holycow Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Hi everyone, I got an offer from a retail clinic (like minute clinic). I'm a new grad and I just wasn't sure if I'm taking on too much. I'd be the only provider (with an MA) after two weeks of training. I would have to work every other weekend (8-5) and weekdays are 8-8( likely like 9) with only half hour for lunch. Expected to see 3-4 pts/hr. Comes out to be on average 3-4 day week around 38 hours/wk. offer: 53/hr plus 4800 loan repayment. Health/dental, 401k match, 3 weeks PTO, life insurance, and malpractice, 1500 for cme but no additional PTO for cme.nOffer seems ok but here are my concerns: 1. Apparently I'm expected to make at least two "marketing" calls when I don't have patients and need to document them esp since it will be a brand new clinic. I'm a clinician, not a salesman! 2. It will be a brand new clinic so not sure what issues it may have but the company does have other clinics in various locations. 3. I'd be the only provider with access or physician by phone/email. 4. Every patient gets to fill out a patient satisfaction form and if you get a 7 or less, you have to talk to management on how to improve and these meetings are every month. Is that normal/routine? Thanks so much for any advice! Holy cow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PennPA4 Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Run from this and don't look back. There are so many wrong things with this. You don't have neigh training for new grad to do that and the corporate ladder will choke you and make you hate your job. Trust me I have many friends who did that in CVS and Walgreens and hated it after 2 months and I mean everyone of them. The environment is not productive for PA growth since they look after their own profits only and will suck you dry. It is impossible to have always rating of 7 or better. None does it at normal positions. Just say NO to them, there are plants of much better PA jobs out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chatcat Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 I'm a new grad and I just wasn't sure if I'm taking on too much. I'd be the only provider (with an MA) after two weeks of training. Please do not put yourself in this precarious situation as a new grad. Quite honestly, I question the judgement of this management who would hire a new grad to do solo work with a 2 week training period. This will be stressful for you and you will not be supported in any way beyond the presence of a MA (who could possibly be an additional stress that you have to supervise ) The ever present management will be looking to see how you meet expectations and will not care about anything but the bottom $$. Jumping into the first job always requires a steep learning curve...this is even with on site supervision. Availability of SP via phone or e-mail will provide the needed supervisory requirements but it will do nothing in terms of helping you learn as you enter medicine with "hands on" supervision. Above all else in your decision ,think about how you want to create this first chapter in your career as a PA. I hope your decision will be based on acquiring solid clinical skills to gain experience and putting yourself in a supportive environment that will allow you to grow,succeed and thrive. The salary and benefits will never trump job satisfaction so choose your setting with great care. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Paula Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 I have thought of retail clinic jobs as a place where nearly retired PAs or retired PAs could work one or two days a week to pick up extra cash. I would Not ever recommend a new grad PA take on such a job. 2-3 years of mentoring within a group practice/hospital/clinic will get you off to a good start in a PA career. When I first graduated I interviewed with Minute Clinic for a job in Minneapolis. This was in 2004 so it was totally a new concept. Their idea of the job was similar to yours. There was no way I was going to go to the mall and sit in a kiosk and provide medical care to shoppers with no experience at all. No thanks. I would however, when I retire, consider one day a week if they paid me well 'cuz by now I know what I am doing and have plenty of experience in FP/IM/ER/UC. And at this point in my career I do not care what satisfaction scores I get! Find a different offer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted October 25, 2015 Moderator Share Posted October 25, 2015 reatil medicine is not the place for a new grad, it's the place for someone easing into retirement or an experienced provider looking for some easy money for a 2nd job. . don't do this now. it's too narrowly focused. shoot for something like primary care, urgent care, etc, where you will see pts across the lifespan with undifferentiated problems in a place where you have a PA or doc mentor.. the problem with a new grad working solo in retail medicine (or any setting for that matter) is that occassionally bad stuff can present there and if you have never seen it before it is too easy to write off the sore throat as "viral" because the strep was negative and not recognize the peritonsilar abscess, etc. Lots of bad stuff comes out of these places an ends up in ERs because many of them do staff new grad PAs and NPs. I see their failures on a regular basis. not a fan of this whole model of care. I know there are folks on here who think it's the best thing ever, but this is my personal opinion baseed on my experiences. your results may vary and of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion on the matter. listen to me or don't, your call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted October 25, 2015 Administrator Share Posted October 25, 2015 I did this about 2.5 years in, but it was a prototype effort within a Group Health medical center. One day a week, I ended up seeing ~20 patients per day, working noon-8 PM. I had no MA, but I had family medicine, pediatrics, women's health, eye care, ENT, and a few other specialties where I could get people into same-day appointments with board certified MDs if they'd gotten inappropriately triaged to me... AND I had a whole 12 bed urgent care, lab, and radiology operating all the hours I was open. I got a CHF'er once, so I sent him down to UC by way of stat X-ray. That actually ended up being one of the more fun parts of my week. BUT, I was 2+ years into family medicine AND I had 30+ MDs in the same building whom I could call on should the need arise. I get that it isn't quite as convenient as being in the mall, but the other PAs and I did a bang-up job of getting people seen and treated same day even in the peak flu season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holycow Posted October 25, 2015 Author Share Posted October 25, 2015 Thank you so much for all of your advice! Really appreciate it. I will skip on this one and keep looking! I hope I get something soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted October 25, 2015 Moderator Share Posted October 25, 2015 I did this about 2.5 years in, but it was a prototype effort within a Group Health medical center. One day a week, I ended up seeing ~20 patients per day, working noon-8 PM. I had no MA, but I had family medicine, pediatrics, women's health, eye care, ENT, and a few other specialties where I could get people into same-day appointments with board certified MDs if they'd gotten inappropriately triaged to me... AND I had a whole 12 bed urgent care, lab, and radiology operating all the hours I was open. I got a CHF'er once, so I sent him down to UC by way of stat X-ray. That actually ended up being one of the more fun parts of my week. BUT, I was 2+ years into family medicine AND I had 30+ MDs in the same building whom I could call on should the need arise. I get that it isn't quite as convenient as being in the mall, but the other PAs and I did a bang-up job of getting people seen and treated same day even in the peak flu season. not really the model most places like this use....say in the back of a walmart...or target.....it's quikie mart care. it's an excuse not to have a relationship with a pcp...yes, I hate this concept. if other folks like it, more power to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator ventana Posted October 26, 2015 Moderator Share Posted October 26, 2015 no way marketing calls - yeah NOPE as a new grad this is like the kiss of death.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted October 26, 2015 Administrator Share Posted October 26, 2015 not really the model most places like this use....say in the back of a walmart...or target.....it's quikie mart care. it's an excuse not to have a relationship with a pcp...yes, I hate this concept. if other folks like it, more power to them. Agreed. It was a pilot program, and the only reason we were allowed to do previously forbidden things like ignore meaningless use and NOT address every condition every visit was because of the competition from the standalone retail clinics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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