VSIPP 2011 Conference TBA

VSIPP 2010

The 2010 VSIPP Conference held in New Orleans, Louisiana proved to be a dynamic and successful forum for those who attended. A thriving gathering of industry professionals looking to expand their skill level and mindset engaged in educational seminars and workshops that encouraged professionals to become more innovative with their approach in managing their facilities.

The feedback from the conference was positive with a few remarks on how to improve on next year's conference.
 
  "This is a gorgeous hotel/conference venue in a fabulous city!!! Love, love, loved it."
"Jim Clark & Robin Brogdon led stellar lectures. Shawn's keynote was exceptional. Thank you all for another fabulous conference!"
 
"Very Relevant"
  
"Extend seminars to 60 minutes.
Topics on conflict resolution"
"Useful to review leadership principles."
"Have the conference in a more
secluded area so groups have little else to do
but converse with each other"
  "Very relevant panels moved
to direction of audience."
"There seems to be a growing challenge
to keep the content fresh & diverse
— good job this year!"
2010 VSIPP Conference Feedback.
The results for the 2010 VSIPP Conference held in New Orleans, Louisiana are in and this is the response we got from the attendees:
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
Your Overall Experience
69.20%
28.20%
2.60%
0%
Speaker's Delivery & Responsive Nature
55.30%
39.50%
2.60%
2.60%
Conference Topics
55.30%
42.10%
2.60%
0%
Conference Functions
43.60%
53.80%
2.60%
0%
Timing of the Conference
55.30%
34.20%
10.50%
0%
Conference Logistics/Organization
51.30%
38.50%
10.30%
0%
Guest Room
60.00%
40.00%
0%
0%
Service
60.00%
36.80%
2.60%
0%
Food & Beverage
63.20%
26.30%
10.50%
0%
Meeting Rooms
31.60%
44.70%
21.10%
3%

A review of our last conference.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
7:00 – 8:30 pm Welcome Reception with Exhibitors
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
8:00 – 9:15 am Expo Open
Welcome Breakfast — Sponsored by Care Credit
9:15 – 10:00 am Keynote

The Passion Centered Professional
Speaker: Gary Zelesky
  Gary brings his trademark humor and unforgettable energy to the thought provoking keynote presentation, "The Passion Centered Professional."

Using his ground breaking book, The Passion Centered Professional as the backdrop, this keynote answers some key questions:

  • What makes one practice/hospital attract and maintain loyal clients as well as first class employees more than others?
  • How do you take an "unmotivated staff" and create the "dream team?"
  • How does living a passion centered life affect your professional and personal life?
  • How do you increase greater productivity, profit and at the same time have a work culture that is pleasurable?
  • What is the difference between a boss and a leader?
  • How do you attract the top level performers to your facility?
  • How to create the "whatever it takes" mentality in your team.

This presentation is enriched "food for thought" with practical and motivational steps to make your company passion centered, not problem driven. Bring the whole team to this once in a lifetime experience.
10:10 – 11:00 am Specialty Issues — A

A-1: How to Survive in the "New Normal" World of Veterinary Specialty Practice
Presenter: Karyn Gavzer | Owner, KG Marketing & Training, Inc.
  Life used to be good. Success in the veterinary specialty practice was all but guaranteed.and then the world changed. Learn what works now in the world of the "new normal" and how to survive and thrive even in a sluggish and unpredictable economy.

A-2: "R" You Surviving or Thriving? The 4 "R's" Responsibility, Recommendations, Relationships and Resilience
Presenter: Jeff Thoren DVM, ACC ICF | Certified Coach, Gifted Leaders, LLC
  In this session, you'll learn how to assess the current level of personal responsibility you're taking for your own life. Explore models of responsibility such as internal versus external locus of control. Reconnect with your dream, check your motives and get feedback. You'll learn how to reframe your thinking by seeing the "up-side of down" and develop personal coping mechanisms to help manage setbacks.

A-3: Creating Dynamic Design Strategies to Capitalize on Expansion Opportunities
Presenter: Mark Hafen AIA, NCARB | Owner, Animal Arts
  This session will explore the challenges and opportunities if you are considering renovating and/or expanding your existing facility. Included will be a discussion of development alternatives that will lead to the creation of a design strategy that looks at market and industry trends and is responsive to your practice specifics.

