Long Term Care?

[ICPharmD]

Having read all the old posts about LTC, got an interview with Omnicare. I wanted to know how the merger with CVS is and whats the typical work culture at omnicare.

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[Lnsean]

it's where careers go to die. If you're already well into your 40s...go for it.

 

[ICPharmD]

it's where careers go to die. If you're already well into your 40s...go for it.

Uhh.. could you elaborate more on the part where careers go to die? Unfortunately I'm in my mid twenties so yeah...

 

[lcow2004]

Having read all the old posts about LTC, got an interview with Omnicare. I wanted to know how the merger with CVS is and whats the typical work culture at omnicare.

One of my classmates from pharmacy school currently works there and I hear its pretty chill. Seems like they don't anticipate any major changes on their end post CVS merger.

 

[ICPharmD]

One of my classmates from pharmacy school currently works there and I hear its pretty chill. Seems like they don't anticipate any major changes on their end post CVS merger.

Oh really thats good to hear, do you know if your classmates works in the bigger hubs or is it the smaller ones?

 

[apex8]

I'm on rotation at Omnicare now and it's very laid back. CVS culture is non-existent as of right now. CVS is no where near taking over and placing their metrics on omni. It's a great working environment in terms of flexibility and culture. But you won't be challenging yourself much or at all.

 

[rph3664]

My BFF worked at Omnicare for a while. They operated 2 shifts, and he alternated between them; IIRC, it was 2 weeks on days and 1 week on evenings because they didn't have to be as heavily staffed. (Un?)fortunately, he was fired before the merger; while he didn't see it this way at the time, I knew they were doing him a massive favor because his location was an extremely toxic environment. 🙁 He worked at a place that serviced homes that did a lot of IV therapy, including TPNs.

The one in my city is ostensibly one shift, but the late shift never knows when they can leave, and it's not uncommon for them to have to stay until 10pm or later, and no, the pharmacists are not paid by the hour.

 

[ldiot]

I am rotating there now too and it seems like it would be a really easy job but at the same time mind numbingly boring. I'm not sure but I think I'd almost rather just work the retail side so I'm not checking the clock every 10 minutes wishing my life away.

 

[ICPharmD]

My BFF worked at Omnicare for a while. They operated 2 shifts, and he alternated between them; IIRC, it was 2 weeks on days and 1 week on evenings because they didn't have to be as heavily staffed. (Un?)fortunately, he was fired before the merger; while he didn't see it this way at the time, I knew they were doing him a massive favor because his location was an extremely toxic environment. 🙁 He worked at a place that serviced homes that did a lot of IV therapy, including TPNs.

The one in my city is ostensibly one shift, but the late shift never knows when they can leave, and it's not uncommon for them to have to stay until 10pm or later, and no, the pharmacists are not paid by the hour.

Oh wow pretty much YMMV depending on the location I'm guessing. The place interviewing me is 24 hours so hopefully it'll be some what adequately staffed. Hopefully your BFF has a better job going for him now then!



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[mentos]

I work at cvs and I'm ready for a new job. If i apply to omnicare will my supervisor know?

 

[xiphoid2010]

My wife works at omnicare. It's not 24 hours like one of the main hub. The work is easy, so easy that she's often complaining of the ignorance and laziness of the other staff here. She does 3-4x the order volume of the other pharmacists. On top of that, the GM comes in at 10-11, takes an hour lunch, and leave at 3 PM, only work an honest day when the corporate is come to visit. That's why even though she's paid very well, she's upset and studying an MBA. She knows that she can do better.

Now she was working at a 24 hour hub during my residency year, and that place was better run, where people are working more like they should. But even there she said it was easy. The main thing is the lack of real competition in LTC, and that just breeds inefficiencies.

 

[ICPharmD]

My wife works at omnicare. It's not 24 hours like one of the main hub. The work is easy, so easy that she's often complaining of the ignorance and laziness of the other staff here. She does 3-4x the order volume of the other pharmacists. On top of that, the GM comes in at 10-11, takes an hour lunch, and leave at 3 PM, only work an honest day when the corporate is come to visit. That's why even though she's paid very well, she's upset and studying an MBA. She knows that she can do better.

