VSPN STAF173-0820: Inventory, One Size Does Not Fit All

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: August 3, 2020-September 10, 2020
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Mondays, August 10, 17, 24, and 31,2020; 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 who work with clinic inventory or veterinary staff members who would like a better understanding of inventory.
VSPN CE Course: “This program has been approved for 6 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval."(22-42312) This course is approved by VHMA for CVPM credit. (VHMA program # 16-25)

Course Description:
How can I be running out of frequently dispensed items while paying extremely high inventory statements? Too little inventory and the practice is unable to meet the demands of clients and patients. Too much inventory ties up money with overstocked products and can reduce the practice’s cash flow. The system is broken, and it needs to be rebuilt. Throughout this course, you will be provided the absolute minimal foundation needed through each stage of developing an inventory system, and then more. The location of your practice, type of business, number of clients and client visits, the number of staff and total veterinarians, veterinary software or lack thereof, storage space, number practices the inventory system will be supporting and the resources you have easily accessible to use will all have some differences in managing your inventory, but, nevertheless, the principals and foundation are the same. At the end of the course you will be able to customize your inventory system to meet the needs of your practice. After all, one size does not fit all!

Week 1 (Real Time Session August 10): The Human Side of Inventory Management
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
  • Identify human characteristics for building the optimal inventory team.
  • Integrate inventory goals into job descriptions and training program.
  • Create a standard operating process for inventory.
Week 2 (Real Time Session August 17): Inventory Systems - The Old, The New and Yours!
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
  • Be able to conduct pre-inventory housekeeping.
  • Use veterinary software reports to measure cash flow of items.
  • Explore different types and combinations of inventory systems.
Week 3 (Real Time Session August 24): Inventory Strategies - Protocols and Procedures
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
  • Understand the ordering process.
  • Explain different pricing strategies.
  • Understand online pharmacy, mail order, third party distribution.
Week 4 (Real Time Session August 31): Financial Tools, Law and Ethics
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
  • Understand and use financial indicators.
  • Understand and use calculations to manage inventory cash flow.
  • Discuss law and ethics related to inventory management.
  • Discuss law and ethics related to inventory management.
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 Seminar 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: 6

Tuition: $126 ($113 early bird special if enrolled by July 20, 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 August 10, 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 6 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval."(22-42312) This course is approved by VHMA for CVPM credit. (VHMA program # 16-25)

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