A-4: Protecting Your Practice from Employee Theft
Presenter: Loraine Monheiser List, CPA, CVA | Owner, Summit Veterinary Advisors, LLC
  You've heard the horror stories and you still believe it couldn't happen to you., right? But could you recognize the symptoms of employee theft? Have you taken all the steps you can to protect your practice? Only the people you trust are ever given the opportunity to steal from you, but you can safeguard your practice assets by taking some simple actions.
11:00 – 11:10 am Break
11:10 am – Noon Specialty Issues — B

B-1: Resurrecting and Revitalizing Your Specialty Practice
Presenters: Randy Willer, DVM, MS, MBA Diplomate, ACVS | Regional Medical Director of VCA Hospitals
Nick Nelson, DVM, MBA, Diplomate ABVP | Treasurer of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners
  A practical look at the challenges and solutions to mixing practices through acquisition, merger, new ownership or the expansion of services.

B-2: How and Why to Share Business Information with your Staff
Presenters: Brie D. Messier, MBA | Hospital Administrator, NorthStar Vets;
Katie Newbold, LVT, CVPM | Practice Director, Chesapeake Veterinary Cardiology Associates
  Review how to share meaningful financial and kpi information with staff and doctors while still protecting the owner's privacy, and the company benefits greatly from the entire team focusing on their contribution to the health of the business and the new ideas they bring to the table. Learn what information to share, how to present it, and how to channel emotions into action.

B-3: How to get the Staph out of your Team
Presenter: Gary Zelesky
  Check out what is happening behind the close doors of American companies and you will see low productivity, low work standards, even lower leadership skills. However, there are high levels of whining and complaining about low pay, time off, and better benefits! Staph is an infection that is spread throughout the office by large doses of negativity and the neglect of what is truly important to make the office world class not second class! Take your facility to the next level by getting rid of the staph infection. It starts with you becoming contagious with passion and purpose for what you do and who you are.
Noon – 1:00 pm Lunch w/ Exhibitors
1:00 – 1:50 pm Specialty Issues — C

C-1: How to Survive in the "New Normal" World of Veterinary Specialty Practice
Presenter: Karyn Gavzer | Owner, KG Marketing & Training, Inc
  Life used to be good. Success in Veterinary Specialty Practice was all but guaranteed.and then the world changed. Learn what works now in the world of the "new normal" and how to survive and thrive even in a sluggish and unpredictable economy.

C-2: How to Lead and Influence Others
Presenter: Jeff Thoren DVM, ACC | ICF Certified Coach, Gifted Leaders, LLC
  This session focuses on using leadership skills to influence others to accomplish common goals. Specifically, participants will discover how to build the capacity for authentic dialogue which capitalizes on everyone's knowledge, strengths, and experience and leads to better decisions and higher productivity and performance. Attendees will explore how to make an attitude of curiosity plus powerful questioning and listening skills work for you to create an atmosphere of mutual learning and problem solving. Genuine listening is a terrific way to win people over and asking powerful questions evokes learning, insight, commitment and action.

C-3: Ethical Issues from the Front Lines
Presenter: Henry M. ("Trey") Cutler III | Principle, The Cutler Law Firm
  Do you ever have to turn in a referring veterinarian? How do you address varying ethical standards within your own practice? This session will include background information relating to ethical issues in veterinary practices, as well as an interactive discussion of common ethical issues that arise in specialty and emergency practices.

C-4: The Little Train That Could: Using Your Web Site and the Power of Search Engines To Grow Your Business
Presenter: Jeff Larche | Owner, Digital Solid
  Using your Web site to its capacity could be an uphill battle. We give you a push in the right direction and how to boost your search engine power
2:00 – 4:15 pm Workshop**

