Providing LIVE IN PERSON Continuing Education
2020 and 2021 have been challenging years for many, but has also offered some interesting new innovative opportunities. We applaud those who have adapted to prosper during Covid and we salute those who have fought their way thru these crazy years.
Our company has consistently offered LIVE IN PERSON CE conferences for 36 years (since 1984). We know you have many choices to make when deciding how to fulfill your state licensing requirements. For the last quarter of 2020 and into 2021 we will be hosting live face to face conferences and would love to see both our old friends and welcome any new faces who prefer to attend live classes. Our vendors have stayed with us to help keep your costs reasonable while at the same time receiving the highest quality CE available.
The Bluegrass Veterinary Conference in Elizabeth, Indianan on July 29th - August 1st, 2021, Ralph Lee’s Great Smokies Veterinary Conference in Asheville, NC on November 10 - 14, 2021 and the Colonial Veterinary Conference in Williamsburg, VA on December 1 - 5, 2021 have already experienced high bookings, so please plan ahead and make your reservations soon and please feel free to let your friends, classmates and associates know how you feel about our events.
Thank you, Howie and Martha Lee
LIVE Veterinary Conference Practicing Health & Safety Together!
Please follow these health and safety protocols with us to make this conference great!
SOCIAL DISTANCING
Join us in practicing social distancing during the conference, including the talks, in the Exhibits area, and all other areas. Please do not congregate in groups.
WASH HANDS
Please wash hands frequently for a minimum of 20 seconds. Hand sanitizing stations are available.
WEAR MASKS (optional)
All attendees, speakers and exhibitors may wear masks for the duration of the conference at the their discretion and not required unless the facility requires it. Employees are required to wear masks at all times.
CLEAN and SANITIZE
We are frequently cleaning high-touch areas throughout our properties.
FACILITY
Guests will find disinfecting stations with wipes and hand sanitizer available throughout our properties. Additionally, both public and Team Member areas are cleaned at scheduled intervals, including hourly maintenance of high-touch areas like elevators and bathrooms. All guest rooms will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between guests.
"A Great Fall Conference in Asheville, North Carolina"
For Hotel Reservations:
Room rates start at $167 + tax (standard room) and rate guaranteed until October 16th, 2022.
Call our toll-free number 1-844-330-0296 (24/7) and mention the group name Ralph Lee’s Great Smokies Veterinary in order to receive the special group rate.
For In-House reservations attendees can call our local number during normal business hours 828-285-2603 and mention the group name, Ralph Lee’s Great Smokies Veterinary
Use the weblink https://ashevillecp.com/ then enter dates of stay and Group Code: RAL
Book online using the weblink created for this conference Ralph Lee’s Great Smokies Veterinary
November 16 - 20, 2022
Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville, Asheville, North Carolina
Speakers
Susan Baiz, DVM, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Mark Epstein, DVM, DABVP
Joseph Jordan, PhD, CEO, NC Physicians Health Program, NC Veterinary Health Program
Jeff Mayo, DVM, DABVP, MANZCVS, Sponsored by Noxsano
Kursten Pierce, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology) and Brooke Bridges, RVT NCSU (Cardiology Technician), Sponsored by Ceva
Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA, Sponsored by Care Credit
Breakfast and Lunch Session
Lunch Session on Friday, November 18th at 11:30 AM - 12:30 pm Presented by Jeanette Pfaff, Senior Service, Support, and Education, "It’s about time - Time can influence laboratory sample conditions, diagnostic test results, patient wellness, and client satisfaction. MicroVet Diagnostic’s innovations in Point-of-Care diagnostics will reduce the time from sample collection to diagnostic results, thereby improving and solidifying the need for in-house clinical diagnostics." Sponsored by MicroVet Diagnostics
Welcome Reception on Thursday, November 17th at 5 - 6 pm with Complimentary food and drinks
Sponsored By Zomedica
To all Alabama attendees, this Conference has been approved by the Alabama Veterinary Medical Board
To all Florida attendees, this Conference has been approved by the Florida Veterinary Medical Board
To all West Virginia attendees, this Conference has been approved by the West Virginia Veterinary Medical Board
On-Site Registration is Now Available!
You can register Online now or On-Site, Walkins are Welcome, or
click here to download the Registration Form, fill it out and mail it with payment!
