UMPC building in Pittsburgh
Keith Srakocic / AP Photo
UMPC building in Pittsburgh
Keith Srakocic / AP Photo
When Dr. Lorraine Rosamilia left her job at a dermatology practice in State College, she said the non-compete she’d signed 17 years ago banned her from working within 30 miles of her former office. It also prevented her from saying goodbye to her patients, or telling them about her new job, roughly an hour’s drive away in DuBois, Pa.
Non-competes are often part of the employment contracts that physicians sign when hired. If a doctor resigns, is fired or laid off, the clause can prohibit them from working for rival health systems within a certain geographic area.
But Rosamilia said her former patients were having difficulty finding a new provider and kept trying to get in touch: They called her mom or her husband’s law firm — some even sent Rosamilia pictures of their rashes over Facebook Messenger.
“They’re like, ‘I just need someone to see this and tell me if it’s urgent.’ And you find yourself, you know, really shackled because the people who are nearby who need you — you can’t care for them,’” said Rosamilia, who grew up near State College and didn’t want to relocate her family.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
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