Fresh Meat

You Don't Know What You Don't Know..

Penny. One of our dearest friends and a local rescue

The staff have notified me that you are headed to a nearby practice that has just sold to corporate. I want to respectfully and sincerely share my experience and insight on this decision. And apologize for the tone. 

I spoke to the seller, (a veterinarian I have known for the 20 years I have been a veterinarian), about two weeks ago. She told me that she sold to corporate, (a corporate company I also know), and I told her that I understood why people do it, I just could not understand her doing it. She was the last and only other practice owner besides myself who I believed would never imagine selling corp. 

Here’s what I don’t think you know. You are young. Just starting,  In debt yes, but you still have your heart, compassion and integrity. Your sign on bonus and contract are going to challenge that. Corporate companies have no interest in patients unless they have deep pockets. You will be expected to turn away or euthanize treatable pets because they are not inline with their profits. Period. They don’t care about anything unless there is a profit driven reason. They only care about you because you have a license and a contract. Without them they don’t care about you either. I could put you in touch with a dozen former corp vets who worked for them. They would all verify this.

If you think being in debt is the worst part of your current position it’s not. Being burnt out and turned into an indifferent person who doesn’t love vetmed is. Even worse, becoming a part of the statistic that is so shameful we bury it. We can talk about all of the myriad of reasons that veterinarians choose suicide, but, losing ourselves in the process of trying to care for others is at the forefront. 

Corporate medicine is so insidious in our profession that they now start recruiting the most debt-ridden students, (it is not a coincidence they start here), in their first or second year of vet school. By third year they have "signed." They are receiving "pay" in the way of stipends and expected to take their internships at their corporate run practices. They are constantly groomed and persuaded to pay back the favors enticed by large (always secret) sign on bonuses and long restrictive contracts. The contracts are the most horrific parts of this recruitment trade. I don't know if anyone on the university side has these graduates interests on their job description, but I know that when I was in vet school I at least had a professional advisor on campus. A recent new grad was sharing the details of the contract they had signed. $160,000 for 60 hours of appointments. Sixty hours is twice what any of the vets at my practice carry. The state average is about $130,000. This is endangerment labor. I strongly challenge the viability of anyone being able to learn effectively, care for patients effectively and then being locked in for 5 years!? An internship and residency last 5 years and when they are completed the expected salary triples. What is going to happen to this student? She is going to want her life back. Or, she is going to quit vetmed feeling like toast.

I never require a contract with new vet’s because I never want them to feel obligated or pressured to be anything other than who they are. If you aren’t happy here I want you to find the place you are. You cannot give your heart and soul and feel purposeful and good about yourself if you are contracted to anyone. 

I know this is not what you want to hear. But, I want you to know I am here for you. 

A veterinarian who sells their practice to corporate is asked to stay around for awhile. Help it look like the transition is gradual and under their guidance and acceptance. Maintain a facade as the new regime takes hold. It is all a part of keeping the most profitable plan by the new owners. In exchange for a whole lot of money the departing practice owner has to give up all that they built and all of his decades of building something amazing to vultures. They will always know that they profited from this sale and their staff clients and patients will pay for that. 

I hope that you find a place that you love. And love vet med as much in 5,10, and 20 years down the road. Never ever let anyone take away your passion or compassion.

I wish you well. I hope I am wrong about the direction that the clinic is headed for. The seller thinks it will remain the place she built and is proud of. I hope she is right too.

 Krista. 

Spencer, always shy and skeptical.
A local rescue

This is the letter I sent to a former employee who is started work at a corporately owned practice upon graduation. He has a big heart and he has worked hard to get into and out of vet school. He is like so many students who are lured by corporate reps who promise all sorts of things to get them to enlist. I spoke to one student who was given a big sign-on (about their first years salary ($140,000) for a 5 year commitment and a 60 hour a week appointment schedule. This leaves them to make phone calls,, review blood work/diagnostics and write up their cases on their own time outside of that. I would expect that will leave them working 80 hours a week. They are now earning $33/hour, and miserable.

What you don't know, you don't know. Maybe the first person who approaches you with the shiny objects and the impressive dollars doesn't have your best interests in mind? Maybe it's time the vet schools take a stance on predatory practices if they aren't already one themselves?

Maybe it's time we start asking some hard questions as consumers and start whistleblowing for the sake of our patients, our emotional bonds with them, and the people we entrust with their care. (More on this to follow).

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