Using Metrics To Revitalize Your Practice
Presenters: Loraine Monheiser List, CPA, CVA | Owner, Summit Veterinary Advisors, LLC.;
Dick Goebel, DVM | Co-Founder, Simmons Veterinary Practice Sales and Consulting;
Doug Hoffman | Managing Partner, CARE Center
  This workshop will give you insight into what metrics (measurable data points) are critical in managing your practice, including where to find these key figures and normal ranges for each. Sample summary report formats will be presented and real world experiences from different perspectives will be shared. Participants will then have the opportunity to break into small groups and review financial data from a sample specialty practice, identify its critical metrics, and acting as owners, suggest the next steps to revitalize this hypothetical practice.
3:00 – 5:00 pm Off-Site: Tour of Hospitals **
Southeast Veterinary Specialists | Metairie Small Animal Hospital
6:00 – 9:00 pm Cocktail Party/Award Dinner — Sponsored by Hill's
Thursday, February 4, 2010
7:00 am – 7:45 am Morning Walk
7:30 am – 2:30 pm Registration/Hospitality Desk Open
8:30 – 9:15 am Breakfast — Sponsored by Pfizer
Expo Open
9:15 – 10:00 am Morning Speaker

Drivers of Excellence in Specialty Medicine; Findings of a 2-year Survey of Over 2000 rDVMs and 5000 Pet Owners
Presenter: David Stansfield, MRCVS | Senior Specialty Hospital Liaison, Specialty Hospital Services Pfizer Animal Health
  Referring DVMs and pet owners to over 70 specialty locations were surveyed on many performance parameters including reasons for referral, value drivers, service levels, preferred communication styles and their satisfaction levels and much more during 2008 and 2009. Facilities were evaluated as a unit and by specialty. Demographics and geographical factors were also collected and analyzed. Over 2000 rDVMs and 5000 referred pet owners took part in this comprehensive survey. The data collected identify the principal drivers of a superior referral relationship, and how nationally hospitals are performing. The presentation will release for the first time many of the findings of this ground breaking study.
10:10 – 11:00 am Specialty Issues — D

D-1: The Real Truth About Non-Competes
 Presenter: Henry M. ("Trey") Cutler III | Principle, The Cutler Law Firm
  Are non-compete covenants worth more than the paper they are written on? Does it really matter how they are drafted? This session provides an overview of typical non-compete covenants for specialty and emergency practices, as well as practical guidance on how to make non-compete covenants as enforceable as possible.

D-2: Pricing and Specialists Compensation
Presenters: Bob Doak | Group Vice President for VCA Animal Hospitals;
Bruce Ilgen | VP of Hospital Pricing of VCA Animal Hospitals
  This lecture focuses on addressing the challenges of compensation of the specialists in a way that they feel is fair and doing it without breaking the bank of the business.

D-3: Is Your Practice in Organ Failure?
Presenter: Karen Felsted, CPA, MS, DVM, CVPM | CEO, National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues
  The business equivalent of organ failure would be a lack of profitability in your practice. Practice profitability drives cash flow, practice value and the ability to provide good quality pet care. And yet, it is one of the least understood of the financial metrics. This session will help you understand what practice profitability is, how to calculate it and how to revive it.

D-4: Learning to Drive the Bus
Presenter: Dermot Jevens, Dip ACVS | President, Upstate Veterinary Specialists
  Your team members not only want you to lead but they need you to lead. Take these steps to make it a tremendous opportunity rather than a burdensome responsibility.
11:00 – 11:10 am Break
11:10 – Noon Specialty Issues — E

E-1: How to Lead and Influence Others
Presenters: Jeff Thoren DVM, ACC | ICF Certified Coach, Gifted Leaders, LLC
  This session focuses on using leadership skills to influence others to accomplish common goals. Specifically, participants will discover how to build the capacity for authentic dialogue which capitalizes on everyone's knowledge, strengths, and experience and leads to better decisions and higher productivity and performance. Attendees will explore how to make an attitude of curiosity plus powerful questioning and listening skills work for you to create an atmosphere of mutual learning and problem solving. Genuine listening is a terrific way to win people over and asking powerful questions evokes learning, insight, commitment and action.

E-2: Five Key Issues for Specialty/ER Owners to Make Sure They Get It Right
Presenter: Henry M. ("Trey") Cutler III | Principle, The Cutler Law Firm
  Specialty-Emergency practices continue to grow and thrive all over the country - and they also create a host of unique problems and issues along the way. This program explores five key issues that owners of specialty-emergency practices should make sure they get right.

