Dr. Eddie Zupnik answers questions about his decision to practice periodontics as an independent contractor...

Bridging the Way: 2003 Student Event
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

Below is an interview with Dr. Eddie Zupnik.

Edward Zupnik, D.D.S., is a board certified private practitioner in Bethesda, Maryland. He is a 1994 Graduate of The University of Maryland Periodontal Program under the direction of Dr. Gerald Bowers and he has been a member of the Academy of Periodontics since 1992. Dr. Zupnik currently is the chair of the Committee on the New Practitioner, and has been on several AAP committees.

What was your ideal plan after graduation?

My ideal plan was to go into private practice with my father and his two partners after graduation and be busy 5 days a week.

What realities did you encounter?

When you enter the private practice setting, you have to build a practice. In the beginning I was doing a lot of crossword puzzles instead of being “productive.” Unless you go into a practice with overflow patients for you to start with until you build a referral base, it can be a very lonely time.

What appealed to you about becoming an independent contractor?

I would be able to get much needed experience. I would be able to hone my skills from a diagnosis standpoint as well as clinically and surgically. Patients would be provided so I did not have to go out and try to sell myself at least one day a week.

What variables influenced your decision to become an independent contractor?

The lack of work was really the number one factor.

How did you go about searching for an independent contractor position?

The opportunity was presented to me by one of my partners. It was to be in an area far away from our practices so as not to annoy any referring GPs.

Did location factor into the situation?

Yes, again, we did not want to affect my eventual growth in our practices by compromising relationships with referring GPs.

Please explain your financial compensation arrangement, using real or fictitious figures.

I had a handshake contract. Material fees were split 50-50 and I was to receive 50% of collected monies. I was doing a lot of implants which for one day a week – I was receiving $72,000 a year. This was a very lucrative situation due to the patients that were being referred to me in this practice.

Do you believe this is a good form of practice?

I believe that it is a beneficial from the financial aspect as well as from the experience gained.

What are the pros and cons of this situation?

The pros were as follows:

The cons were as follows:

Did you benefit from this situation? If so, how?

Again, financially and experience.

Why is the independent contractor often frowned upon in the profession?

I think it is frowned upon due to the idea that the practitioner is only doing it for money and that the practitioner may compromise patient care because of lack of commitment to the practice as a whole because it is someone else's practice. There is no sense of ownership; therefore, patient care may be compromised.

How did this experience affect your plan and decisions about your career and future?

It opened my eyes to the practice needs of the GPs. Now, that I am not an independent contractor, I feel I understand my referrers a little better. Plus, I saw how my work helped or hindered the GPs final goal, which helped me to improve as a practitioner.

What risks were involved?

Being frowned upon, and possible disruption of future referral base.

What is your situation now?

I practice 4 days with my practice and I do independent contracting out of a periodontist's practice a day a week doing implant and sinus lift work that the periodontist is not comfortable doing. I am a partner in a practice with three other partners and we have three practiced facilities.

What resources (i.e. people, publications, groups) did you find the most helpful?

My partners.

What suggestions do you have for individuals transitioning into an independent contractor arrangement?

They are all individual based and I would have to talk to them about the specifics of the situation they would be walking into.

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