STAF132-0609 : Take Inventory and Make It Work

INSTRUCTOR:
Angela Aisbet, CVT

DATES:
June 10-July 24, 2009
Real Time Sessions: Tuesdays, June 16, 23, 30 and July 7 and 14, 2009; 9:00pm-10:00pm ET (USA) **Note one hour real time sessions

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
With the economy making daily headlines it is important for veterinary clinics to find ways to be more efficient with their finances. One understated asset in all veterinary clinics is inventory. Inventory has been identified in several economic studies as the second largest expense in a veterinary practice, second only to the cost of human resources. Inventory items are a practice asset and should be managed as critically and diligently as cash on-hand. The ability to manage inventory will improve cash flow and profitability within a clinic. This course is focused on teaching the important aspects of inventory management as it relates to the business of veterinary medicine and running a small or large animal clinic. Presentation format will be toward all team members involved in the daily operation of a veterinary clinic, including clinic owners, veterinarians, technicians, receptionists and assistants. This course strives to provide the information needed to effectively manage your inventory and the tools necessary to implement this knowledge in your clinic.

Angela Aisbet holds credentials as a CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) and is currently an in-clinic inventory management consultant. This course is designed for all team members of a veterinary practice that are involved with inventory management. All veterinary staff involved in or wishing to learn more about inventory management, merchandising and marketing are encouraged to enroll.

This course will consist of five (5) sixty (60) minute real time sessions; library materials such as handouts; multiple choice quizzes (after each real time session) designed to enhance course effectiveness and material retention; a cumulative final exam online; and interactive message board discussions.

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

• create an inventory management strategy that utilizes personnel, time management, organization and technology.
• control inventory by utilizing economic reorder points and reorder quantities and turnover rates to minimize expenses resulting from inappropriate management of supply storage.
• utilize tools and practice management software within your practice to improve accountability of inventory.
• develop a physical inventory count system to better track your inventory for errors and shrinkage (missed charges and theft).
• infer team and group dynamics so everyone in the practice is invested in the importance of inventory control.
• prepare to purchase products responsibly.
• differentiate between profit margin and product markup when selling inventory.
• develop a merchandising strategy for better product placement and marketing.

TEXTBOOKS: There are NO required textbooks for this course.

COURSE OUTLINE:

Week 1: Creating a Strategy
Content: This lecture will help you produce a strategy using personnel, time management and organization to control your inventory. You will be able to develop a job description for an inventory leader, an SOP for inventory, analyze your inventory by the use of an ABC analysis, and make suggestions for organizing your inventory.

Week 2: Minimizing your inventory and replenishing responsibly
Content: This week will cover how to utilize reorder points, reorder quantity and turnover rates to minimize expenses resulting from inappropriate management of supply storage. This lecture will also help you learn how to purchase supplies effectively and responsibly.

Week 3: Tools and Resources for the accountability of inventory
Content: This lecture will help you utilize the tools of your practice to improve accountability of inventory.

Week 4: Tracking your Inventory and Incorporating Team Dynamics
Content: This lecture will help you understand the important role inventory counting has in helping track inventory; allowing you to recognize problems sooner than later. This lecture will also emphasize the importance of teamwork and its role with managing inventory.

Week 5: Selling your inventory
Content: Now that you have learned to be SMARTER with controlling your inventory, now let's sell it! This lecture will cover the importance of knowing the difference between profit margin and markup when pricing your products. It will also provide tips on product placement, retail and merchandising 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: 6

TUITION:
$120 ($108.00 early bird special if registered before May 27, 2009).
*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: Enrollment will be closed when the maximum number of participants is reached or at 5pm ET the day of the first real time session.

**The Participant's Resource Center includes all you need to know about online CE with VIN and VSPN: https://www.vin.com/CE/Public/VSPN/ParticipantVspn.htm

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.

Note: "This course has been submitted for approval of 6 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 to VHMA for approval for CVPM CE credits.

---

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

VSPN CE Services
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-297-4950
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

[ 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.