I read a little on pro-sal before you posted this and one article specifically said that DVMs won't get a cut from anything that didn't occur during their appointment (so drug/food refills). Not that it's a huge deal to delve into, but would you say it might just be different from clinic to clinic? The same article I read said that anyone who tries to pad a bill or hog cases on pro-sal has a personality flaw, lol.
That's right -- production based pay schemes won't make someone into an unethical person, but it will make it easy for unethical people to really take advantage
Also you bring up rechecks/small problems...I would see that as a quick way to add to my compensation while making sure my medical care is effective, not something to pass over in favor of a three hour appointment. Just my thought process. Also, I've known practice managers who have said that learning is for CE time, not on the clock time. Idk if that would be applied to DVMs, as I've only worked for one doctor practices owned by the DVM.
I'm sure practice managers feel that way, but they're foolish and it's bull****. No veterinarian should be expected to limit their learning to once or twice a year. Hell, as a human being I don't limit myself to proscribed learning periods of once or twice a year, so why should I do it when a patient's health is on the line? If I want to find out if there's a better way to treat X or a way to avoid having to do Y in a non-cooperative patient, it shouldn't have to wait until my CE next October, nor should I expect to remember what I learned last February about X or Y and not go and read about it again.
I can see DVMD's point of view, though. I know that no vet (or very few, probably) can expect to have consistent hours week after week...But if I get paid $70k for 40-50 or 60 hour weeks, and they start turning into 60-70+ hour weeks, shouldn't my compensation increase because of that?
Sure, and it will if you've got a contracted hourly range in your contract (say "$70K per year for a 40-50 hour week for 50 weeks per year"), or you can ask for a raise, or get some extra time off. Or you can look for a new job. You're essentially donating your time at some point.
Maybe, but maybe there will be a slow week or two where you're earning and not seeing more than a couple of clients. Or maybe a few weeks where you'll leave early each night. Essentially, the idea of a salary is that it all works out in the wash. Do these places actually clock the DVMs hours and give overtime?
I don't know if they clock hours, but usually vets aren't eligible for overtime, but they are eligible for time off in lieu. I honestly don't know, I've only worked for GP DVMs that own their own clinics. I'm aware that owners don't go home to sleep on their mattress stuffed with $100 bills, but the clinic is getting in more revenue while the DVM doesn't see anything for staying until 10PM every night instead of referring the emergencies and going home at 6.
I know of very, very few clinics that have the option of referring emergencies but don't. They may take in more revenue by seeing cases until 10pm, but they also have greatly increased costs (so they're not actually making a lot of money). Most vets have figured that out and refer when they can.
Correct me if I'm wrong, DVMD: I don't think she's saying an emergency =
$$$
, I think she's saying she prefers to get fairly compensated while helping a patient outside her normal job's requirements time-wise. Do new grads sign contracts stating 'You will see all walk in emergencies, regardless of the time of day, and receive no fair compensation for your time?' Isn't that one of the many problems DVMs face?
Not really, unless you work in a place without third-party after hours coverage. Occasionally **** happens and we work outside of regular hours, but it shouldn't happen often or regularly. If it does, you're in the wrong job. Sometimes you're compensated financially, sometimes with time, but it shouldn't happen frequently enough to make a dent in your life or bank account. (collectively, not you specifically) don't feel the need to properly compensate DVMs for the time/effort put in. We all know vets are underpaid given the skills and education, why view commission on top of a base salary as some sort of evil thing?
In other words, they should "do it for free if they really care about the animals."
No, they should do it as an unusual and infrequent part of their job that offers them non-monetary benefits that will personally and financially benefit them in the future.
