CVS Long Term Care versus CVS Retail

[Cleaveland]

Hello all,

I’m graduating soon and would like some insight for those who have an idea or experience with both pathways of work. I’ve worked in retail all through pharmacy school and prior. Both as a technician and a pharmacy intern. I do obviously know it’s a whole another ball game as the pharmacist standpoint, I was just curious if anyone had ever made the switch to Long Term Care with either Omnicare or any other company. How is the quality of life? Any pros/cons, or benefits? I absolutely love the business side of pharmacy, and I do love the it interactions with people. But as a pharmacist standpoint looking more in the future, like if I were to get burnt out, change my mind, passion later. I just would love to hear from you all that are more experienced. Thank you all for your time.


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[hye345]

Hello all,

I’m graduating soon and would like some insight for those who have an idea or experience with both pathways of work. I’ve worked in retail all through pharmacy school and prior. Both as a technician and a pharmacy intern. I do obviously know it’s a whole another ball game as the pharmacist standpoint, I was just curious if anyone had ever made the switch to Long Term Care with either Omnicare or any other company. How is the quality of life? Any pros/cons, or benefits? I absolutely love the business side of pharmacy, and I do love the it interactions with people. But as a pharmacist standpoint looking more in the future, like if I were to get burnt out, change my mind, passion later. I just would love to hear from you all that are more experienced. Thank you all for your time.


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I had a rotation with Omnicare in 2015, before they were bought by CVS. Me and my preceptor would drive out to nursing homes, review the medication records for the residents, and recommend changes. Almost like an informal audit. Since then however, I have spoken to a pharmacist who has some experience in long-term care, along with working retail, hospital, and independent ownership. No big surprise that according to him, Omincare is going downhill since the buy-out... CVS is applying their metrics to making IV's and whatnot 🙁. He did say that in his opinion, long-term care pharmacy is the 'hidden gem', since the learning curve is more forgiving compared to hospital (assuming you're coming from retail), and there is less stress/time crunch overall. Of course, the hard part is getting your foot in the door.

 

[Cleaveland]

I had a rotation with Omnicare in 2015, before they were bought by CVS. Me and my preceptor would drive out to nursing homes, review the medication records for the residents, and recommend changes. Almost like an informal audit. Since then however, I have spoken to a pharmacist who has some experience in long-term care, along with working retail, hospital, and independent ownership. No big surprise that according to him, Omincare is going downhill since the buy-out... CVS is applying their metrics to making IV's and whatnot 🙁. He did say that in his opinion, long-term care pharmacy is the 'hidden gem', since the learning curve is more forgiving compared to hospital (assuming you're coming from retail), and there is less stress/time crunch overall. Of course, the hard part is getting your foot in the door.

Oh wow, I appreciate your input. I hope everything is going well. Congratulations on being a Pharmacist for about 2 years now?!

 

[grizzlesgrizzlies]

There's almost always taking on-call in LTC. Keep that in mind in that even if you have a hellish shift at CVS it stops the moment those gates go down.

 

[Cleaveland]

There's almost always taking on-call in LTC. Keep that in mind in that even if you have a hellish shift at CVS it stops the moment those gates go down.

Ah yes! Very good point. I was also thinking there’s more flexibility for relocating too working in Retail.


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[owlegrad]

I love it. There are still plenty of things to complain about, taking call not being the least of it. But compared to retail...there is no comparison actually.

 

[Cleaveland]

I love it. There are still plenty of things to complain about, taking call not being the least of it. But compared to retail...there is no comparison actually.

Very much appreciate your insight. I’m just contemplating on what to do. Having both options available.

On the retail side I was just looking for more flexibility of relocating, promotions (from my part time offer), bonuses, pretty much $$$. I do sound shallow, but I want to just get rid of my student loan debt as soon as possible. To have a somewhat better life than a college student. Ha.

Versus

Basically 30 hours full time LTC, away from my girlfriend (only about 3 hours away), not dealing with crazy patients and whatnot. Along with the positive feedback from you all on this side of pharmacy.

Thanks again.






