Coffee and Contracts: Essential Checklist for Job Hunting and Contract Review

Physician contract evaluation requires a systematic review of compensation structures, operational boundaries, and legal protections to ensure professional alignment and financial security. Key focus areas include verifying that base salaries and bonuses match current MGMA and real-time industry data, alongside defining precise schedule expectations regarding call obligations and multi-site location caps. Critical legal safeguards involve understanding "no-cost" termination provisions, the specific mechanics of tail insurance costs under different malpractice policies, and potential "hidden" restrictions like non-compete clauses buried within miscellaneous sections. Furthermore, physicians must account for prorated paybacks on upfront bonuses or CME allowances if they depart mid-year. Comprehensive due diligence also extends to clarifying intellectual property rights and pre-employment timelines for credentialing and board certification to prevent unforeseen contractual breaches or financial liabilities during a job transition.