Creating a physician compact that drives group success.

A physician compact is the unwritten understanding of what an organization and its employees owe one another. When expectations clash about job security, salary, hours and the like, the practice--and its patients--suffer. Outdated expectations of the physician compact can hamper an organization from functioning smoothly and delivering optimal care. Rewriting a compact should involve all of a group's physicians, and should be endorsed and promoted by practice leadership. A satisfactory compact develops a shared sense of strategic imperatives and helps a practice reach its potential.