STAF128-0708 : CVPM Preparatory Review

INSTRUCTOR:
Katherine Dobbs, RVT, CVPM

DATES:
July 24-October 10, 2008
Real Time Sessions: Wednesdays, August 6, 13, 20, 27, September 3, 10, 24, and October 1 (no class September 17), 2008; 2:00pm-3:30pm ET (USA)
* NOTE: Course opens two weeks prior to the first real time session due to the large amount of reading material recommended.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to help veterinary practice managers review the basics of veterinary practice management. It is also a very good introduction to management concepts for new managers, or review for experienced managers who wish to revisit the basics. The course is geared to legalities and resources for the United States of America at this time; however, participation is not limited to the USA only.

Katherine Dobbs is a well known author and speaker for practice management topics including overseeing VESPA (the Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Practice Association). She has developed this review course to systematically help you prepare for this certification.

• Real-time sessions will include discussion of systems to help the thinking process and use of methods to study and remember data.
• Handouts may include study lists; questions and answers; and/or materials to help direct the student to better identify what aspects of veterinary management he/she needs to concentrate on for each topic.
• Message boards will be open for questions and guidance to studying and should be used often to discuss homework, questions, and ideas for studying/remembering issues.
• Weekly homework quizzes will be used to cover both handout topics and real time session topics and enable the student to become more familiar with reading and answering the various styles of questions seen on the CVPM exam.
• Due to the large amount of topics covered in this course, weekly study guides will not always cover what will be covered in the real time session or vice versa. Edited transcripts of the real time sessions will provide materials for focus on real time topics and should be treated as additional handouts as well as information found in the course area message boards.

Upon completion of this course, attendees

• should be able to easily recall the basics of veterinary practice management, as outlined on the CVPM Task Analysis handout.
• should be well versed in taking multiple-choice questions similar to those given on the CVPM exam.
• should have knowledge of how to locate information and utilize study materials.
• will have built a network of colleagues through interaction with other course participants for sharing ideas and resources.

TEXTBOOKS: There are no required texts for this course, however the course will follow the CVPM Recommended Reading List is provided by the VHMA and can be found at http://www.vhma.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=214 (Preparing for the Examination - Study Guide and Recommended Reading List) or in this course's Library once the course opens.

COURSE OUTLINE:
The weekly topics are found in the VHMA CVPM Task Analysis list and will be covered by week as listed below:

Week 1: Human Resources
Week 1 will cover recruiting, interviewing and hiring; managing training and development (including safety training); scheduling and daily work assignments; conducting staff meetings; conducting performance reviews; mediating internal disputes and discipline/discharge of employees; managing employee benefits programs; and creating/updating job descriptions/manuals.

Week 2: Law
Week 2 topics will include regulatory agencies (OSHA/OSHA Right To Know-monitoring hospital violations/dangerous situations, familiarity of state safety regulations, documenting/reporting accidents, filing appropriate reports; DEA; FDA; and familiarity with state, local agencies).

Week 3: Employment/Labor Law
Week 3 topics will include the Fair Labor Standards Act; Civil Rights Act of 1964--Sexual Harassment, Pregnancy Discrimination Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act; Family and Medical Leave; Worker's Compensation; Federal Unemployment Tax Act; Employment Retirement Income Security Act; Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, COBRA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); Mental Health Parity Act; Employee Polygraph Protection Act), and required Department of Labor posters.

Week 4: Ethics and Law
Week 4 topics will include ethics (AVMA Code of Ethics, VHMA Code of Ethics); contract law (associate/staff, client); and confidentiality (staff, client, patient).

Week 5: Marketing
Week 5 topics will include internal/external marketing and public relations (managing brochure production/distribution, placing ads in publications, website management), client services (monitoring client retention, setting up/maintaining new client program, handling client complaints, obtaining/reporting client feedback on service, responding to client questions, managing vaccine/check up reminder routine), and client education.

Week 6: Organization of Practice
Week 6 topics will include inventory (maintaining appropriate inventory system including controlled substance ordering, tracking, security, destruction; placing and tracking purchase orders for drugs, uniforms, and equipment), equipment and maintenance (assuring insurance coverage of hospital and equipment; contracting for repair/maintenance of equipment, building, grounds; protocols for daily facility maintenance), medical record standards and compliance, technology systems and policies, liaison to professional services, and hospital policies/procedures/risk management.