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[johnpharm01]

Take a look at the board actions for locations you are considering working at and also how long the pharmacy management has been there. In my state the pharmacy managers name and start date appear on the pharmacy's license. Also google the company's name and see how many settlements they have been involved in.

 

[Litha]

I have worked for the LTC owned by the 3 letter (and worked through the transition period) for almost 2 years and I hate it. I've been looking for a new job for well over a year, but the job market in my area is extremely tight.

Long term care is unforgiving. Things I dislike:

1) Inconsistent Hours. My regular schedule is 10-7pm, but that doesn't mean anything if the delivery isn't ready to go by 7pm. You stay until it's finished, whether than mean 7:30 or 10:30pm. That gets old really fast whether you can make plans because you don't know when you are getting off of work. Recently, my manager has been making us cut "excess hours" from other days. So if we stay an hour extra Monday night, we come in late on Tuesday. If we come in Sunday for an on call emergency, we come in late on Monday. So it's only perpetuating the problem, not compensating us for extra time spent working.

2) On call. This is the deal breaker for me and the reason I want to leave this job. I hate on call with a fierce passion because if is completely out of your hands - it can suck, or it can be no problem and there is no way to influence that. If you are the pharmacist on call during the night, you are responsible for everything that happens in that pharmacy during the day, whether you are involved in it or not. Late admit, missed narcotic, emergency situation, or nurses forgot to refill something? On call RPh has to figure it out. And guess what? No matter how little sleep you get, you are still expected to show up and work a full shift the next day and be perfect. Retail pharmacy might suck, but there is some satisfaction of closing the gate and walking away at the end of the day.

3) Typical CVS crap. Since CVS took over, we have had to transition to a new courier service that sucks, meaning lost business because facilities get pissed off over late deliveries. As a result of this, our hours (RPh and tech) have been cut and we have been losing staff without getting them replaced. That means more work with less employees and less compensation. We are also expected to adhere to metrics, which doesn't make sense. The enterprise is watching our RX count, Stat RX and regular delivery times, phone availability times, % of first doses sent to CVS retail, etc. They don't seem to consider that LTC is very different that retail. So remember than not choosing retail doesn't mean you are escaping metrics.

tl;dr I would be wary of choosing Omnicare LTC, is has similar disadvantages to retail now that it is owned/operated by a retail company.

 

[Cleaveland]

Take a look at the board actions for locations you are considering working at and also how long the pharmacy management has been there. In my state the pharmacy managers name and start date appear on the pharmacy's license. Also google the company's name and see how many settlements they have been involved in.

Thanks for your reply. I will look into this. Didn’t think this was a thing.


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[Cleaveland]

I have worked for the LTC owned by the 3 letter (and worked through the transition period) for almost 2 years and I hate it. I've been looking for a new job for well over a year, but the job market in my area is extremely tight.

Long term care is unforgiving. Things I dislike:

1) Inconsistent Hours. My regular schedule is 10-7pm, but that doesn't mean anything if the delivery isn't ready to go by 7pm. You stay until it's finished, whether than mean 7:30 or 10:30pm. That gets old really fast whether you can make plans because you don't know when you are getting off of work. Recently, my manager has been making us cut "excess hours" from other days. So if we stay an hour extra Monday night, we come in late on Tuesday. If we come in Sunday for an on call emergency, we come in late on Monday. So it's only perpetuating the problem, not compensating us for extra time spent working.

2) On call. This is the deal breaker for me and the reason I want to leave this job. I hate on call with a fierce passion because if is completely out of your hands - it can suck, or it can be no problem and there is no way to influence that. If you are the pharmacist on call during the night, you are responsible for everything that happens in that pharmacy during the day, whether you are involved in it or not. Late admit, missed narcotic, emergency situation, or nurses forgot to refill something? On call RPh has to figure it out. And guess what? No matter how little sleep you get, you are still expected to show up and work a full shift the next day and be perfect. Retail pharmacy might suck, but there is some satisfaction of closing the gate and walking away at the end of the day.