Register before October 29th, 2022 to take advantage of the Early Registration Discount!
Veterinarians $450.00 (before 10/29/2022) |
Technician, Receptionists, Support Staff $225.00 (before 10/29/2022) |
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One (1) Day Registraion is now available for $225.00! |
Tentative Schedule
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Wednesday, November 16, 2022Registration Open 4-8pm (Laurel Foyer)
Thursday, November 17, 2022 |
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Registration Open 8am (Laurel Foyer)Continental Breakfast 8am (Biltmore Foyer)Exhibit Hall Open 8am (Blue Ridge)Welcome Reception 5 - 6pm |
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Kursten Pierce, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)Sponsored by Ceva |
See Topics |
8:30 - 10:00 am : The When, What, and How of Treating Canine Mitral Valve Disease 10:30 - 11:30 am : Canine Mitral Valve Disease : Clinical Case Studies 1 - 2:30 pm : Diagnosing and Managing Acquired Heart Disease without an Echocardiogram 3 - 4:30 pm : What’s that Sound? Approach to the puppy with a heart murmur What’s that Sound? Approach to the kitten with a heart murmur |
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Jeff Mayo, DVM, DABVP, MANZCVSSponsored by Noxsano Animal Health |
1 - 2:30 pm 3 - 4:30 pm |
Surgery |
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See Topics |
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Welcome Reception at 5 - 6 pm - with Complimentary food and drinksSponsored By Zomedica
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Friday, November 18, 2022Registration Open 8am (Laurel Foyer)Exhibit Hall Open 8am-4pm (Blue Ridge)
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Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA |
See Topics |
1. Making Your Practice Operations Cook Book a Recipe for Success Do you feel as if everyday you are returning to square one when it comes to training? Are you re-inventing the wheel from 800 AM to 600 PM? Is there no consistency in what your team is doing between people; each day, let alone each hour? You need an Operations Manual or Cook Book full of processes or recipes that everybody can refer to and be taught by to provide a consistent experience for every stakeholder in your practice. 2. Mapping the Client Experience /Patient Experience The experiences of your patients, clients, and staff all have defined steps that can be identified and mapped out. These steps and maps when documented an saved will increase efficiencies, consistency and profitability. Learn how to map the various experience and create a predictable outcome for your patients, clients and staff 3. Why you MUST have an Exam Room Advocate The most successful businesses have learned to delegate responsibilities. Veterinary medicine is not as effective in this realm. The Exam Room Advocate is a hybrid between a receptionist and technician whose primary purpose is to manage work flow in the practice. They are the case manager now seen in human healthcare. The transciprtion nurse that helps medical record keeping. And the Schmoozer that helps the client feel more comfortable 4. Patient Lifetime Value--Keeping Clients for LIFE!! Most practices worry so much about capturing new clients that they forget to try to bond their existing clients as "Raving Fans". What are some of the things that you can do to take your level of client service from "Target" to Nieman Marcus. Learn some very simple communication tricks to help bond your clients to your practice for life. The money you spend on external marketing is much more valuable when spent to retain a client rather than obtain a client. When it comes to Key Indicators, most veterinarians compare their average transaction. However, this is really a measure of short term success. The real measure of your practices long term success is Patient or Client Lifetime Value. How much does each patient and/or Client contribute to the practice or their lifetime. Not only does this take into account the ACT but also a practice’s ability to retain clients/patients. Start using PLV as your measure of long term practice success 5. Creating an Education Marketing System that Retains Clients For years, marketing was all about interruption and repetition with the hope of action. To be effective in the 21st century while using all of the new resources, social media, websites, etc., you have to engage and educate the client about the needed care for their pet and how you can exceed that need. Clients want to be involved with their pet’s care and it is our job as healthcare experts to educate them to the point that they understand what needs to be done and come in and ask for it. Learning Objectives: how to create educational marketing pieces and how to use all possible resources to gradually and consistently educate your clients about new, current and future medical needs for |
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Mark Epstein, DVM, DABVP |
See Topics |
8:30 - 10:00 am : Opioids & NSAIDS: Updates You Need in 2023 10:30 - 11:30 am : Have the Nerve: Concept, Clinic and Updates of Local Anesthesia 1 - 2:30 pm : Those “Other” Pain Drugs: Fact & Fiction 3 - 4:30 pm : Pulling it Together: Protocols for Low- and High-Surgical Dose Procedures. |
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1-2:30pm 2:45-4:30pm |
