STAF128-0812: CVPM Preparatory Review

INSTRUCTOR(S): Katherine Dobbs, RVT, CVPM, PHR

COURSE OPEN: August 2-October 7, 2012

REAL TIME SESSIONS: Thursdays, August 9, 16, 23, 30, September 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2012; 8pm-9:30pm ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter
Practice Sessions: In order to prepare you for a successful experience in your CE course, we request you attend a Practice Session prior to the first Real Time Session. Please arrive promptly at the start time; each Practice Session is up to 1 hour in length. For more information, please visit the CE Practice Area

Level and Prerequisites: Veterinarians and all supervisory members of veterinary staff may enroll in this course; however, this advanced course is focused toward those veterinary professionals who are actively preparing to sit for the CVPM examination.
VSPN CE Course: This course is VHMA approved for CVPM credits and has been submitted for RACE approval for veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

Course Description:
This course is designed to help veterinary practice managers and others review for purposes of successfully completing the Certified Veterinary Practice Managers (CVPM) examination given by the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA). For those not yet taking the CVPM examination, the course provides the basics of veterinary practice management. It is also a 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.

This course consists of eight (8) Real Time Sessions of ninety (90) minutes each covering library course materials, discussion of situations and cases, interactive message boards to discuss the Real Time Sessions, as well as a mandatory end-of-course test. Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of course test is required to be considered for the certificate of completion.

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

• 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 demonstrate 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.

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.

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=124 (Preparing for the Examination - Study Guide and Recommended Reading List) or in this course's Library once the course opens. Purchase of any textbooks is the participant's responsibility.

About the Instructor: Katherine Dobbs holds credentials as a RVT (Registered Veterinary Technician), CVPM (Certified Veterinary Practice Manager), and PHR (Professional in Human Resources). She has taught and lectured worldwide both in onsite and online venues.

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: (Real Time Session August 9): Human Resources
Content: 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: (Real Time Session August 16): Law
Content: 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: (Real Time Session August 23): Employment/Labor Law
Content: 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: (Real Time Session August 30): Ethics and Law
Content: 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: (Real Time Session September 6): Marketing
Content: 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: (Real Time Session September 13): Organization of Practice
Content: 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: (Real Time Session September 20): Financial
Content: 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: (Real Time Session September 27): Review
Content: 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. Further preparation for the CVPM examination is recommended. CE HOURS: 12

Tuition: $240 ($216 early bird special if enrolled by July 19, 2012).
**NOTE: Registration WILL CLOSE on Thursday, August 2, 2012 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 ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close when the maximum number of participants is reached or at 5pm ET the day of the first Real Time Session unless otherwise noted. If the first Real Time Session is on a weekend, course will close on the Friday before the first Real Time Session.

**For more on how online CE works see the VSPN Participant's Resource Center

1. Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
2. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
3. Each person is individually responsible for his/her own registration. To ensure that all information received is secure and correct, please do not enroll for a course on behalf of another individual.
4. For further assistance call 1-800-700-INFO (4636) or email (VIN CE) CEonVIN@vin.com or (VSPN CE) VSPNCE@vspn.org). Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.

Note: "This course has been submitted for 12 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).

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Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to the listed start date of the course. If you wish to withdraw after the start date please contact the VIN/VSPN office 1-800-700-INFO (4636) to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.

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** For More Information on VSPN's upcoming CE Courses, check out https://www.vin.com/CE/VSPN/VSPN_M02231.htm

Nanette R. Walker Smith, M.Ed., RVT, CVT, LVT
VSPN Content Director & VSPN CE Director

VSPN CE Services: VSPNCE@vspn.org
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-756-4881 or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01452226154
Charlotte Waack (Charlotte@vspn.org), ext 193
Chris Upchurch (Chris@vspn.org); ext 197
Darci Palmer (Darci@vspn.org); ext 179
Debbie Bess (DBess@vspn.org); ext 178
Jennifer Withrow (Jennifer@vspn.org); ext 159
Barb Burri (Barb@vspn.org); ext 764
Nanette Walker Smith (Nanette@vspn.org); ext 187

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