For many doctors, the decision to leave traditional healthcare systems and open their own practice represents more than a career move—it’s a lifeline back to fulfilling, compassionate, patient-centered care. Burnout has become an all-too-familiar struggle for physicians locked into the churn of 15-minute appointments, administrative overload, and relentless financial pressures. Starting a direct pay or direct primary care (DPC) practice offers hope for a better way, allowing doctors to regain their love for medicine and provide the comprehensive, personalized care every patient deserves.
This blog isn’t just about the practicalities of running your own practice—it’s also about setting the foundation for trust, transparency, and sustainability through a well-drafted doctor-patient agreement. Whether you’re launching a fledgling DPC practice or looking to tighten the structure of an existing one, the patient-doctor contract is more than a formality. It’s the backbone of your business and the trust you build with your patients.
Angie Holloway’s Journey to Transactional Law
Before we explore patient agreements, meet Angie Holloway, the managing lawyer at Edmonds Law Office, who knows a thing or two about rebuilding a career and a life that aligns with your values and passions. Angie began her legal career in civil rights, devoting countless hours to tackling systemic injustices. But the deep emotional toll and burnout that came with the work eventually led her to reevaluate her path. “I loved what I did,” Angie admits. “But I realized I wasn’t taking care of myself, and I wasn’t the best version of myself for my clients as a result.”
Transitioning from civil rights litigation to a fully transactional practice was not a decision she made lightly. Her goal was to build a legal career that aligned with her lifestyle while still making a meaningful impact. Today, she helps doctors, like those in the throes of burnout that she once experienced, rebuild their professional lives through creating sustainable, patient-focused practices. Angie’s approach is down-to-earth, practical, and designed to help professionals avoid the pitfalls she’s seen too often derail otherwise thriving businesses.
“Doctors who start their own practices aren’t just building a business,” Angie says, “they’re creating an opportunity to practice medicine the way they always dreamed—with compassion, adequate time, and trust.” And at the heart of that approach is a solid doctor-patient agreement.
Why a Strong Doctor-Patient Contract Matters
Georgia doctor-patient contracts might seem like dry legal documents, but when done right, they are anything but. These agreements set clear expectations, protect both your practice and your patients, and offer a framework to resolve conflicts or misunderstandings. For practices relying on direct pay or the DPC model, where transparency and trust are paramount, a good patient agreement isn’t optional—it’s essential.
A quick review of many existing contracts reveals a startling trend. Most consist of only a simple HIPAA release form and a basic promise to pay. While these technicalities tick the compliance boxes, they fail to address broader, crucial issues that could stall your practice’s success or lead to misunderstandings down the line.
Here are the key components every DPC or private practice agreement should include—and why they’re critical to your success.
1. Detailed Scope of Work in Georgia doctor-patient contracts
Your patients should know what is included in your care—and what isn’t. For example, are you only covering preventive or primary care? Will you offer specialty consultations? Are hospital visits or after-hours calls included in your membership fee? A detailed scope of work protects you from unrealistic patient expectations and ensures everyone is on the same page.
2. Exclusions and Additional Fees
Few things erode trust faster than surprise bills. By explicitly listing exclusions—services not covered by your agreement—you can manage expectations and provide transparency. You can also set clear guidelines about when and how additional fees may apply (e.g., for lab tests, vaccinations, or imaging referrals). Patients appreciate honesty, and nothing builds trust like being upfront from day one.
3. Dispute Resolution Processes
Even in the closest doctor-patient relationships, misunderstandings can happen. A robust contract will include alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mandatory negotiation or mediation, before escalating to more formal legal proceedings. This keeps disputes private, cost-effective, and (hopefully) rare.
4. Grievance Procedures
Medical care is deeply personal, and patients may have concerns or issues that need addressing. Including a clearly outlined grievance procedure ensures patients know how and where to voice their concerns, helping you resolve problems faster while showing your commitment to communication and accountability.
5. Discharge Protocols
Unfortunately, the doctor-patient relationship doesn’t always work out. Whether it’s due to missed payments, incompatibility, or another matter, your contract should outline a clear and professional process for discharging patients from your care when necessary. Consider including provisions for how you will transfer medical records or notify patients if they are being discharged. Doing so ensures compliance while maintaining your reputation as a fair and caring provider.
A Doctor’s Lesson in Contract Oversight
One client of Edmonds Law Office learned the importance of these provisions the hard way. Dr. Sarah (anonymized for confidentiality) started her DPC practice in metro Atlanta with a two-page agreement she borrowed from a colleague. It included only the essentials—a HIPAA form, an outline of her monthly rates, and a basic promise to pay. Initially, things went smoothly, but as her patient panel grew, so did the complexities of her interactions.
First, a dispute arose when a patient assumed after-hours urgent check-ins were included in their membership—even though Sarah never intended to offer those services. The misunderstanding led to frustration on both sides and an eventual dispute over fees. Worse still, Sarah had no grievance process on paper, leaving her scrambling to resolve the issue while keeping her practice’s reputation intact.
Soon after, Sarah had to discharge a patient due to non-compliance with medication recommendations. Without a clear written discharge protocol, she faced accusations of abandonment and a complaint to the state medical board—further draining her time and adding unnecessary stress.
These struggles were avoidable with the right agreement in place. After partnering with Edmonds Law Office, Dr. Sarah now operates with a contract that explicitly defines her services and policies, offering her—and her patients—peace of mind.
Partner With Edmonds Law Office for Peace of Mind
If you’re starting a Georgia medical practice or transitioning to a DPC model, don’t underestimate the importance of your patient agreements. At Edmonds Law Office, Atlanta business attorney Angie Holloway specializes in crafting contracts that build trust, set expectations, and fortify your practice for long-term success. Through her experience in healthcare law, Angie understands the nuances of patient-focused care and the legal standards that need to guide these documents.
Angie’s empathetic, no-nonsense approach has made her a trusted advisor to countless Georgia healthcare entrepreneurs. With insight gleaned from her own professional reinvention, she connects with doctors looking to take control of their careers and rediscover their passion for medicine. “Burnout doesn’t have to be the end of the story,” Angie says. “It can be the beginning of a practice you love.”
Take the Next Step Toward a Better Practice
If you’re ready to structure your doctor-patient contracts to reflect your values and business needs, Edmonds Law Office is here to help. Schedule a free fit call with our intake coordinator to find out if our firm is the right match for your practice goals.
Click here to book your consultation and start building a better future—one patient agreement at a time.
Your patients trust you to care for their health. Trust Edmonds Law Office to help care for the foundation of your practice.
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