E-3: Increasing Economic Growth During a Recession - Building Customer Relationships, Otherwise Known as 'The Holy Grail'
Presenter: Craig M. Tockman, DVM | Director Professional Services, Abaxis
  Everyone is concerned with the economy, terms like 'depressed', 'uncertainty', and 'global downturn' is being heard and spoken virally around the world. In this session attendees will get insight on how to make it through this economic downturn. Attendees will also learn how to separate themselves from the competition and increase market share. Effective strategies behind word of mouth marketing and customer prioritization do's and don'ts will also be taught.

E-4: Your Hand-Held Marketing Assistant: Marketing Your Business Through Cell Phones, Today and In The Future
Presenter: Jeff Larche | Owner, Digital Solid
  Mobile marketing in veterinary services is defined as using cell phone communication to further a practice. As a marketing tactic, it is evolving quickly and showing promise for innovative veterinary practices. Topics covered during this workshop include ensuring that your Web site is readable by mobile phone Web browsers, using cell phone text notifications to enhance customer service, and exploring social media smart phone "apps," such as those featuring Twitter and Facebook.
Noon – 12:10 pm Break
12:10 – 1:00 pm
 Specialty Issues — F

F-1: Bottom Line or Bottom of the Barrel
Presenters: Dr. Bob Murtaugh | Northeast Regional Medical Director, VCA Animal Hospitals
Dan Steinheimer | Medical Director, VCA Animal Hospitals
  How to balance the clients need for value and patient care quality with the demands of the bottom line. What is "of value" to the client and how can I extract payment for those services? Can a practice have it all--how to do without harming practice culture or quality of care.

F-2: I'm Up For Adoption - Joining a New Family
Presenter: Karen Felsted CPA, MS, DVM, CVPM | Chief Executive Officer, National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues
  Bringing a new associate into practice ownership has even more challenges to it than adopting a new puppy or kitten (they can't be locked in a room if they bark too much!) And yet, succession planning is critical to the life and health of the practice. This session will outline the key issues that must be addressed in an associate buy-in.

F-3: The Bus is now leaving - All Aboard?
Presenter: Dermot Jevans Dip ACVS | President, Upstate Veterinary Specialists
  The key to success for your practice is having the right people on board. Here's how to decide who is right for your team and who may need to find a different bus!

F-4: Communication as a Competitive Advantage - Utilizing Technology in Client and rDVM Communication
Presenter: Brian Wilson, Marketing Director | The Hope Center for Advanced Veterinary Medicine
  Overflowing fax machines, rows and rows of medical records and that never-ending stack of referral letters. If this is the information age, where was the evolution? By combining new tools with a focus on timely record keeping, raw data can be transformed into usable, flexible information and an asset to your practice.
1:00 – 1:45 pm Work Shop Lunch**
2:00 – 4:00 pm Workshop**
Your Brand: Refresh, Revitalize or Re-do?
Presenter: Robin Brogdon, MA | Owner, BluePrints Veterinary Marketing Group, Inc
  Examine individual branding: name, logo icon, tagline, descriptor line, and Web site to see if they are up-to-date or need a complete overhaul. Do they represent who you are today and where you are going in the future? Learn how to build upon the strengths of your brand in your marketing efforts.
2:30 – 5:30 pm Off site: Tour **
The lower 9th Ward
Pre-Booking Required
Friday, February 5, 2010
7:00 – 7:45 am Morning Walk
7:30 am – 2:30 pm Registration/Hospitality Desk Open
8:00 – 9:00 am Breakfast
8:15– 8:50 am
 Keynote

NCVEI Referral Practice Benchmarking Tool Update
Presenter: Karen Felsted CPA, MS, DVM, CVPM | Chief Executive Officer, National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues
  The NCVEI referral practice benchmarking tools are designed to capture significant financial and operational metrics that referral practices need to be reviewing in order to manage their businesses more effectively and more profitably. These include such data as revenue per doctor, compensation, benefits, management techniques, and number of referring DVMs. This session will give you a preview of the information gathered to date and a look at the tools themselves so you can more easily enter your own data.
9:00 – 9:50 am
 Specialty Issues — G

