On the other hand, if you happened to be on staff at other facilities, you could simply ask your director(s) to temporarily provide you with additional shifts until you are able to start working somewhere else. Or perhaps the director might offer you a full-time position.

Having staff privileges at several facilities provides a hedge against loss of your income stream if you are immediately terminated from a single facility or if the group that provides emergency department staffing at that facility suddenly loses its contract with the hospital. A guaranteed severance package of at least three month’s income would be an alternative way to prevent the loss of income associated with an immediate termination from a hospital staff position. However, few employers in our industry would agree to such an expense.

Summary

When an employment relationship sours, contract language that is against a physician’s interests can have a significant negative impact on a physician’s finances and even professional status. The often confusing language contained in many medical employment contracts underscores the importance of understanding what you’re reading before you decide to “sign on the dotted line.”

Editor’s Note: LegalEase provides a general discussion of many medical legal issues, but the facts of every case are situation specific. LegalEase articles are provided for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as specific legal advice. Readers are encouraged to retain qualified local legal counsel regarding any specific legal questions they may have, or legal issues they encounter.