Fresenius medical care...taking over dialysis unit HELP!

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Hello. I am an RN that is currently employed by Renal Care Group. Today we just learned that Fresenius Medical Care has bought out all of RCG's stock and they are taking us over. We were a privately owned unit until our wonderful "doctor" sold us to RCG. About 5 months ago. We got new machines, new computers, a whole new system. We are just getting used to the change when, BOOM, today we learn that Fresenius is buying RCG units. All of them. You have to understand, we are a small unit with 16 chairs, in the bootheel of MO. We are a great team of people. I feel like we can handle change well. But of course no one knows anything. I was just wondering if any of you kind people out there have or is currently working with Fresenius. How is their benefits and what kind? Do they have paid time off? All that jazz.

Are they a good company to work for? I would greatly appreciate ANY info you can give me. I really know nothing about them as a company. Just what I've seen on their website, which is still nothing. Please, I would love some personal info on what you've seen and experienced. Thank you.

Thank you Delana. Everyone, for the most part, advised me to try it out. In response to your suggestion, the tele floor patients who require dialysis have it done by the dialysis company I am referring to. It would be nice if this organization did their own HD. I will update as to how it turns out after my four week classroom instruction and four week training. Fresenius requires a one year contract so I am hoping that by the end of my classroom instructions I will know. I am hoping Fresenius will not require a contract agreement before classes even begin.

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Specializes in NICU.

Around 2000, Fresenius was indicted for medicaid fraud by the US government. The case was settled out of court. Fresenius agreed to pay a fine of $500,000,000. That's $500 million. It was all over the major media outlets at the time. Perhaps that explains the shortage of sheets, bandaids and thermometers. One would hope that they are run with more integrity now. There is nothing wrong with earning a profit as long as patient care is adequate. We all do it every pay day. Personally, I seek treatment where the care is far beyond "adequate".

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I had read about court cases with Fresenius. My concern is that I know very little about Fresenius. I do not know about other cities but here in Hawaii there is no home base for human resources. Each clinic has someone taking care of human resources in addition to other responsibilities. I found that unusual. I am unable to find any track record for Fresenius here in Hawaii. But the case that you mentioned does bother me. When I asked the manager what the consequence would be if an individual broke the one year contract, she could not answer me. The manager was very nice, supportive, and approachable; however, I would think she would know the penalty of breaking a one year contract. But thank you for your information.:smilecoffeecup:

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For all of you there, I would like to share another concern. I have been told that being dialysis is a specialty, if I should decide to seek other nursing positions, my experience would only be in dialysis and may work against me in applying for a position in say med/surg, tele, etc. Any comments appreciated. I would like to work in oncology in the future.

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Specializes in NICU.

The contract document itself should specify any penalties associated with default. They should be willing to give you a copy of the contract form to take home and study and possibly consult w an attorney before you make any decisions. If they won't do this they are hiding something and it's not going to be something good.

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The manager for this branch just returned from living in the mainland. She formerly lived here in Honolulu and was the manager as well. It seems when I ask her these questions she cannot answer me. She does not know the answers but needs to find out. When I asked her the duration of the contract, she needed to get back to me. But your advice is a sound one. I will ask her today before our class begins on March 12. Very good advice

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Gingbro,

you live in Hawaii? Did you read the thread regarding Liberty Dialysis? Perhaps Fresenius will no longer own these clinics? (I may be wrong here, though, I may have my islands mixed up).

Regarding a contract, unless you accept a sign-on bonus (which you are free to decline), I don't see how they can hold you to a contract. But then again, I'm in a right to work state (which basically means, no union protection), so maybe the rules are different here.

I hope they didn't say they are doing you a favor by training you - all companies do that, and I never heard of anyone requiring a contract (except when a sign-on bonus was involved, in which case the worst thing that can happen is that you have to repay the bonus if you quit before the time is up).