G-1: How and Why to Share Business Information with your Staff
Presenters: Brie D. Messier, MBA | Hospital Administrator, NorthStar Vets;
Katie Newbold, LVT, CVPM | Practice Director, Chesapeake Veterinary Cardiology Associates
  Review how to share meaningful financial and kpi information with staff and doctors while still protecting the owner's privacy, and the company benefits greatly from the entire team focusing on their contribution to the health of the business and the new ideas they bring to the table. Learn what information to share, how to present it, and how to channel emotions into action

G-2: How to Be A Rainmaker- Why are some specialists far more successful than others?
Presenter: Jim Clark, DVM, MBA | Owner, Pet Emergency & Specialty Centers
  Experience shows that some specialists are far more successful than others at developing relationships with referring veterinarians, building caseload, and generating revenue. These "rainmakers" share some common characteristics in regards to their approach to practice philosophy and communication. In this talk, Clark identifies these key success factors that allow some specialists to excel over their peers as well as practical tools that any specialist or manager can use to increase the flow of referrals.

G-3: Creating Dynamic Design Strategies to Capitalize on Expansion Opportunities
Presenter: Mark Hafen AIA, NCARB | Owner, Animal Arts
  This session will explore the challenges and opportunities facing you if you are considering renovating and/or expanding your existing facility. Included will be a discussion of development alternatives that will lead to the creation of a design strategy that looks at market and industry trends and is responsive to your practice specifics.

G-4: Communication as a Competitive Advantage - Utilizing Technology in Client and rDVM Communication
Presenter: Brian Wilson, Marketing Director | The Hope Center for Advanced Veterinary Medicine
  Overflowing fax machines, rows and rows of medical records and that never-ending stack of referral letters. If this is the Information Age, where was the evolution? By combining new tools with a focus on timely record keeping, raw data can be transformed into usable, flexible information and an asset to your practice.
9:50 – 10:00 am Break
10:00 – 10:50 am Specialty Issues — H

H-1: Increasing Economic Growth During a Recession - Building Customer Relationships Otherwise Known as 'The Holy Grail'
Presenter: Craig M. Tockman, DVM | Director Professional Services, Abaxis
  Everyone is concerned with the economy, terms like 'depressed', 'uncertainty'; 'global downturn' are being heard and spoken virally around the world. In this session attendees will get insight on how to make it through this economic downturn. Attendees will also learn how to separate themselves from the competition and increase market share. Effective strategies behind word of mouth marketing and customer prioritization do's and don'ts will also be taught.

H-2: The Bus is now leaving - All Aboard?
Presenter: Dermot Jevans Dip ACVS | President, Upstate Veterinary Specialists
  The key to success for your practice is having the right people on board. Here's how to decide who is right for your team and who may need to find a different bus!

H-3: Not Just Another Client Survey - Creating a Tool to Analyze Your Practice and Drive Continuous Improvement
Presenter: Mike Defferding, Assistant Hospital Manager | The Hope Center for Advanced Veterinary Medicine
  Many emergency and specialty practices have some version of a client survey. Turning that survey into a functioning tool for making management decisions does not always require outside help or advanced computer training. Learn how one clinic turned an average client survey into a multilevel management tool.

H-4: The Profitable, Green, Empathic, Hospitable facility Veterinarians choose to refer to and Staff aspire to work in
Presenter: Wayne Usiak, AIA, NCARB | BDA Architecture, P.C
  The speaker will sift through the confusion of misinformation to present tangible solutions for buildings that are affordable to build and operate, environmentally responsible, a cut above the rest, responsive to staff concerns and client comforts and income producing today and profitable at resale.
10:50 – 11:00 am Break
11:00 – 11:50 am Specialty Issues — I

I-1: Is Your Practice in Organ Failure?
Presenter: Karen Felsted CPA, MS, DVM, CVPM | Chief Executive Officer, National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues
  The business equivalent of organ failure would be a lack of profitability in your practice. Practice profitability drives cash flow, practice value and the ability to provide good quality pet care. And yet, it is one of the least understood of the financial metrics. This session will help you understand what practice profitability is, how to calculate it and how to revive it.

I-2: What's it Worth? An overview of valuation models for Emergency/Specialty practices
Presenter: Jim Clark, DVM, MBA | Owner, Pet Emergency & Specialty Centers
  Whether you plan to sell your practice tomorrow or in twenty years, you should have an exit strategy in mind. This talk provides a brief review of how practice value is assigned under current models, what you can do to build practice value, and the influence of corporate buyers in our market. After attending this talk you will have the basic tools to easily determine an approximate value for your practice, whether for internal or external sale.

