An attorney's guide to your first physician contract

Physician employment agreements are the focus, particularly the mistakes made by physicians early in their careers. Healthcare attorney Dennis Hursh notes that many new physicians are hesitant to negotiate contract terms, fearing the offer will be rescinded. Hursh emphasizes that employers rarely revoke offers due to reasonable requests, estimating it happens in fewer than 10 out of 4,000 contracts. Compensation is typically the most negotiable aspect, while call coverage and non-competes can also be refined. He advises new attendings to have an attorney review their contracts and understand their value, pushing back against the notion that employers are doing them a favor.