Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1492611
28 HEALTHCARE NEWS 28 FTC moves to ban non-competes: What it could mean for physicians By Claire Wallace I n January, the Federal Trade Commission proposed a rule that would keep employees free from non-compete contracts. e rule would apply to full-time employees and independent contractors, both paid and unpaid. e non-compete rule, which the FTC is accepting public comments on until March 10, would impact nearly every job position in the U.S., including physicians and medical staff. Health systems oen impose non-compete contracts on physicians to prohibit them from leaving to start a new practice, or following fellow physicians who leave to start their own practice, according to a Jan. 12 report from Medscape. A 2018 survey found that about 37 percent of employed physicians were bound by non-compete contracts. Some states, including California, Oklahoma and North Dakota have already banned certain non-compete contracts. Physicians are split on their support of non-compete contracts. "A federal ban on non-compete agreements will ensure that physicians nationwide can finally change jobs without fear of being sued," Erik Smith, MD, a clinical professor of anesthesiology in California, told Medscape. On the other hand, practice owner and cardiologist Rishin Shah, MD, is opposed to the proposed FTC rule. "As a small practice owner, I am personally against this. e noncompete helps me take a risk and hire a physician. It typically takes 2-3 years for me to break even. I think this will further consolidate employment with large hospital systems unfortunately," Dr. Shah told Medscape. e American Medical Association has publicly discouraged physicians from signing contracts with unreasonably strict non- compete contracts, as has the American Hospital Association. However in 2020, the AMA urged the FTC not to make a federal rule regulating any non-competes for physicians. e FTC claims that banning non-competes nationwide will increase annual wages by $300 billion as it will allow 30 million Americans to pursue different job opportunities. n 13 most popular medical, non- medical side gigs for physicians By Claire Wallace Thirty-seven percent of physicians reported having a side gig in 2022 according to the Physician Extra Income report from Medscape. Thirteen most popular medical side gigs: 1. Medical consulting 2. Expert witness 3. Chart reviewing 4. Medical moonlighting 5. Speaking 6. Telemedicine 7. Medical device development 8. Healthcare startup development 9. Medical spa work 10. Medical podcasting/blogging 11. EMR training 12. Tutoring 13. Mental health counseling Thirteen most popular non-medical side gigs: 1. Real estate 2. Investing 3. Consulting 4. Teaching 5. Writing 6. Sports 7. Business consulting 8. Social media influencer 9. Cooking 10. Arts and crafts 11. Playing music 12. Life/career coaching 13. Photography n The 4 fastest- growing healthcare jobs By Patsy Newitt N urse practitioners, medical and health services managers, and physician assistants are among the top 20 fastest growing jobs, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The report listed the 20 occupations with the highest projected growth between 2021 and 2031. Here are the four medical jobs that made the list, according to their rank, followed by how they are projected to grow during that period: 1. Nurse practitioners: 46 percent 15. Medical and health services managers: 28 percent 17. Physician assistants: 28 percent 20. Physical therapist assistants: 26 percent n