CVS

Re: CVS

CatherineThomas — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:42:08 GMT

I work for CVS and I'm happy with them. There is some pressure that the practice makes money but I don't think it's any more than you would get from a boss in private practice, particularly with the economy as it is at the moment. We don't get told off if we don't make enough money but we get a nice box of chocolates from the bosses if our figures are good. You aren't forced to sell things you don't agree with or do work that isn't indicated. You do have to use "preferred products", ie the drugs which CVS gets a discount on, but I don't find it a problem.

You also have the benefit of experience of many more vets if you have any problem cases. For example we have an opthalmology certificate holder at one of the local cvs practices so I can call him up for advise about eye cases or refer cases to him. There's also other certificate holders a bit further away who I can call if I have a problem. And if you want to get more experience of something in particular they will allow to go and spend time at another practice within the group where you'll be able to see that proceedure. Plus they are very keen to have certificate holders in their practices so they will support you to do them. We also have regular clinical club meetings with the local CVS practices where someone does a presentation about something that interests them, or something they have done on cpd. Then we go out for a meal, so you get to socialise as well as learn something.

I'm much happier in this job than I was at my previous job in a private practice.

Re: CVS

Alan Tevendale — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 07:49:04 GMT

I do not have any experience of working for CVS myself. However I have friends that have work for them as well as friends that are clinical directors of CVS practices. As Alison says I think most of the important stuff for basing your decision on whether to take a job with CVS or not will come down to the clinical director. If you get a good boss then you'll likely enjoy your work.

Some CVS practices seem excellent, others are bad to work for. Would you be able to let us know (privately if you want) which practice your looking at?

Re: CVS

vs0u — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 22:23:32 GMT

I've locummed in a CVS practice and found it to be a very pleasant place to work. As with any practice though, it would depend a lot on who the boss/clinical director of the practice is as to how it's run. As a locum there may be down sides that I'm unaware of, but I would be happy to take a job there. The other vets seem to be enjoying it.

One advantage of CVS over other corporates is that they are usually well established practices that are run much as before, without any of the aggressive marketing or branding (or colour schemes) that other corporates have. I think many clients are unaware it's corporate-owned, and as a result may be less likely to to see it as money grabbing. Having worked (as a locum) for many of the other corporate practices, I think clients see these more as businesses run for profit and they tend to question costs a lot and be generally more demanding.

Re: CVS

Anonymous — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 21:03:08 GMT

Feel free to drop me a line.