I-3: Friends For Life: Using Facebook and Other Social Networks To Harness Electronic Word-of-Mouth Advertising
Presenter: Jeff Larche | Owner, Digital Solid
  Ambient awareness is the technical term for the phenomenon of following and communicating with friends on Facebook, Twitter and many other social networks. Many marketers for veterinary practices are discovering that a presence on these networks, when cultivated prudently, can generate considerable customer satisfaction, and can even help acquire new business. This only stands to reason. In the past, word-of-mouth was considered "the best form of advertising." This hasn't changed, but communication technology has. These changes have made word-of-mouth more "scalable." This workshop will include plenty of cases describing how businesses (including leading-edge vet practices) are seeing early success using social network marketing.

I-4: Is My Coat Shiny? -How do I look?
Presenter: Robin Brogdon, MA | Owner, BluePrints Veterinary Marketing Group, Inc
  Your brand is more than your logo or mission statement. It should drive how you do business and thus, how others see you. We start with the big picture and dig into the details to learn how to actually use your mission and vision to create that exceptional patient and client experience that will make you memorable.
11:50 am – Noon Break
Noon – 12:45 pm Keynote Lunch
12:45 – 1:45 pm Keynote

Bring Your Whole Self to Work
Presenter: Shawn McVey
  After success comes the task of conquering the work/life balance demon. Most of us learn that it is more an internal process that requires a shift in beliefs, rather than a structural time management discipline. If we are to renew, refresh and revitalize our practice then it requires that we move along the path of emotional intelligence and reap the rewards of introspection-bringing the authentic self to work. We will explore the fine line between decision and desire; using intuition or "feel" to move the team forward and explore the benefits of having the confidence to back up the role of leader.
1:45 – 2:45 pm Open Panel Discussion

What's On Your Mind?
  Designed to give attendees the opportunity to ask management specialists from across the country questions regarding topics of interest for your practice, this Q&A panel will address your pressing questions about the operation of your practice. Bring your biggest issues to the table and get some instant feedback from peers and consultants.
3:00 – 5:00 pm
 Industry Survey

What's Every-BODY Else Doing?
  This polling session is designed for interaction with colleagues. Through the use of polling devices, attendees will get real time answers to some of the most sought after practice metrics. Find out what your colleagues pay their lead technicians and what percentage you ought to pay your most productive veterinarians. Discover what percentage of your revenue you should allocate toward administrative expense as well as what you should pay your hospital administrator. This will be an interactive session with immediate feedback for all.
7:00 – 10:00 pm Arranged Tour of the French Quarter**
Saturday, February 6, 2010 — Specialty Track**
8:30 am – 1:00 pm Registration/Hospitality Desk Open
Solo/Small Practice Track
8:30 – 9:45 am

Threats to Profit and Value in a Specialty Practice
Presenter: Dick Goebel, DVM | Co-Founder, Simmons Veterinary Practice Sales and Consulting
  Why can you NOT rely on financial statements and tax returns to reflect true practice profit? How does profit relate to value? What are the greatest threats to practice profit and value? What can you do about them?
10:00 – 11:15 am

Marketing: The ABC's and 1-2-3's
Presenter: Robin Brogdon, MA | Owner, BluePrints Veterinary Marketing Group, Inc
  If you are small, but still need to make a big impact, we'll discuss the most important aspects of what you need to do to position yourself in the marketplace and speak effectively to the right audience(s). We'll cover all the basics, the ABC's, and then tackle steps, 1-2-3. Once these are accomplished, you will have the foundation in place to successfully market your practice and create a memorable brand.
11:30 am – 12:45 pm

Veterinary Management Study Groups: How About You?
Presenter: Dick Goebel, DVM | Co-Founder, Simmons Veterinary Practice Sales and Consulting
  Does it feel lonely at the top? With whom do you discuss ownership challenges? How does your practice compare with the rest of the world? Have you ever considered joining a group of other practice owners to share challenges, successes and data that matters?
12:45 – 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 – 2:45 pm