Week 7: Financial
Week 7 topics will include analyzing practice and financial reports; managing payroll; A/R and A/P; budgeting and long-range planning; establishing and enforcing client credit policies; fee analysis; overseeing daily and monthly banking procedures; maintaining chart of accounts; and maintaining imprest petty cash account.

Week 8: Review
Real Time Session: MOCK EXAM, rapid fire multiple choice

Note: This class does not guarantee passage of the exam, but is designed to aid in studying for the exam by reviewing the information that a practice manager should know upon gaining the required years of experience as determined by the CVPM exam application, and the completion of the recommended reading list provided by the CVPM Study Guide. We will approach as many topics as possible in an effort to help the manager identify levels of competency and to know better where to focus study efforts. In depth and advanced topics will NOT be covered.

Note: The course area remains open after the scheduled CVPM on October 6, 2008 for an additional few days to allow participants to return to the course area and submit the course end evaluation. Participants are encouraged to continue reading and posting in the message boards for credit. The last real time session is the Wednesday before the CVPM exam and the final exam is open prior to the CVPM exam for one last review of multiple choice questions.

LIBRARY MATERIALS: Library materials will be made available prior to the topic week so participants will have plenty of time to prepare for the real time sessions and discussion. Due to the amount of material to be covered, it is highly recommended the student comes to class having reviewed the handouts for that week, reviewed the previous week's homework and study guide, utilized the message boards for the course, and is prepared to interact during the real time session.

MESSAGE BOARD DISCUSSIONS: Message board discussions regarding the topic presented will begin on the day the course opens and continue for one week following the last real time session. These discussions will be held in the VSPN CE course area.

CE HOURS: 12 CEUs

TUITION:
$234 ($211 early bird special if registered before July 10, 2008).

**NOTE: Registration WILL CLOSE on Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 5pm ET (USA) or earlier if the maximum number of registrants is reached.

*Students currently enrolled in and taking at least 2 classes or 5 units at an AVMA accredited or CAAHT approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status). You must include the following information in the comments section of the CE enrollment form in order to be eligible for this discount: your program director's name and contact information (email/phone) and school name.

TO ENROLL:

1. Each person must individually be a registered member of VSPN (www.vspn.org). Membership in VSPN is free.
2. To enroll in any VSPN CE course click on the ENROLL NOW link below the course title on the right side of the page at www.vspn.org/CE
3. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. This is our major form of communication with participants. It is highly recommended that course participants use their own, personal emails rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
4. VIN Member veterinarians SHOULD NOT register for their staff. Please have the staff member register through VSPN. Please email VSPNCE@vspn.org if you have questions.
5. VIN Member veterinarians ARE ELIGIBLE to take this course, we are requesting RACE accreditation for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians. **Please access the course enrollment through www.vspn.org/CE.

** Minimal computer requirements for participating in VSPN and VPSNCE

** Click on "How To's of Online CE" and "Polices & Procedures" for more on how our online CE works

Note: "This course has been submitted, but not yet approved, for 12 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval; however participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions on certain methods of delivery of continuing education. Call VSPN CE at 1-800-700-4636 for further information." (Attendees are encouraged to check with their licensing jurisdiction(s) for information regarding recognition by their board).
This course has also been submitted for approval for continual education units toward CVPM requirements through VHMA.

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COURSE WITHDRAWAL AND REFUND POLICY: Withdrawal prior to the listed start date of a course entitles the registrant to a complete refund or a credit toward a future VSPN or VIN CE course, whichever is preferred. Withdrawal within 1 week after the listed start date (i.e. including no more than one real-time session) entitles the registrant to a credit toward any future VIN CE course. (Does not apply to courses with only one real-time session.) After the first real-time session, a registrant may withdraw due to special circumstances and receive prorated credit towards a future VIN course. These requests will be handled on an individual basis. The amount of the prorated credit will be determined based on 65% of the time remaining in the course at the time of withdrawal. It is not possible to withdraw retroactively.
Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VIN office at 1-800-700-INFO (4636).

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** For More Information on VSPN's upcoming CE Courses, check out http://www.VSPN.org/CE

Nanette R. Walker Smith, M.Ed., RVT, CVT, LVT
VSPN Content Director & CE Coordinator
VSPNCE@vspn.org
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-297-4950, ext 187

Charlotte Waack (Charlotte@vspn.org), ext 193 Chris Upchurch (Chris@vspn.org); ext 197 VSPN CE Services
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-297-4950

[ CE MAIN | COURSE CATALOG | RACE/GETTING CREDITS | ONLINE CE HOW TO | SUGGEST A COURSE | VIN MAIN ]

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