HTH,

DeLana

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I did not read the thread regarding Liberty. There is no sign on bonus. The manager informed me that because they are teaching me a skill and specialty, I need to commit (contract) for a year. Fresenius is unionized. It is rather difficult to get information. If you go to human resources (HR), HR is also the secretary of the manager. The manager also is part of HR. Do not get me wrong, the manager is very approachable, but is yet to inform me of the penalty for defaulting on the contract. The other job option that I had is with a organization who is not unionized, management is poor, and I know many nurses who have told me to not come back on day shift because it is "crazy". Because I am a new grad, I am thinking that for the first year I need acute care. Say I do not like dialysis after say a year and seek another job like med/surg, my chances of obtaining another position would be limited because the only RN experience I would have is dialysis.

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Gingbro, I have to agree (also see other threads on this topic), dialysis is very specialized and may well limit your options if you have had no prior acute care experience.

As for the manager's comment, this is b--- s---. Training should not obligate you to any contractual obligation, unless money (i.e., a sign-on bonus) is involved (and in that case, you would simply have to pay back all or part of that bonus if you stayed for less than the agreed upon term). I don't see how they could enforce this, but the safest course would be not to sign any such document. I do find it suspicious that the manager cannot tell you what the penalty would be (I suspect it's because he's bluffing and knows that such a contract would not be valid).

All in all, it doesn't sound like a good company to work for, JMHO. My advice would be to get some acute care experience first, if for no other reason than to give you many more options in the future. And dialysis may well be one of them.

Best of luck to you,

DeLana

P.S. Check out some recent threads on new grads and dialysis.

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I am very suspicious as well. Despite being cordial, and friendly, this manager was unable to answer many of my questions. The thought of obtaining acute experience first, especially in my first year is a concern for me because if I decide after a year that dialysis is not for me, my options are limited only to dialysis. The tele unit that I am considering is a unit that I worked at as an LPN. Many nurses are leaving due to poor management. I realize it will be a challenge but perhaps this is what I need for my first year. Besides, I will be getting experience. There is a day and a night position for this 12 hour shift. Is there anyone out there that can tell me how difficult night shift is. Twelve hours are long, nights are supposedly less busy, days are busier but also goes by fast.

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I am very suspicious as well. Despite being cordial, and friendly, this manager was unable to answer many of my questions. The thought of obtaining acute experience first, especially in my first year is a concern for me because if I decide after a year that dialysis is not for me, my options are limited only to dialysis. The tele unit that I am considering is a unit that I worked at as an LPN. Many nurses are leaving due to poor management. I realize it will be a challenge but perhaps this is what I need for my first year. Besides, I will be getting experience. There is a day and a night position for this 12 hour shift. Is there anyone out there that can tell me how difficult night shift is. Twelve hours are long, nights are supposedly less busy, days are busier but also goes by fast.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Dialysis.

I have read all the threads regarding Fresenius and it seems that just about everyone is being very harsh. I currently work for Fresenius and I don't always agree with their policies. I have come in contact with former RCG employees who have been very rude with current FMC employes. We must remember that it is a for profit company and patient care should be first and foremost, but this happens everywhere(FMC, DaVita, Midwest) . We face this issue no matter what setting we work in. The hospitals wants patient stay to be shorter. You can't run a successful company by making everything free, people cannot just do what they want to do, the company will go bankrupt. I do agree that they are many things that FMC need to work on (Patient care and salary) but they are no different than anyother business. And for those who have had horrible experiences need to thin. Maybe it's the facility that you work at or maybe you. Sometimes we have to learn when to be followers and not want to leaders all the time. I don't understand what made RCG so superior over FMC. When we go to work I am sure that we like or love what we do, but we expect to paid. So we are looking for our profit as well. If it does not suit you, then try another field. Also hooray for those states where you have unions, but we know it can also be a blessing and a curse at the same time. So for anyone considering working for FMC I neither enocurage or discourage, go with what your instinct tell you.

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