VSPN STAF128-0520: CVPM Preparatory Review

The lectures for this course will be presented in an audio format using a webinar platform.

Enrollment is closed.
Presenter: Julie Singer, LVT, CVPM
Course Open: May 18, 2020-July 30, 2020
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Mondays, June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, July 6, 13, and 20, 2020; 9:00-10:30pm ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter

Level and Prerequisites: This intermediate course is focused toward those veterinary professionals who are actively preparing to sit for the CVPM examination. Veterinarians and all supervisory members of veterinary staff may enroll in this course.
VSPN CE Course: “This program has been approved for 12 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.(22-41406) " This course is approved for CVPM credits by the VHMA (#09-03)

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.

Week 1 (Real Time Session June 1): Human Resources
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
  • Recall the principals and laws of recruiting and hiring.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of training and development (including safety training), staff meetings, performance reviews, mediating internal disputes and discipline and/or discharge of employees.
Week 2 (Real Time Session June 8): Regulatory Agencies & OSHA
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
  • Show familiarity of veterinary law in areas of prescription drugs, veterinarian-client-patient relationship, and over the counter medications.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of OSHA regulations, documenting and reporting accidents, filing appropriate reports.
  • Demonstrate knowledge in DEA and FDA regulations.
Week 3 (Real Time Session June 15): Employment/Labor Law
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of 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 June 22): Ethics and Law
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of AVMA Code of Ethics, VHMA Code of Ethics.
  • Recall the principles of contract law and confidentiality.
Week 5 (Real Time Session June 29): Marketing
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
  • Recall principals of internal/external marketing and public relations.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of 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 July 6): Organization of Practice
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
  • Recall principals of inventory (maintaining appropriate inventory system including controlled substance ordering, tracking, security, destruction; placing and tracking purchase orders for drugs, uniforms.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of equipment and maintenance (assuring insurance coverage of hospital and equipment; contracting for repair/maintenance of equipment, building, grounds; protocols for daily facility maintenance).
  • Recall medical record standards and compliance, technology systems and policies, liaison to professional services, and hospital policies/procedures/risk management.
Week 7 (Real Time Session July 13): Financial
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge in analyzing practice and financial reports; managing payroll; A/R and A/P; budgeting and long-range planning.
  • Recall principles of 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 July 20): Review
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
  • Easily recall the basics of veterinary practice management, as outlined on the CVPM Task Analysis handout.
  • Be well versed in taking multiple-choice questions similar to those given on the CVPM exam.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of how to locate information and utilize study materials.
Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course.
To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.
Required Textbook: There is no required textbook for this course.

About the Presenter:
Julie Singer, LVT, CVPM is a 1979 graduate of Houston Community College Veterinary Technology Program, has attended Wharton County Junior College and Houston Community College business courses, and completed the Human Resource Program at Rice University. Julie is an editor and contributor to the Mosby Comprehensive Review for Veterinary Technicians textbook. Julie has lectured for Merck, Intervet, Shirt Sleeve Seminars Management Workshops and has lectured at Wild West Veterinary Conference, Seminars@ Sea, and AVMA Annual Convention and TVMA. She has taught continuing education for Veterinary Support Personnel Network since 2012. Julie is a board moderator for Veterinary Support Personnel Network, member of Veterinary Team Association of Texas, National Association of Veterinary Technicians, Texas Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Equine Veterinarians, Veterinary Hospital Managers Association, Certified Veterinary Practice Manager’s Association and Society for Human Resource Management. An LVT since 1979 and CVPM since 2001, she is a practice management consultant and currently manages a large AAHA practice.

Total CE Credit: 12

Tuition: $252 ($227 early bird special if enrolled by May 4, 2020)
* Students currently enrolled in and taking at least 2 classes or 5 units at an AVMA accredited or CVMA approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status).
Prices are listed in US dollars.

*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on June 1, 2020 at 5 pm ET (USA) or when the maximum number of participants is reached.

*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.

To Enroll:
  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 800-846-0028 ext. 797 or email . Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
Enrollment is closed.

“This program has been approved for 12 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.(22-41406) " This course is approved for CVPM credits by the VHMA (#09-03)

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 office 800-846-0028 ext. 797 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.

*For more information on VSPN's upcoming CE courses, check the VSPN Course Catalog.

Lisa Kernaghan, LVT, RVT, CVT, VTS (ECC)
VSPN CE Coordinator

VSPN CE Services:
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 797
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01 45 222 6154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357