Is anyone familiar with Oydssey HealthCare?

caliotter3 · Apr 9, 2009

I was going to apply with them one time but got turned off by negative info and the lack of enthusiasm displayed when I talked to someone. I felt that if they talked to complete strangers that way, then they might not be very professional with their clientele. I just backed off and went elsewhere. Of course, that was just one experience with one particular office.

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2009

A few years ago, I applied to Odyssey Hospice, was interviewed twice, and hired. They called me offering me the job, and I accepted. The interviewer emailed me and told me "The area director is really looking forward to meeting you" and asked me to come in to fill out a W2, and bring a cancelled check for direct deposit. When I went in, I was also asked to fill out a form telling them the hourly wage I wanted. I wrote down what I felt was reasonable for the area, and my years of experience.

I never heard from them again.

I emailed and called the person who had interviewed and "hired" me and asked her about a start date, but she never responded.

Like the last poster said, this was just my experience with one particular office.

jeannepaul, BSN · Apr 9, 2009

I've been working for odyssey for 5 years. before that I worked with another hospice and I will say Odyssey is 10 times better. Unless each office is allowed to choose how they pay their employees, this is how they pay: case manager is hourly. when you are on call, you get paid hourly from the time you get the call until you get home. anything over 40 is time and one half. you also get mileage, around 44cents. full time on call get paid a salary. they take what they pay you hourly for 40 hours, divide it by 63 so it will actually show a lower rate but at 63 hours. they do this because when you take time off it is hour for hour. PRN is hourly, I have never heard of it being salary, being PRN means as needed.

the company owns vista-care but they still operate separately. Caseload is usually 12-18pts but I have on occ seen some with 21pts. The pay is competitive.

Not a bad place to work, some days i get angry with management and some of the policies, but that is going to happen wherever you work. When I get really mad, I just ask myself would I rather be mad in a hospital, having to stay on the floor, or be mad, in my car with the radio on, drinking a soda, driving. That usually calms me down.

If you have any specific questions, PM me as I don't know what and how much information I can/should divulge.

Megumisama · Apr 12, 2009

Hi! I started my hospice career at a small nonprofit home hospice in "podunksville" when my spouse was transfered to the big city of Houston, Tx. I was terrified of continuing to care for home patients in such a big and unpredictable urban setting. Luckily, I found a home at Odyssey at one of their inpatient units. I've been here for almost a year and I cannot express how much I love my job. I feel like Odyssey has afforded me lots of learning opportunites, especially in Houston (nearby M.D. Anderson, etc.) both clinically and culturally. I realize that the largest part of my satisfaction comes from the location, but also the immediate co-workers and management that make the difference. In such an emotionally stressful job setting it makes all the difference in the world to work with supportive, understanding, and passionate staff. The pay is compettitive with opportunities for bonuses and reimbursement for education and certification. Insurance......Ehhhhh....OK. But all in all its a good balance to maintain my happiness and sanity. Its hard say if all Odyssey's are like that because they are such a large company, but all the fears I possessed coming from a small town to a big corporate company have been alliviated. Hope you can find the same in Odyssey too.