Crafting a dental associate contract is not a mere piece of paper. It is a comprehensive document that outlines the contractual relationship between the dental practice and the dental associate. It consists of all the terms and conditions of the relationship with the above parties.
This document will include all the terms and provisions found in any legal contract, as well as any specific provisions that relate to the associate’s employment in the dental practice. The provisions can cover responsibilities, compensation, bonuses, fringe benefits, and termination of employment.
Just over 200,000 dentists were professionally active in the U.S. two years ago. This made the national density of dentists to the population just under 60 per 100,000 people. The density can vary across states, but this indicates that there is scope for more healthcare professionals in the dental care industry. This includes
A dental associate agreement is a legal arrangement between the practice owner and the dental associate seeking employment. This agreement outlines the services as well as the terms and conditions bound upon both parties.
Duration of the term
The Agreement must clearly outline the start and end dates of employment. There can be other terms and criteria to be fulfilled before the start date by the associate. An example can be acquiring the license before commencing employment.
Expiry of the Agreement
An agreement must have an expiry date and should also delve into other aspects, such as the renewal of the associate. Renewal could be manual or automatically renewed. Both parties must understand if the agreement will continue until terminated by either party or if there is a fixed expiry.
Responsibilities of the Associate
The duties and responsibilities of the associate need to be finalized. There needs to be a proper description of the routine tasks and responsibilities. It must specify the location, working hours, and the days that are to be observed.
If there is full-time employment, there can be a provision that states that the associate will carry out duties during the usual and defined hours of the practice. For practices that employ associates on a part-time basis, the hours and days of work must be clearly designated.
If there needs to be an increase in the number of work hours or workdays, the agreement must have a provision that the increase will be in accordance with the necessity for a supplementary dentist.
The primary location of work will have to be specified for practices that have multiple branches or cities. There can be a provision that includes responsibility for duty at other locations based on requirements. The agreement can also include an “on-call” clause when an emergency arises.
Some of the specific duties that can be crafted into the agreement include
Associate dentists must hold a diverse set of skills that help them perform effectively in a dental practice. Some of them include:
The agreement can have a non-compete provision added that prevents the associate from working for a competitor after leaving the practice for a defined time and geographical area.
The practice can safeguard itself by adding a re-treatment provision. In this case, the practice must ensure that the arrangement of an arbitrator is always available to resolve a disputed retreatment. Any pending compensation following termination will be offset against what the practice considers re-treatment.
The practice can decide on a fixed salary or a salary-plus model. While a fixed salary might be standard in approach, a base salary with incentives based on productivity and outcomes can help improve performance. This helps the associate and the practice.
A bonus clause can be added that is linked to specific metrics such as practice growth, patient volumes, etc.
Regular benefits, insurance coverage, etc., can be offered to full-time associates, while part-time associates may enjoy the same benefits with a slight reduction in salary.
The agreement can have a discretionary termination provision without notice by either party for the initial three months. It might not even impose a notice period for the initial three months. On completion of this period, the terms for discontinuation can be the same for both parties. This may not apply to specialists, and a longer notice period can be finalized.
The cause for termination of employment can be defined as
The cause for termination can also arise due to the death of the associate or the expiration of a license. A cause for termination due to disability that occurs during employment can also be included.
The practice and the associate can consider whatever terms need to be agreed upon, especially with respect to termination of employment, non-compete, etc., that must be included in the termination clause.
While the principal dental practitioner will own a dental practice, an associate dentist is a registered healthcare professional who can participate and add value to the routine services carried out by the practice. An integral part of any dental practice, a dental associate can assist in quality treatment and care and collaborate with the team to achieve business outcomes.
