title: Negotiating contractual relationships.
abstract: Team coverage can be the most rewarding and the most challenging aspect of a physician's career; however, evaluate the realistic risks and benefits of covering a team. Understand what the team is looking for. Prior physicians may have been dismissed for a specific action, may have left on their own, or may have been asked to pay for the privilege of serving. Tell the team what you have to offer and what you need to make the relationship work, and be prepared to walk away from the deal if the risks are too high. Understanding the implications of working without a contract and the elements of an appropriate contract is paramount to a successful relationship.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612-4766, USA. cnofsing@health.usf.edu <cnofsing@health.usf.edu>
authors.forename: Charles Cole
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Nofsinger
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D032982:Contracts; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D017008:Negotiating / Q000379:methods*; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011786:Quality Control; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013192:Staff Development / Q000458:organization & administration*