Our contract attorneys can review your contract, identify the areas that could improve, and assist you in negotiating the best contract possible.
Radiologists who request our assistance receive 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 agreement term by term
- Follow up with a review of the needed clarifications of the contract
Medical Contract Review Attorneys
A thorough contract review can benefit new residents, attending physicians, doctors entering their first employment radiology 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 agreements, you will be in a better position to decide whether or not you want to enter into the medical agreement 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 Physician Employment Agreements
The present-day conclusion is simple: physicians should only enter into contracts by having the 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 for radiology
- 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
Review of Non-Compete Clauses Reviewed by a Radiologist 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 radiology employer,
- It does not inflict any untold hardships on the employer, and
- The restraint is not detrimental to the public.
Radiologist Career Tips
As a radiologist, you play a crucial role in diagnosing and managing a wide range of conditions, making you an indispensable part of the healthcare team. Here are some tips on how you can maximize your earning potential during your career:
- Subspecialize: Subspecializing in areas like interventional radiology, neuroradiology, or pediatric radiology can boost your earning potential. These fields require additional training, which can command higher compensation. The American Board of Radiology provides more information about different subspecialties.
- Continuing Education: Regularly updating your knowledge and skills through Continuing Medical Education (CME) can help you stay at the forefront of the field. Participating in CME activities can lead to better patient outcomes and improve your professional reputation. The Radiological Society of North America offers various online educational resources.
- Teleradiology Services: As telemedicine continues to grow, offering teleradiology services can expand your patient reach and provide you with additional income. It allows you to read and interpret scans from various locations, thereby increasing your workload capacity.
- Private Practice: Although it comes with its own set of challenges and overhead costs, operating a private practice can potentially lead to higher earnings than hospital employment, particularly if you’re able to establish a solid patient base.
- Research and Publications: Engaging in research and contributing to scientific literature can enhance your professional standing and open doors for additional income opportunities. This could include paid speaking engagements or consulting work.
- Networking: Participating in professional organizations and attending conferences can provide opportunities for collaboration and referrals. Networking can also help you stay up-to-date on industry trends and advancements. The American College of Radiology is a prominent professional organization for radiologists.
By incorporating these strategies into your career, you can maximize your earning potential as a radiologist. Always remember to balance your career growth with patient care – your primary role as a healthcare provider.
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?
Employment Agreement Checklist for Physicians
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 Radiation Oncologists and analysis of Rheumatologist Employment Agreements.
Lawyers for Radiology Contract Issues
Coming into a new organization with a favorable contract can put the physician in a positive financial situation for years to come. Contracts contain much misleading information and terminology that an attorney knows how to deal with and points such as clauses that take negotiations. It takes an educated and knowledgeable defense attorney to help you understand physician contracts.
Before you sign the most binding legal contract of your life, turn to an experienced Radiology Contract Attorney for assistance because he has the expertise, care, knowledge, and resources to help. A clever attorney will come to your defense and can resolve many issues and do a consult to help you understand how to deal with contracts and the agreement clauses therein. He must know many aspects of medicine, health, and health law.
No matter their expertise, such as surgery or pediatrics, physicians need assistance from a license-defense lawyer or a medical agreement lawyer at some point in their career.
Contacting and hiring a law firm with contract experience and a license-defense attorney is the way to get the help needed. Using contract lawyers becomes vital for a Radiologist contract attorney if a physician wants to ensure an iron-clad contract.