Physician Non-Compete Agreements: What You Should Know

What are non-compete agreements?

In the broadest sense, non-compete agreements prohibit an employee from accepting employment by a competitor of an employer for a certain time. They are treated differently than non-solicitation agreements and confidentiality agreements. While non-compete agreements may not solely prevent competition – the agreement cannot prohibit an employee from using general knowledge or skills – they prohibit unfair advantage in competition by the employee. For example, in a medical setting, among other things, a non-compete agreement can protect an employer from losing patients to departing physicians, the benefit of investment in specialized training for the employee, and confidential business information or patient lists.