Telemedicine side gigs for physicians and other clinical side work

Sort the work by what you would actually do

Clinical side work can include moonlighting, per-diem shifts or telehealth sessions. Expert review and teaching may also be considered alongside a primary role, but their responsibilities are not interchangeable with direct patient care. Describe the task before deciding which professional requirements apply. Ask who receives the service, what judgment you are expected to provide and how the organization defines the assignment.

Physicians, NPs and PAs should consider their own scope and experience rather than treating every side-work category as open to every profession. This overview links to the existing physician side-gig collection instead of recreating its individual guides. Use those pages for physician-specific topics, while asking the organization and relevant authority about the requirements of your particular role. A category is not confirmation of an available assignment.

Resolve the outside-work clause before the opportunity

Read your current employment agreement and the policies it incorporates. Look for moonlighting or outside-work provisions, conflicts of interest and any approval process. Do not assume that an activity is permitted merely because it happens away from the employer's premises or outside a regular schedule. Bring an accurate description of the proposed work to the person authorized to clarify the policy.

If you are in training, speak with the program about its requirements as well as the proposed organization's expectations. If the terms are unclear or restrictive, use appropriate contract advice rather than relying on a general guide to interpret them. Keep any permission or clarification with the assignment record so a later change in duties can be reviewed against what was actually discussed.

Match malpractice coverage to the assignment

Ask the insurer or responsible employer contact whether the proposed services are covered. Explain whether the activity involves patient care, telehealth, expert review, teaching or a combination. Existing coverage should not be assumed to extend to another organization or a different kind of professional service. Ask about the relevant policy and any limits or exclusions that affect the work.

Where clinical malpractice and tail provisions apply, clarify responsibility during the relationship and after it ends. An informal description of coverage is not a substitute for understanding the policy and agreement. This page gives no cost benchmark or insurance recommendation. Its purpose is to ensure that coverage is considered before an assignment is accepted, and that the person who can answer the question receives an accurate work description.

Place state authority and site approval on separate lines

For clinical services, identify the state of service and the professional authority that applies. Telemedicine adds the need to examine where the patient is located and the relevant state rules. Physician licensing guidance cannot simply be carried over to NP or PA practice. Check the role-specific requirements and any controlled substance authority when prescribing is part of the work.

Ask each clinical site about credentialing and privileging for the proposed duties. An existing appointment elsewhere does not answer that question. For expert review or teaching, ask what qualifications and organizational approvals the assignment requires without pretending that every activity uses hospital privileges. Keep the nature of the work visible so you neither skip a necessary requirement nor assume that a clinical approval settles a different kind of task.

Keep the decision record practical

Write down the assignment description, employer permission, coverage arrangement and unresolved authority questions. Add the organization contact responsible for each answer. If the work expands into a new service or location, revisit the record rather than assuming the original agreement covers it. A clear description is especially useful when different people use the same label for different activities.

Use the existing side-gig guides to explore a category, then verify the actual relationship with the people responsible for it. Saile's flexible-work and credentialing resources organize those questions, but they do not establish that an opportunity is available or suitable for you. A useful decision is grounded in the services, permission and terms you can confirm, not in an assumption that side work is administratively separate from professional practice.

Sources and scope

• FSMB: contact a state medical board

General information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. Confirm details with the source and with your state board, employer or insurer.