The ADA Practical Guide to Associateships: Success Strategies for Dentist-owners and Prospective Associates (The ADA Practical Guide Series)

There’s more than meets the eye to building a successful associateship. This practical guide offers strategies for tackling both logistical issues – such as the type of associate arrangement, compensation, contract terms, and buy-ins – and intangible ones, including interpersonal considerations and compatibility, developing a practice philosophy, and conducting a goals assessment.

Ideal for either adding or becoming an associate, this valuable book explains:

• Common contract provisions, including compensation; sick leave, disability pay, and other benefits; restrictive covenants and nonsolicitation provisions; financing and income distribution; provisions for dissolution; and many more
• Differences between an employee and an independent contractor, including financial, interpersonal, and tax considerations
• The phased buy-in/buy-out process
• Considerations for the dentist who is thinking about joining a large group practice

Also includes worksheets for cash flow, break-even and associate compensation analyses, as well as a sample associateship contract.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Associateships in General

Reasons to Become an Associate
Reasons to Add an Associate
Structures of Associateship Arrangements
Potential Problems
Types of Associate Arrangements

Chapter 2: Adding an Associate

Long-range Planning
Personal Assessment
Practice Assessment
Typical Features of Associate Agreements
Defining Factors of a Prospective Associate
Recruitment
General Considerations
Management Considerations
Interpersonal Considerations
Financial Considerations
Making the Decision

Chapter 3: Becoming an Associate

Is Associating for You?
Recommended Steps for Becoming an Associate or Entering a Time-share/Solo Group Agreement
What Type of Associateship Arrangement is Best for You?
Financial Considerations for Associate Arrangements
Control Considerations
Restrictive Considerations
Availability Considerations
Considerations Relating to an Associateship in a Large Group Practice

Chapter 4: Locating Candidates and Associateship Opportunities

Traditional Sources
Sample Advertisements
Sample Associate Dentist Job Description
Web-based Resources
Social Media
Making Contact
Sample Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Chapter 5: Candidate or Associateship Evaluation

Initial Screening
Comprehensive Evaluation
Issues for Prospective Associates
Specialty Care
Terms of the Contract
Issues for Prospective Associates and Group Practices
Issues for Dentist-owners

Chapter 6: Financial Compensation
Determining a Fair Level of Compensation
Who Pays Whom?
Compensation Methods
Compensation Examples
Phased Buy-ins and Buy-outs
Other Financial Compensation Considerations
Break-even Analysis for an Associate’s Production

Chapter 7: Contractual Considerations
The Importance of a Written Contract
Classification Indicators
Employee or Independent Contractor?
Taxes, Social Security and Related Matters
Common Contract Provisions
Independent Contractor Sample Provisions
Time-share/Solo Group Sample Provisions
Sample Agreements