Practice Management in Turbulent Times
Presenter: Dick Goebel, DVM | Co-Founder, Simmons Veterinary Practice Sales and Consulting
  Just what in the world is going on? How am I doing compared to others? What can I do to protect myself in the face of uncertain revenues? Join us to discuss important safeguards you can put into place in your practice
3:00 – 4:15 pm

How to Have Tender Conversations on a Tough Topic
Presenter: Lowell Ackerman DVM DACVD MBA MPA | Senior Specialty Hospital Liaison, Pfizer Animal Health
  While the practice of veterinary medicine has become sophisticated and progressive, conversations with owners about the costs associated with veterinary care for their pets has lagged considerably in relaying the value delivered for prices charged. In this session, we'll explore the role that money plays in the operation of a veterinary practice, the use of appropriate communication styles to convey value and foster acceptance, and tools that can make the process simpler to implement. It's time to practice smarter, not harder, lose the embarrassment associated with discussing fees with pet owners, and learn how some basic process changes can make these discussions easier for you, and less troublesome for your clients.
Emergency & Critical Care Track
8:30 – 9:45 am

Employee Management: When is the ER Team too Big?
Presenters: Jim Clarke, DVM, MBA | Owner, Pet Emergency & Specialty Centers;
Doug Hoffman | Managing Partner, CARE Center
  This is an interactive discussion about employee management and myths associated with employees‚ numbers being associated with success. Gives formulas to use as a guideline to when to add staff and when to reduce staff.
10:00 – 11:15 am

Multiple Partners? Who Should Lead?
Presenters: Doug Hoffman | Managing Partner, CARE Center;
Shawn McVey, MA, MSW | Owner, Innovative Veterinary Management Solutions
  Are there too many cooks in the kitchen? How do you decide who should ultimately be in charge of the practice to ensure consistent leadership when multiple partners want to be involved in every decision?
11:30 am – 12:45 pm

Everyday Operating Costs for the E & CC Hospitals... from HR or to Equipment
Panel discussion with experts from several fields in the industry
12:45 – 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 – 2:45 pm

Effectively Creating and Using a Budget for Your ER Hospital
Presenter: Doug Hoffman | Managing Partner CARE Center
  "How to and Why" discussion on creating an effective budget for your hospital, how to use it to increase profitability and decrease expenses.
3:00 – 4:15 pm
Using Accounting Programs to effectively manage your practice part
Presenter: Joe Hoelker, CPA | Joseph E. Hoelker CPA, Inc.
  Lecture on how to manipulate your financial data in an accounting program to provide effective and useful reports to manage your practice.
4:15 pm Departure
** additional charges and/or prior sign-up may required. Please review Registration
Form or call 602-265-7778 ext 29 for reservations, questions or concerns.
Optional Conference Workshops
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 - 2:00pm to 4:15pm - $30.00
Space is limited and granted on a first come, first served basis. Reservations are required.

Using Metrics To Revitalize Your Practice
In-depth workshop on how to use the numbers from your practice to assess the health of your business as well as drive decisions to change the course of your practice. (back)

Thursday, February 4, 2010 - 1:00pm to 4:00pm - $50.00, includes lunch
Space is limited and granted on a first come, first served basis. Reservations are required.

Your Brand: Refresh, Revitalize or Re-do?
Examine individual branding: name, logo icon), tagline, descriptor line, website to see if they are up to date or need a complete overhaul.  Do they represent who you are today and where you are going in the future? How to build upon the strengths of your brand in your marketing efforts. (back)
Post-Conference Tracks
Saturday, February 6, 2010 - 9:00am to 5:00pm - $220.00, includes lunch
Space is limited and granted on a first come, first served basis.
Reservations are required.
The Emergency & Critical Care Track and Solo/Small Practice Track run concurrently.

SAT01: Emergency & Critical Care Track
This track, especially designed for leaders of emergency and critical care practices, highlights and addresses some of the common obstacles faced in the areas of this practice. From employee management, handling the decision making process when multiple partners exist and potential lawsuits; the lecture series helps bring clarity to these issues. Other beneficial topics include handling a budget, servicing the customer, team organization and motivation. VSIPP is proud to have assembled a team of speakers for this series which include recognized experts and successful entrepreneurs, with hands-on experience in developing successful emergency and critical care practices.

