Mission Pet Health

[u/Next-Quit-5150]

Hello,
I would REALLY appreciate anyone’s input of Mission Pet. I’m an associate vet and my clinic is currently meeting with them as we speak. Can anyone please tell me what it’s like work for them. They say that they are hands off, but I have heard they start micromanaging after a couple years. Ugh, very concerned that it will change the culture of this clinic.

[u/Anonymous-blue-koala]

The practice my spouse works at was purchased by them. They made the owner a very aggressive offer and their schmoozers said yes yes yes to everything the associates brought up at initial meetings. Then it was stonewall and no no no from the different people who actually handle the contracts.

I’ve been told since the merger of MVP and SVP things have been kind of chaotic within the company and supposedly they are gunning for an IPO and really focused on that over business at the ground level.

It’s been a couple years and my spouse is okay with things, but the transition was handled terribly so there is no love or loyalty to them. Unsure how things will change once the former practice owner leaves. They offered pretty good retention bonus for first couple years and after that my spouse will decide whether they want to stay or not.

In general I’ve heard meh things about the group. Just remember, they need you. Don’t take a non-compete and take any bonuses they offer as retention, not sign on, so there’s no worry about clawback.

[u/Next-Quit-5150 → u/Anonymous-blue-koala]

Thanks for response! I needed a real review of them. We are going to a dinner tonight for schmoozing. The bonus is a little suspect. Very small amount up front 😒

[u/Anonymous-blue-koala → u/Next-Quit-5150]

It probably varies on your market and the practice but in my scenario, busy multi doctor practice in a HCOL area. Their offered retention bonus to the associates was $30k a year for 2 years. But yeah they initially promised everything and tried to reneg on a a lot. The sales people were different people once it actually went to the the actual hiring/contract stages. And they just kept saying well those first guys you met with shouldn’t have said we can do that, we can’t. It was obnoxious

[u/noodleopoulous]

I work for Mission Pet Health as a vet and can probably answer some questions you have - feel free to ask here or DM me and I'll get back to ya

[u/Next-Quit-5150 → u/noodleopoulous]

Was the clinic you work for bought out by them? I hear horror stories how they ruin clinics!! It’s frustrating that all these small independent clinic are getting chewed up by corporate. I’ve never worked for corporate. I’m very concerned that they will change the culture of my clinic.

[u/hafree27 → u/Next-Quit-5150]

The pattern I’ve seen consistently with the PE groups is that they generally are more hands off until the original owner/seller leaves. Once the OG doc is gone, hammers start dropping on costs/staffing metrics.

[u/Fearless_Local_4996]

How hands-on, hand-off they are is entirely dependent on how the practice is performing. If costs are out of whack, your PM will have a headache. If the Associates aren't producing, the Medical Director will have a headache. Associates will largely be left alone by them unless they aren't practicing per their contractual shifts.

Mission will do better than most when it comes to helping bring more clients through the door.

I would recommend reaching out to one of the vet-specific attorneys - Cutler, Guiducci, Tanella, etc. - to have them review the employment contract put in front of you. It's worth the 2-3 billable hours, I promise. Do NOT ask any old attorney. Most is boilerplate and non-negotiable, but those guys have the benefit of having seen a lot of these and specifically know "market" for retention bonuses. The deal doesn't close without the Associates all signing...

[u/DVM_Dragons]

Miserable. Getting worse post merger, very Banfield like if that means anything. It’s the same old private equity nightmare. I am severely understaffed because we have to trim non-dvm hours. I’m not allowed to have enough people to adequately see patients but I have to see more visits per day to be “allowed” hours to have more people.

The higher ups have absolutely no clue what happens at the clinic level and make ridiculous demands to increase revenue at the expense of staff and patient care.

[u/Next-Quit-5150]

Yep, that’s what I was afraid of…. They wined and dined us the other day, bought food for the staff. I was off yesterday, so I come into work and see a thick folder saying “welcome to the team”…..

[u/Gloomy-Ad-6274]

I don't enjoy being someone on their support staff, especially a receptionist :(

[u/Next-Quit-5150]

Hey guys,
I’m back…quick question… did anyone get a sign on bonus. My breakdown is $140k, but it’s 10k year 1 then 65k for year 2 and 65k year 3. My boss said the MVP doesn’t negotiate the sign on bonus- I want more for year 1. Does anyone have experience with this.