The end of the non-compete era……

https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/noncompete-rule

The end of non-compete agreements have a far reaching benefit for those of us who want healthcare to go back to “Main Street” and away from corporate health regimes, private equity firms, and the medical industrial complex.

Many of the large institutions put non-compete agreements on their providers so that they cannot leave their corporate job. They make it difficult to leave the golden towers of multimillionaire CEO’s and open their own practice. The end of non-compete agreements is a step in the right direction for gaining some healthcare provider autonomy again.

This past winter, I was given my new contract to sign, and it had a non-compete agreement in it. First time ever. I refused to sign it. Consulted an attorney who agreed that a non-compete would be horrible for me. I live where I practice, whereas the other 3 providers do not. I would be banned from practicing within 10 miles of my current office for a year, I could not take any previous, current, or FUTURE patients with me, (future patients? Am I psychic to know who would have been a future patient ahead of time?), or else I would end up in court litigating it. Which means I would have to pay a bunch of money to get out of the non-compete agreement. Out of the 4 of us partners, myself and 2 others did not really care and would not enforce a non-compete but one of the partners would most definitely enforce it against any of us.

With this FTC decision, I have the ability to work and serve my patients wherever I choose. I love my office and my practice, and have no intention of leaving there. But one thing I know about life is it has a way of side swiping you when you least expect it to, and I am a plan B kind of girl. I would never pigeon hole myself into a situation where I couldn’t stay in my general practice area and not see the patients I currently have the honor to care for. This also will allow the multitudes of providers stuck in corporate healthcare to venture out on their own without penalty.

FREEDOM!