/cdklawyers.com// 08/18/2012
Keith Clouse is a Dallas-based employment law attorney who frequently negotiates employment contracts for physicians. Mr. Clouse notes that one, often-overlooked, provision can dramatically impact a doctor’s personal life—a provision setting out the doctor’s call obligations. If a doctor’s call obligations turn out to be greater than anticipated, the doctor may end up feeling trapped at work.
Physicians’ call obligations vary widely. A standard physician employment contract may simply state that the doctor will be assigned to be on-call “as the practice group dictates.” Such vague language likely needs to be clarified. A doctor may ask for an amendment setting out the doctor’s actual obligations. Or, a doctor could request that the provision state that the doctor’s obligations shall be equal to the obligations of the other doctors in the group and on a mutually agreeable schedule. Certainly, if a practice group made promises or representations regarding the doctor’s on-call schedule during the interview process, the contract should reflect those; a doctor cannot rely on oral promises that contradict the written agreement.
For more information regarding physician employment agreements, contact Mr. Clouse and his team of Dallas employment law attorneys at Clouse Dunn LLP via email at [email protected] or telephone at (214) 239-2705.
Press Release Contact Information:
KEITH A. CLOUSE
Clouse Dunn LLP
214.220.2722
214.220.3833 ( fax)
[email protected]
