Lincare Advice

DaFreak71 · Dec 28, 2010

I just got an interview with Lincare and I cannot find any reviews on what it's like to work for them as an LPN. I was wondering if any of you had heard anything.

Even though this question was posed back in March, I figure it can't hurt to add my two cents in case anyone else would like to know what working at Lincare is like.

I am a LPN and I have only been working at Lincare for 1.5 months. Lincare has hundreds of centers nationwide and each center runs a bit differently. At the center where I work, we only deal with nebs, oxygen, CPAP/BiPAP and the occasional walker/wheelchair, etc. Some centers do full vent care, insulin pumps, TPN and trachs.

When I interviewed for the position I was told that my duties would include "care checks" (more about that in a minute), neb set ups and I'd be in charge of all the CPAP/BiPAP stuff. I was not told that a major component of my job would include angling for sales.

Example: after a customer is set up with a neb/etc, I am supposed to do a "clinical follow up" which consists of a questionnaire designed to solicit more business. If a neb customer answers "yes" to the question "Do you snore?", Lincare interprets this as a potential CPAP sale. If they answer "yes" to "Do you ever feel short of breath?", they are instant candidates for oxygen. Lincare owns Reliant pharmacy and they sell respiratory meds. If a patient is on a generic, I'm supposed to extol the virtues of a more expensive med.

After I've done the follow up form, I give it to the center sales person and they hand deliver them to the doctor that goes with the patient. The sales person asks for a order for a "care check", which allows me to do a pulmonary assessment on the patient. The care checks are free to the patient and the doctors are told that the main thing the "health care specialist" does is educate the patient on their disease (COPD, asthma, sleep apnea, etc). What isn't disclosed is that the number one goal is to obtain a pulse ox and (from Lincare's point of view) hopefully they'll desat and then we make an oxygen sale.

The newest gadget that Lincare is promoting is their in home INR testing. The company, MdINR, is owned by Lincare. At every turn, there is a product to be sold and a lot of them turn out to be products that Lincare manufactures.

There is one health care specialist per center and the workload is often extremely high. The hours are 8am to 5pm, but it's usually 8am to 7pm. They also forgot to tell me that I'd be on call 24/7, 365. When I told my center manager that I was not willing to be on call every single night and weekend, she was cool about it and arranged my schedule so that I'd just have to be on call for one week out of the month. The downside is that now I have to take ALL calls during that week, including oxygen set ups (which are done by the service reps).

Training is virtually non-existent. I spent my first day doing the routine new-hire paperwork and the next day I was doing neb set ups, CPAPs, etc. Luckily, I'm a fast learner.

Two weeks ago I told my center manager and the regional manager that I will not "cold call" existing customers and encourage them to ask their doctor for an order to do a "care check". I will, however, follow up on my customers/patients. I have an email from the regional manager that states I am to go through a huge list of customers and "get five care checks that are to be performed by the end of the week". The part that bothered me the most was that the email stated that I was to "identify the geriatric customers and call them". It feels predatory to me.

There is a VERY high turnover rate amongst Lincare employees. Center managers are fired if they don't meet quotas for oxygen sales. Heck, I might be fired because I refuse to engage in sales.

I recently attended a "training session" in Seattle, WA. It consisted of telling us how important it is that we "get care checks". The "training" was limited to a five minute demonstration of a new oxygen conserving device called "Smart dose". The company that makes it is called Inspired Technologies and it would not surprise me to find out that Lincare owns them too.

At the "training" session, I asked five different nurses/RTs "Will my center manager get any flack if my care checks do not result in orders for oxygen?". I was told, by all five of them, that not only will the center manager's quota's fall, but I will also come under scrutiny. I asked, "But if the patient doesn't qualify for oxygen, how can we be held responsible for that?". I was told "Do whatever you need to do to make sure they desat. Have them jog in place, flap their arms, etc. Needless to say, I will not do this. In the last two weeks, I've "neglected" to qualify four patients for oxygen. My regional manager told me that he questions my clinical skills. LOL. I told him, "If you don't think I'm doing a good job, fire me. Otherwise, let me get back to work". He threw a mini-fit and stormed out the office.

A health care specialist is expected to make at LEAST 5 home visits per day. This is not always possible (in fact, I've never done more than 3 in one day--it's not like I can just show up on their doorstep and ask to come in and question them about their health history. Lincare reimburses 2,000 miles per month at a rate of 31 cents per mile. If you go over 1,600, mileage is reimbursed at ELEVEN cents per mile. Nice incentive to drive all over the place, lol. The more work ya do, the less ya get reimbursed.

"Nursing" consists of taking vitals when a doctor orders a care check. I hoped it would be more involved.

