Conflicting Employment with Affiliate Hospitals?

[kem2127]

I have gotten myself in a situation where I just started training for one per diem job. However I have a second per diem offer, which I applied for first, and had also accepted. I was told today by HR, that because this other hospital is an "affiliate," I cannot work per diems at both locations. I have not yet been put on the schedule as a provider at the 1st location as I have just finished computer training. I don't know what to do because obviously it looks bad if I leave a position I just started, but it's almost as bad to work 6 months with the intention of leaving as soon as possible.  However the other per diem is right next to my house, pays $15/h more and is a specialty that I am more interested in. So if I have to choose, I know I shouldn't leave the first job for professional reasons but for practical ones this is a no brainer. Ideally I would like to work both jobs, which is what I planned, but it seems impossible.  I have not seen this anywhere in writing or as an absolute as it was not mentioned on the job application, only from what I was told by HR.

 

Let me add that the first hospital does not restrict me to working in the 2nd one since they are actually different systems but the PAs are paid by the "affiliate" hospital system.

 

Any words of advice? Is it even possible to get something overridden or approval to work in affiliate hosptials as its technically not even the same system? Don't they have to show me some sort of documentation for this?

[Guest Paula]

It seems strange to me that there would be this "rule" since the two hospitals are Affiliates.  Who can you ask about this and get clarification and who can provide this in writing?  Perhaps HR has it wrong and misunderstand.  

 

Who interviewed you?  Can they help....i.e.  a physician in the interview who might stand up for you.  DO you know if there are any per diem physicians who work at both hospitals without the same restrictions?

 

Are you hired as an employee or as an independent contractor?  

 

Are they worried about you referring patients to clinics/specialist that are not in their system?  

[kem2127]

Paula unfortunately I have confirmation that it IS true. My PA supervisor at the other hospital checked with the department administrative assistant and the department Chair as well. I am not the first person this has happened to. They were nice enough to end the contract for me without making a big deal of it. With the termination of contract I am not allowed to apply for a position at that location for at least a year now (which is fine) but it may make it a bit more difficult to obtain a position there in the future. Just disappointing as I really wanted both positions and it as a really great group of PAs and I didn't really want to come off as unreliable.  What a crumby way to start my career out!