Most Dermatology professionals don’t find the legalities of contracts to be all that interesting. Skipping over contracts and going straight to work seeing patients would likely make career changes a whole lot easier.
Unfortunately, that’s not the world we live in. And, in a small, highly competitive field like Dermatology, understanding essential contract components is crucial to protecting yourself as a medical professional and achieving career satisfaction in a new position.
Just one section of a contract you’ll want to make sure you are well-versed in is non-compete clauses. So let’s break that down…
Non-Compete Clauses in Dermatology
First, it’s important to note that non-compete clauses exist for good reason. They protect practices from pouring time and energy into training and helping providers improve their skills only to lose them (and their loyal patient base) to a neighboring competitor.
They are also used to protect successful business structures and valuable knowledge within a practice from being copied and shared. Non-compete clauses typically include:
- A timeframe of effectiveness
- A geographical boundary
- Definitions of a competitor (and maybe even specific practice names)
- Scope of the non-compete clause, which could consist of how you promote yourself during presentations and networking events and even products you create on the side
- Consequences of breaching a non-compete clause
Next to compensation, understanding non-compete clauses (and knowing how to negotiate when necessary) is of utmost importance when making a career move.
Failing to do so can have significant, long-term implications on your career, like being forced to relocate or falling into legal trouble that can be incredibly mentally and emotionally taxing. Not to mention, non-compete clauses are viewed and upheld in court differently from state-to-state, so you’ll need to be aware of that as well.
And yet, understanding non-competes in Dermatology isn’t just about knowing what limitations you must follow when signing a contract because not all non-compete clauses are created equal.
You also need to know what can reasonably be asked of you so that you can negotiate for a more fair agreement if needed. For example, we’ve seen a recent change in non-compete clauses in that the average geographic boundaries and timeframes appear to be shrinking.
Non-competes used to require providers to commit to not working with anyone else within a 30-mile radius for up to 18 months of employment. Now, non-competes look more like a five-mile radius and a 12-month timeframe.
Those numbers are vastly different. So make sure you don’t settle for a limiting, outdated non-compete clause if you can help it!
Expert Advice at No Cost to You
There’s no hiding the fact that non-compete clauses can be tricky to navigate on your own. Ensure you know the limits and receive a fair contract (from compensation to non-competes and more!) with expert help from a recruitment specialist dedicated solely to the field of Dermatology.
At myDermRecruiter, we help Dermatology professionals secure their dream positions with premier practices across the United States. Our highly personalized approach is second-to-none and has helped so many talented physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants achieve career satisfaction—all at no cost to them!
We’d absolutely love the opportunity to do the same for you!
Check out all of the open positions on our website today. And when you’re ready to make a move, we’re here to help ensure you get everything you want and deserve from your new career.
And if that time is right now, just text SKIN to 484848. One of our Dermatology Recruitment Specialists will reach out to you directly!