Their office technology is archaic. We use a DOS based system for ordering equipment and even though we have email, we don't get an actual email address (to ensure that no one outside of the company can email friends/family while at work). When I need to look up customer information, I have to follow these steps:

1. Look them up in our database and read the "comm log".

2. Go to the back of the warehouse and locate their file in a filing cabinet.

3. Go back to the office and attempt to make sense of both sets of information and hope that at least some of it is there (lots of missing serial numbers on equipment, missing Rx's, etc).

There is a ton of paperwork for every task. A new neb set up includes 13 different forms that the patient must sign. It's incredibly inefficient. I spend a large part of my day walking back and forth from my office to the warehouse and back again--and I'm a stickler for organization and efficiency.

Health insurance is a joke. I opted to stay on my husband's plan even though it will cost us an additional $300.00 per month. Yeah, it's that bad. Luckily, he's a RN and has great benefits.

The good parts:

My pay seems very fair. I make 20/hr and this is my first LPN job. The offices are closed for most every holiday and even new-hires get paid for it.

Lincare gives a $25.00/month cell phone credit. You send the bill in with your mileage reports each month.

If anyone is considering working for Lincare, feel free to PM me with specific questions. I would recommend this job to any nurse/RT who is interested in working in a fast paced, mostly sales related job. I think a good candidate would be someone who either a new grad or someone who is close to retirement. I have heard that having Lincare experience on your resume looks good to future employers because if you can last long enough to put it on a job app, they assume you have a VERY HIGH stress tolerance. I'm pretty laid back but this job is very stressful.

To be fair, I have met other Lincare nurses/RTs who enjoy their job. It all depends on your center and the office dynamic. A typical center has one nurse/RT, one customer service rep (they do the insurance stuff), two service reps (they deliver oxygen and are responsible for new set ups...except in cases like mine where I have to do their job just to get out of being on call 24/7, 365, a sales person and a center manager. If you have an interview scheduled, be sure to ask how long the manager has worked there...there's so much turnover that it's quite possible that the center manager is new-ish and probably does NOT have a background in healthcare.

There are several places online where you can read about the experiences of other Lincare employees. I just googled "Lincare nursing" and found this: Lincare Holdings - Unhappy & Looking | Glassdoor.com

dee78 · Dec 30, 2010

Thanks for this detailed post. I saw an ad for Lincare in my area but wasn't familiar with it.

Moo_21 · Dec 31, 2010

I also work for a DME company, it is not a national chain like lincare, but a local DME company. I love it. I work in a small office setting and have 1 assistant. I do all the CPAP/BiPAP pts s/u, care plans, f/u calls, and 02 orders. It is not nearly as clinical as working in a hospital or LTC or dr. office...but low stress, great hours, and awsome pay. I am also a new grad, only about a year into being an LPN, and I could not be any happier. Alot of my classmates are working LTC 2nd shift with less pay than me and hate it. I would rec working for a DME company to anyone who is interested!

ex_lincare_nurse · Feb 16, 2011

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH EVERY WORD THAT DaFreak71 said. I am an ex lincare nurse and I would swear that she works in the same center I did!!! They try to take away every reason that you became a nurse and make you into a lying cheating sales rep. The money is very inviting especially for a new grad but unless you dont have a life dont want a life dont have kids or a significant other do yourself a favor and go to work at a small DME. I absolutely loved the DME part of the job. The educating patients and actually helping the ones that needed it. BUT unless all you want is the money this is not a place for a nurse!!! DONT DO IT!!!!! :nurse:

Get away from the before they ruin you !!!

RNTOBE_1970 · Feb 16, 2011

oh no...Interview with Lincare on Friday. Not what I wanted to hear.

starzrn · Mar 13, 2011

I was just wondering if you ever went to the interview and got the job.

JRRR · Jul 3, 2011

I just interviewed for a position at Lincare and pacific pulmonary, and all I kept hearing was numbers numbers numbers. To everyone keep in mind that they need licensed individuals like us for them to continue to operate. Do not let them sucker you into a position like this where they will try to manipulate you into doing the wrong thing. If you do decide to take the job be a firm negotiator if they offer 18-20 an hour plus mileage let them know that you will only take the job for 27hr. They will offer 22-25hr. Tell them you have another offer at another company do your homework before you work there. Also get things in writing. They might want to offer incentives such as bonuses get it in writing. Unethical companies like Pacific Pulmonary of Lincare should be begging us to work for them. Spread the message and let others know how they practice. Best of luck and don't take the job!!!

andreasmom02 · Jul 4, 2011

I'm an LPN, but don't work for them. My brother in law works for them as an oxygen delivery person and loves it. He said they're a great company to work for. He has been with them several years.

RNTOBE_1970 · Jul 5, 2011

I went on that interview and the manager said she was very interested. Kept saying that the work was all in office yada yada yada. Then two months later, they call and ask if I was still interested. So, I went back and interviewed with the DM...totally different interview. It was all field work, traveling every day. That their mileage reimbursement at times didn't cover your mileage, and that would be the fault of the individual clinician (for improper planning of visits). It seemed like a miserable place to be...thank god they didn't call me back.