Now she was working at a 24 hour hub during my residency year, and that place was better run, where people are working more like they should. But even there she said it was easy. The main thing is the lack of real competition in LTC, and that just breeds inefficiencies.

Thanks for the info Xiphoid, all in all LTC in itself is pretty laid back/easy and if you're looking to better/challenge yourself its not a place you want to be at in the long run.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

. (Un?)fortunately, he was fired before the merger; while he didn't see it this way at the time, I knew they were doing him a massive favor because his location was an extremely toxic environment. 🙁

I have this theory about external conflict and pharmacy jobs. Everywhere I've ever worked where you primarily deal with the general public, it seems like there is a sense of comradery. It's us versus the hordes of idiots that make up the general public. Everywhere I've worked without the general public, it seems like conflict is created internally. Office politics, back stabby people, gossip, etc. It's why, even though the work rate is much higher and more stressful on average, people seem to be less at each other's throats in retail.

If there was a way to eliminate the conflict and maintain the easy-peasy environment...it would make for a nice workplace.

 

[owlegrad]

I have this theory about external conflict and pharmacy jobs. Everywhere I've ever worked where you primarily deal with the general public, it seems like there is a sense of comradery. It's us versus the hordes of idiots that make up the general public. Everywhere I've worked without the general public, it seems like conflict is created internally. Office politics, back stabby people, gossip, etc. It's why, even though the work rate is much higher and more stressful on average, people seem to be less at each other's throats in retail.

If there was a way to eliminate the conflict and maintain the easy-peasy environment...it would make for a nice workplace.

I have come to believe you can subdivide it even more - the slower the store, the more internal drama.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

I have come to believe you can subdivide it even more - the slower the store, the more internal drama.

Huh. You know, that's 100% correct. You've just made a valuable contribution to my theory.

 

[ldiot]

I have this theory about external conflict and pharmacy jobs. Everywhere I've ever worked where you primarily deal with the general public, it seems like there is a sense of comradery. It's us versus the hordes of idiots that make up the general public. Everywhere I've worked without the general public, it seems like conflict is created internally. Office politics, back stabby people, gossip, etc. It's why, even though the work rate is much higher and more stressful on average, people seem to be less at each other's throats in retail.

If there was a way to eliminate the conflict and maintain the easy-peasy environment...it would make for a nice workplace.

This is actually pretty true... though in retail when this doesn't happen is when you see the max exodus from a particular store and all the pharmacists and half the techs quit within a week

 

[EyeTeeFarmer]

When I was rotating through managed care facilities, it always seemed like projects would just trickle down the chain of command to the peons (aka residents and students). Often, they would give us deadlines for the next day or even same day projects and CC us in email threads that were started 2 months back. We'd scurry and try to finish the projects and send it back up top, where it disappears into the gaping void and never gets heard from again.

We were never sure what the people up top did. So... if you cut the fat in corporate America, there would probably be a couple billion dollars in savings.

 

[gwarm01]

The one in my city is ostensibly one shift, but the late shift never knows when they can leave, and it's not uncommon for them to have to stay until 10pm or later, and no, the pharmacists are not paid by the hour.

I shadowed a pharmacist at Omnicare back when I was a student. Everyone there seemed miserable, and this is one reason why.

 

[rph3664]

I worked at a startup LTC pharmacy in 2011, and while the job itself was OK (and I WAS paid by the hour, thank God) most of the people there were simply marking time until they found another job. I'm on Facebook with several of them, and one does still work there. Communication was nonexistent, and most of the employees were having difficulty getting paid. I didn't, because I was working there through a temp agency.

 

[rph3664]

This is actually pretty true... though in retail when this doesn't happen is when you see the max exodus from a particular store and all the pharmacists and half the techs quit within a week

That sounds like what happened when CVS took over all the Osco stores.

 

[ICPharmD]

This thread blew up thanks everyone for all the replies. I'll tread with caution and be on the lookout for something better.


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[owlegrad]

Huh. You know, that's 100% correct. You've just made a valuable contribution to my theory.

You know me, I aim to please.