas can make you more marketable and potentially result in higher earnings. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) provides resources and guidance for subspecialization.
- Stay Updated with Current Research and Techniques: The field of neurosurgery is constantly evolving, with new research, techniques, and technologies emerging frequently. Keeping abreast of these developments can increase your credibility and value as a neurosurgeon, and potentially enhance your earnings. Resources like the Journal of Neurosurgery provide valuable information in this regard.
- Efficient Practice Management: Proper management of your practice, including patient scheduling, billing practices, and overhead cost reduction, can significantly impact your earnings. Consider investing in efficient practice management software to streamline these processes.
- Expand Your Services: Offering a broader range of services, such as telemedicine or multidisciplinary clinics, can increase your reach and potentially your earnings. Also, offering comprehensive care, including rehabilitation and pain management services, can make your practice a one-stop solution for patients, increasing their preference and loyalty to your practice.
- Participate in Leadership Roles: Taking on leadership roles within your hospital, local medical organizations, or national associations can increase your visibility within the field and can often come with additional stipends or compensation.
- Consider Locum Tenens Opportunities: Taking on locum tenens positions can provide a considerable supplement to your income, with typically higher hourly rates than permanent positions. There are agencies that specifically facilitate locum tenens work for neurosurgeons.
- Publish Research and Articles: Publishing your work in peer-reviewed journals or platforms such as Medscape can enhance your reputation as a thought leader in your field, potentially leading to speaking engagements, consulting opportunities, and other revenue-generating activities.
- Work-Life Balance: While pursuing professional growth and maximizing income, it’s essential to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Burnout can significantly affect your productivity and mental well-being, so ensure you take time for rest and relaxation.
Implementing these strategies can help enhance your earning potential while ensuring you continue to provide excellent patient care.
Employee or physician contracts are all unique. However, nearly all healthcare contracts for healthcare providers should contain several essential terms. If these contracts do not spell out the critical terms, disputes can arise when there is a disagreement between parties regarding the details of the specific term. For instance, if the doctor is expecting to work Monday through Thursday and the employer thinks it’s Monday through Friday. Still, the particular workdays are absent from the contract—who prevails?
Neurosurgical Physician Employment Agreement Checklist
Spelling out the details of a physician’s job is crucial to avoid healthcare contract conflicts during the employment contract term.
Below is a checklist of important terms that contracts should contain (and a brief explanation of each term generally discussed in negotiations):
- Practice Services Offered: What is the clinical patient care duties? Is there time for a review of administrative tasks? How many patients is the physician expected to see?
- Patient Care Schedule: What days and hours are employees expected to provide patient care per week? What is the surgery schedule? Are employees involved in the planning of their schedules?
- Locations: Which facilities will the employer schedule the employees to provide care at (outpatient clinic, surgical sites, in-patient services, etc.)?
- Outside Activities: Are employees permitted to pursue moonlighting or locum tenens opportunities? Does a physician need permission from the employer before accepting medicine-related positions?
- Disability Insurance: Is disability insurance provided (short-term and long-term)?
- Professional License: Will the practice offer reimbursement for licensing? Will an advisor be provided?
- Practice Call Schedule: How often is the employed physician on call (after-hours office call, ASC, hospital call (if applicable))?
- Electronic Medical Records (EMR): Will the employer provide training resources or time to review the system before delivering care?
- Base Compensation: What is the annual base salary? What is the pay period frequency? Does the base compensation increase over the term of the agreement? Is there a yearly review or quarterly review of compensation? Is there a group management relationship?
- Productivity Compensation: If there is productivity compensation, how is it calculated (wRVU, net collections, patient encounters, etc.)? Is there an annual review?
- Practice Benefits Summary: Are standard benefits offered: health, vision, dental, life, retirement, etc.? Who is the advisor of human resource benefits?
- Paid Time Off: How much time off does the job offer? What is the split between vacation, sick days, CME attendance, and holidays? Is there an HR guide?
- Continuing Medical Education (CME): What is the annual allowance for CME expenses, and how much time off do they offer?
- Dues and Fees: Which business financial expenses are covered (board licensing, DEA registration, privileging, ASA membership, Board review)?
- Relocation Assistance: Is relocation assistance offered? What are the repayment obligations if the contract is terminated before the expiration of the initial term?
- Signing Bonus: Is an employee signing bonus offered? When is it paid? Does the employee have to pay it back if they leave before they complete the initial term? Are student loans paid back? Is there a forgiveness period for student loans?
- Professional Liability Insurance: What type of liability insurance (malpractice) the employer offers: claims made, occurrence, self-insurance? License and litigation defense? Can you negotiate tail?
- Tail Insurance: If tail insurance is necessary, who pays for it when the agreement terminates?
- Term: What is the length of the initial term? Does the agreement automatically renew after the initial term?
- For Cause Termination: What are the grounds for immediate termination for cause? Is a review provided to dispute the termination?
- Without Cause Termination: How much notice is required for either party to terminate the agreement without cause?
- Practice Post-Termination Payment Obligations: Will the physician receive production bonuses after the agreement terminates?
- Non-Compete: How long does the non-compete last, and what is the prohibited geographic scope?
- Financial Retirement: Is a financial retirement plan offered?
- Non-Solicitation: How long does it last, and does it cover employees, clients, patients, and business associates?
- Notice: How is the notice given? Via hand delivery, email, US mail, etc.? Does it have to be provided to the employer’s attorney?
- Practice Assignment: Can the employer assign the agreement? Will the healthcare agreement require ongoing compliance with a new employer?
- Alternative Dispute Resolution: If there is a conflict regarding the contract, will mediation or arbitration be utilized? What is the standard attorney review process for disputes? Who decides which attorney oversees the process?
We also offer contract reviews for Neurologists and analysis of Neuroradiologist Employment Agreements.
Review Attorneys for a Neuro Surgeon
Coming into a new organization with a favorable contract can put the physician in a positive financial situation for years to come. Before signing the most important contract of your life, contact an experienced Neurological Surgery contract attorney and contact Chelle Law today.