ProviderSource Inc. - Evaluating the offer        

There is one important thing to be aware of when you are accepting an offer and signing a contract: You are in a negotiating situation. Negotiation is not a “give me” situation. It is a two-way street of give and take. You have to give some to get some. Remember, you are in a position to negotiate any offer and make it the best deal for yourself and the other party. The first thing to find out is how much room there is for negotiation. Base salary, protected time, benefits, incentives, vacation time, flexible hours, etc., are all elements of a contract that can be negotiable to one degree or another. Some organizations will have a lot of room to negotiate. Others will have very little. Find out how much room there is for negotiation.

At any rate, be mindful of deadlines and timelines for the contract that is being negotiated. The faster you respond and get the ball rolling, the more likely they will be to negotiate terms with you. Failure to respond in a timely manner can result in a loss of the position. The flip side of the other party’s negotiating latitude is your negotiating latitude. Determine a reasonable minimum for yourself in regards to salary, benefits, obligations, etc. Be mindful of the area’s cost-of-living when determining these numbers. You can look up cost-of-living on the Internet. Write down your negotiating limits and plan to stick to them. Remember too, that the other party will probably prepare the contract. The preparer, naturally, will write the contract to protect his or her organization’s interests. Just make sure your requirements are met and/or consider having the document reviewed by your legal counsel before you sign it.

It is typical for a contract to have a termination clause, generally 30 to 120 days. This is a common time frame for the medical community. Many contracts may also include a noncompete clause. This will occur more frequently in fee-for-service groups and highly competitive areas. A non-compete clause specifically prohibits an employee from working in a defined geographical area for a certain period of time if he or she leaves the group or the group loses its contract.

The best contracts are those that are based on a feeling of mutual trust. If you have this feeling of trust for the other parties you are dealing with, it is probably safe to go with your instincts and commit.

There are four different forms that an offer may take:

- A verbal offer. Some groups believe in doing business with a handshake, but this is not very common.

- A letter of intent. These documents articulate the job offer and outline many of the elements that will be formalized later in a contract. These documents can be legally binding. Make sure you know if it is binding or just an outline for further negotiations before signing.

- An appointment letter or a letter of employment. These tend to be one- to three-page letters. They are simple and straightforward.

- A formal contract. These documents can be many pages in length. They can be complex and confusing. Many employees seek legal counsel to aid in reviewing the contract before signing.

Lastly, the subject of negotiation is an important part of the process of securing a practice. Your ProviderSource consultant is a trained negotiator and can give you many pointers to help guide you through the contract-signing process.

Of course, at any time during your search, you are welcome to call a ProviderSource representative.