SAT02: Solo/Small Practice Track
The small practice track offers sessions aimed at finessing leadership and combating threats to profit. Practice owners will learn steps to take to protect their business during uncertain times, how to adopt new forms of leadership and colleague responsibility, ethical topics, and conflict resolution. We’ll also provide the latest marketing methods that will help your business grow.
Optional Tours
Tour Two Local Hospitals - $20.00
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 - 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Southeast Veterinary Specialists Hospital recently expanded its facilities to 18,000 square feet to accommodate it's multifaceted functions. Equipped with a 24/7 critical care unit and emergency services the amenity offers specialized treatments, therapies and new procedures for referring veterinarians and clients. In addition Southeast Veterinary Specialists Hospital imparts an array of services that fulfill the whole spectrum of your animal aficionado's needs. These services comprise of: doctor's offices, radiology/MRI, hydrotherapy, dermatology, critical care, lab services, oncology and surgery. Skilled practitioners on staff supply impeccable services and are keen on contributing to your pet's well-being. Ranging from telephone consultation to referral for complete case management, the roles of their veterinary specialists are to support the primary care veterinarian in any way possible. Southeast Veterinary Specialists Hospital prides itself in setting goals to provide high quality mult-specialty medical care available in one convenient location. (back)

Metairie Small Animal Hospital
Visit this progressive general practice of 10 doctors, 40+ employees, named 2004 Hospital of the Year for excellence by Veterinary Economics Magazine. The competition honored the hospital for its beautiful exterior and reception area, clean floor plan and attention to detail. Since 1946, Metairie Small Animal Hospital (MSAH) has been caring for animals in the metro area with the latest technology and a healing touch. Known for its progressive approach to training and equipment, MSAH features two modern surgical suites capable of handling five surgeries at one time, an intensive care unit with the latest technology in monitoring and support equipment, and 24-hour emergency services. Visit their state-of-the-art 17,000 square foot facility and learn how they safely evacuated over 100 small animals for Hurricane Katrina, then successfully returned each of them to their owners.( back)

Thursday, February 4, 2010 - 2:30pm to 5:30pm
Katrina & New Orleans City Tour - $20.00
You will be taken to severely devastated sites around the city including the breaks in the levees, abandoned homes, and empty streets. See the progress being made in rebuilding New Orleans and learn how Louisiana's disappearing wetlands are negatively impacting New Orleans' hurricane protection system. Also on the tour, you will visit newer homes rebuilt in Musicians Village, ride through the Garden District and walk through a historic cemetery while an expert reveals how the tombstones are becoming a family tradition. (back)
VSIPP 2010 Fast Facts
Registration Desk Hours
  • Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010 | 2:00pm - 6:00pm
  • Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010 | 7:00am - 2:30pm
  • Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010 | 7:30am - 2:30pm
  • Friday, Feb. 5, 2010 | 7:30am - 2:30pm
  • Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010 | 8:30am - 1:00pm

Attire
Dress for the conference is business casual, with the exception of the Cocktail Party/Awards Dinner on Wednesday, February 3rd (business attire).

Airport
The Roosevelt Hotel New Orleans is approximately 20 minutes from The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY). Cab fare is approximately $25 each way, and shared van service is available through New Orleans Airport Shuttle for $15 per person, each way (Reservations: 504-522-3500).

Recording
It is strictly forbidden to record seminars, open discussions, workshops and speakers at the conference. This year, audio recordings will not be available for purchase.

Cell Phones
Please be courteous to your fellow attendees by turning off all cell phones at seminars, open discussions, workshops, etc.

Cancellations & Refunds
Should you cancel your registration prior to January 1, 2010, your registration payment will be refunded less a $50 per-registration processing fee ($75 outside of the US or Canada). Cancellations made on or after January 1, 2010 will not receive a refund however substitutions (from the same hospital and same city) may be made without penalty at any time. Refund payments will be processed within 14 days after the conference, and made either by check or credit card, based on the form of payment used to register. Registration cancellations must be made on this website (log in to make changes or cancel your registration) or in writing to registration@ vsipp.com prior to January 1, 2010. Written cancellations will be acknowledged by email within 5-10 business days from receipt or instantly if made online.

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