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Annual Meeting & Conference for Veterinary Hospital Managers

Posted by Joe Gargiulo | Thu, Oct 11, 2018 @ 11:45 AM
veterinary hospital managersThe Veterinary Hospital Managers Association presents its Annual Meeting & Conference October 18 – 20 at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel. The business event features educational sessions, well-qualified speakers, networking and social opportunities, and a tradeshow. The learning presentations include continuing education units, certification, a pre-conference Legal Symposium, and a post-conference practice management software workshop. Attendees consist of veterinarians, hospital administrators, practice managers, office managers and consultants.

Established in 1981, the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) provides “individuals who are actively veterinary hospital managersinvolved in veterinary practice management with a means of effective communication and interaction.”

New features include a Legal Symposium, Career Conversations (confidential conversations with colleagues and mentors) and Software User Groups.

The exhibit hall is open for business October 18 and 19, featuring the latest in veterinary office software, equipment and services. CrossCheck’s Senior Vice President Charles Dortch III will be at the tradeshow to discuss payment solutions for veterinary hospitals and clinics (visit him in booth #17).

"CrossCheck has a payment solution called Multiple Check that provides veterinary hospitals with the means of making expensive procedures affordable to most pet owners,” he said. “Our check guarantee services also help to increase revenue, mitigate risk and simplify transactions.”

Education

The VHMA Conference takes a multi-level approach in its presentation of educational content, including certification, continuing education units, seminar sessions, roundtable discussions, and new member orientation.

Certification

In 1989, the VHMA launched the Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM) program to “qualify the knowledge and experience necessary to successfully manage the ever-changing business management of today's veterinary practices.”

A total of 25 Continuing Education Hours (26 for the CVPM program) are available and classified as follows:

  • 16 units for the conference (17 hours for the CVPM program)
  • 6 units for the Legal Symposium
  • 3 units for the Software User Groups

Seminar Sessions

The conference offers veterinary hospital managers three rounds (two AM, one PM) of quadruple concurrent sessions (Tracks A, B, C and D) on October 18 and 19. The timely sessions and topics include:

vet prescription“What Managers Need to Know About First-Line Supervisors: How to pick them, how to help them be successful, and how to hold them accountable (PARTS 1 and 2)” by Karyn Gavzer, MBA, CVPM — two sessions intended to assist veterinary hospital managers in the appointment and grooming of first-line supervisors (aka “leads,” “associate managers” or “assistant managers”).

“Understanding the Codes That Drive Revenue” with speaker Brenda Tassava, CVPM, CVJ — This session will cover the best practice approach to Code Maintenance and Optimization (CMO), from routine audits, streamlining and consolidation, to staff training and implementation.”

“Five ways You Can Save Time, Money, and Sanity by Implementing Technology,” presented by Ben Spinks, MBA, CVPM — a fast-paced session presenting five case studies that explore ways to implement innovative technology into veterinary practices.”

“Building an Inclusive Culture: What You Need to Know About Today’s Working Parents” with speaker Katherine Wintsch — a session designed to help veterinary hospital managers understand the next generation of working parents and create a parent-friendly culture that drives growth.

veterinary hospitals“Shift Work and Shift Work Sleep Disorder: What Every Veterinary Hospital Manager Needs to Know,” presented by Emerson Wickwire, PhD, ABPP, CBSM, FAASM — attendees will learn how to feel more rested and productive while maximizing safety and performance among team members who work overnight shifts.

“What I Learned from Setting a $70,000 Minimum Wage” by Dan Price, the founding CEO of Gravity Payments — a “debriefing” about the impact of his medium-size credit-card-processing company raising the minimum employee salary to $70,000 per year in 2015.

Legal Symposium

Attendees of this pre-conference workshop (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 17) will “learn how simple conversation can present legal risk” to veterinary practices and receive “up-to-date information on hot topics in employment law.”

Practice Management Software Workshop

A post-conference workshop (2:00 – 5:00 p.m., Saturday, October 20) focused solely on four software platforms; attendees may choose one of the tracks: AVImark, IDEXX Cornerstone or eVetPractice, ImproMed.

veterinary hospital managers

Networking and Extra-Curricular Activities

The annual meeting and conference also presents ample opportunity for veterinary hospital managers to network and have fun. Targeted events include organized breakfast, lunch and breaks with exhibitors as well as optional activities such as the VHMA Annual Membership Meeting and Reception & CVPM Pinning Ceremony or the National Aquarium Guided Tour.

Other Resources for Veterinary Hospital Managers

Back in the office, veterinary hospital managers will want to continue applying the latest pet treatments and services, including payment processing solutions that benefit pets and veterinary hospitals alike.

For example, CrossCheck's Multiple Check service helps pet owners pay for critical care by giving them an extra 30 days to replenish their checking accounts. Here’s how it works.

free-check-guarantee-consultation-home-pageClients write 2 ­– 4 checks to cover the cost of a single procedure and designate the dates for veterinary hospitals to deposit them over a 30-day window. CrossCheck guarantees each check as it is deposited, allowing veterinary offices to provide worry-free care while receiving prompt funding to their business accounts in 48 – 72 hours. CrossCheck will even handle the banking for veterinary offices that opt for electronic check processing.

CrossCheck is the preferred check guarantee provider of one of the largest veterinary care chains in the country. Learn how it can help your business by requesting a free check guarantee consultation.

Topics: Veterinarians, Events / Conferences

Written by Joe Gargiulo

Marketing Specialist Joe Gargiulo has 25-plus years in marketing, communications and copy writing. As a writer, he enjoys connecting story leads to all aspects of the human experience.