3) Typical CVS crap. Since CVS took over, we have had to transition to a new courier service that sucks, meaning lost business because facilities get pissed off over late deliveries. As a result of this, our hours (RPh and tech) have been cut and we have been losing staff without getting them replaced. That means more work with less employees and less compensation. We are also expected to adhere to metrics, which doesn't make sense. The enterprise is watching our RX count, Stat RX and regular delivery times, phone availability times, % of first doses sent to CVS retail, etc. They don't seem to consider that LTC is very different that retail. So remember than not choosing retail doesn't mean you are escaping metrics.

tl;dr I would be wary of choosing Omnicare LTC, is has similar disadvantages to retail now that it is owned/operated by a retail company.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write a reflection on this. I really needed it.


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[Litha]

Thank you so much for taking the time to write a reflection on this. I really needed it.


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My pleasure. Please message me if you have any specific questions and I will be happy to assist! Best of luck in your job search.

 

[HandsomeVampire]

And I thought LTC was a escape from retail but that on-call business sounds like the worst.
Or rather you won't have a life outside of work.

 

[mentos]

On call, wtf is that BS? So you can't even leave town for a weekend trip to your parents house or to go camping or skiing or something? You basically have to stay home and be prepared to go to work on your days off? What if you have kids?

 

[owlegrad]

On call, wtf is that BS? So you can't even leave town for a weekend trip to your parents house or to go camping or skiing or something? You basically have to stay home and be prepared to go to work on your days off? What if you have kids?

Being on call doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to have a life you aren't on call 24 seven. Mostly it means being called at 2 AM because the nurse doesn’t have the 8 AM vancomycin.

There is an on call schedule so you know what nights you have to be prepared to go in.

 

[Litha]

On call, wtf is that BS? So you can't even leave town for a weekend trip to your parents house or to go camping or skiing or something? You basically have to stay home and be prepared to go to work on your days off? What if you have kids?

Being on call doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to have a life you aren't on call 24 seven. Mostly it means being called at 2 AM because the nurse doesn’t have the 8 AM vancomycin.

There is an on call schedule so you know what nights you have to be prepared to go in.

Basically don't have a life during on-call nights, though. At least for my job. I have a work laptop that I have to have internet access for (phone hotspot works in a pinch), and have to be reasonably close by the pharmacy in-case of emergencies.

Essentially stay at home except for trips to the grocery store. It's tiresome and frustrating as the nurses do not hesitate to call about every little thing.

I typically have to go back to the pharmacy at least once weekly to send something to a facility I can't first-dose.

 

[owlegrad]

Basically don't have a life during on-call nights, though. At least for my job. I have a work laptop that I have to have internet access for (phone hotspot works in a pinch), and have to be reasonably close by the pharmacy in-case of emergencies.

Essentially stay at home except for trips to the grocery store. It's tiresome and frustrating as the nurses do not hesitate to call about every little thing.

I typically have to go back to the pharmacy at least once weekly to send something to a facility I can't first-dose.

I have you beat. No off-site access at all. Pretty much if I get called I have to go in. It comes in waves though - for a while I get called every night then for a while I get no calls at all.

And just for the people who don't know how call works, you do get paid to be on call. We don't just do it out of the goodness of our hearts.

 

[Litha]

I have you beat. No off-site access at all. Pretty much if I get called I have to go in. It comes in waves though - for a while I get called every night then for a while I get no calls at all.

Ok, you win! No off-site access would make my job more difficult, for sure!

 

[owlegrad]

The LTC associated with my hospital has salaried pharmacists who are not paid for taking call. The pharmacy is only open 12 hours a day so that's a long time to be on call. I find that shocking and unacceptable.

I learned this from a conversation with a rph who had closed the night before, took call and then opened the next day. Like...wtf??? Shocking...

That is shocking. Those poor pharmacist. Must be nice only being open 12 hours though.

 

[Litha]

That is shocking. Those poor pharmacist. Must be nice only being open 12 hours though.

The LTC pharmacy I work at is open 9am-6pm Monday-Saturday (but we stay until 7pm to finish the delivery). So call nights are from 6pm-9am the next morning. Closed Sunday, so on call the whole day.

 

[Cleaveland]

Thanks everyone! I officially got my offer and accepted it for the Retail Side. Sadly it is only part time for now, but my supervisor will consider me for full time / pharmacy manager position when available. Wish me luck! Onto studying for boards.