STAF129-1108 : Effective Staff Meetings and Training

INSTRUCTOR:
Heather Howell, LVT, MBA

DATES:
November 6-December 1, 2008
Real Time Sessions: Wednesdays, November 12 & 19, 2008. 1:00pm-2:30pm ET (USA)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course's goal is to enable and empower veterinary practice leaders to effectively plan and conduct staff meetings that enhance staff training. The course will cover how to schedule meetings, how to plan meeting agendas, what should be discussed at meetings and how to keep meetings on track. The course will also discuss how to increase learning at meetings and decrease the poor morale, attendance, and 'bad' feelings.

The course consists of two (2) online sessions of 90 minutes each covering discussion of staff meetings and training; homework reinforcing the handouts and real time sessions; interactive message boards to discuss the real time sessions and online homework quizzes in lieu of a final exam. The goal of the homework is to test the participant�s knowledge of the material discussed in each session.

All veterinary support staff are encouraged to join the course and its discussions; however, this course is focused primarily toward veterinary practice managers, hospital administrators, supervisors and those involved in the planning and conducting of the staff meetings.

Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to

• arrange scheduling regarding staff meetings to minimize issues.
• determine alternatives for poor attendance at staff meetings.
• devise ways to improve employee morale regarding staff meetings.
• plan and conduct staff meetings that allow continuous learning to occur.
• reconstruct meeting agendas to avoid common pitfalls regarding meetings.
• integrate team members in training and participation at meetings.
• support your staff meetings and make them fun.

TEXTBOOK: There is no required textbook for this course. A list of resources and references will be supplied to course participants.

COURSE OUTLINE:

Week 1: How to Kill a Meeting AND How to Bring Meetings Back to Life
Content: During this lecture we will discuss common pitfalls regarding staff meetings. Learn what to avoid when planning meetings and common barriers during meetings. Learn what to do to make your meetings more effective. We will discuss scheduling meetings, what to do about poor attendance at meetings, setting meeting agendas, staying on track and on time, and how to make meetings fun and energized.

Week 2: Getting Staff Involved, Energized and Learning
Content: This session will cover involving your entire team in staff meetings. Learn how to involve your staff in training. We will discuss how to manage staff resistance and negativity. We will cover problem solving activities, team building methods, and training topic ideas.

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.

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: 3

TUITION:
$59 ($53.00 early bird special if registered before October 23, 2008).
*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.

** NOTE: Registration will be closed when the maximum number of participants is reached or at 5pm ET the day of the first real time session.

• Minimal computer requirements for participating in VSPN and VPSNCE
  

• How To's of Online CE

• Polices & Procedures

TO REGISTER:

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.

Note: "This course has been submitted for approval for 3 continuing education credits 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 by the VHMA.

---

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).

---

** 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 ]

---

800.700.4636  |  CEonVIN@vin.com  |  530.756.4881  |  Fax: 530.756.6035 777 West Covell Blvd, Davis, CA 95616 Copyright 2000, Veterinary Information Network, Inc.