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Saturday, November 19, 2022Registration Open 8am (Laurel Foyer)Exhibit Hall Open: 8am-4pm (Blue Ridge) |
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Speaker |
Time |
Topics |
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Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA |
See Topics |
6. Have You Called Your Practice Recently The telephone is the lifeline to your practice. On one end is a client or potential client seeking to have a problem solved. On the other end is veterinary hospital employee. And it is this variable that is of concern. Have you called your practice and listened to how calls are being handled? How professional is your practice being portrayed? Is your client service staff a barrier to your success? Scripts, communication training, and staff accountability are just a part of what is needed for a great client experience 7. What Numbers Do I Really Need to Look At? Or How Do My Vital Signs Loook? Your practice management software and accounting software or accountant regurgitate information in such great volumes that it is intimidating. The number of reports you can request is daunting. However, as glutted as you are with information your practice is starved of the appropriate knowledge to make decisions. There are really just a handful of numbers that you need to look at each day, each week, each month, each quarter, each year, that can help you navigate through the morass of running your practice. The reason most doctors won’t look at their reports is because there is too much too look at. What if we could simplify it to the bare bones numbers that tell you how your practice’s vital sign’s look? 8. Taking the Pain out of the Money Talk Talking clients about money is one of the most uncomfortable conversations that we have in practice. Sometimes the difference between life and death is determined by the effectiveness and ease of this conversation. Perfecting this discussion is needed to decrease the fear, anxiety and pain that results from presenting the invoice and discussing the payment options Learning Objectives: creating a financial policy; scripting the money talk; simplifying the money talk; and getting comfortable with talking money 9. Secrets from the Consolidators That Can Help Your Practice It is no secret that the veterinary consolidators are having an impact on the business of veterinary medicine. Do they have any secrets that you can implement in practice? As an independent practice, you have strengths and weaknesses that are different from the multi-practice ownership models. These strengths include flexibility, autonomy, and cohesiveness. On the other hand, the sheer number of practices gives the consolidators economies that have significant cost savings. From a human resource and marketing standpoint, what do you need to do to stay strong in the face of competition. What numbers do you need to be monitoring that the consolidators are looking at ? It is the small things that can make a huge difference. Do you know what they are? 10. Rebound, Rebuild, Reimagine The recent past has provided us with many lessons from which we can take home thoughts and ideas and ultimately take action. From this information, we can choose to rebound (to the way things were), to rebuild (to fix what might have been damaged) or to re-imagine (to create a practice more in line with the future). The decisions that you make will ultimately determine your practice’s destiny. It is time to re-imagine to meet the needs of the environment in which we conduct our businesses |
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Kursten Pierce, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology) and Brooke Bridges, RVT NCSU (Cardiology Technician)Sponsored by Ceva |
See Topics |
8:30 - 10:00 am : Who’s and Why’s of Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM), Presented by Brooke Bridges, RVT NCSU Cardiology Technician 10:30 - 11:30 am : Turn the Beat Around: Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Arrhythmias in Dogs & Cats, Presented by Kursten Pierce, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology) 1 - 2:30 pm : Who’s and Why’s of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Presented by Brooke Bridges, RVT NCSU Cardiology Technician 3 - 4:30 pm : Tips for Sedation and Anesthesia of the Cardiac Patient, Presented by Kursten Pierce, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology) & Brooke Bridges, RVT NCSU Cardiology Technician |
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Susan Baiz, DVM, University of Tennessee, Knoxville |
Otitis (externa, media/interna and differences in dogs and cats) - Part I Otitis (externa, media/interna and differences in dogs and cats) - Part II Otitis (externa, media/interna and differences in dogs and cats) - Topical Therapy |
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Joseph Jordan, PhD, CEONC Physicians Health ProgramNC Veterinary Health Program |
8:30am - 11am |
Drug intervention in the workplace Recognizing substance use disorders in the workplace. |
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Sunday, November 20, 2022 |
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8:30 am - 11:30 am |
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Please Note The Following:
*Times and Presenters Subject to Change
* Please turn off or silence cell phones in sessions
On-Site Registration is Now Available!
You can register Online now or On-Site, Walkins are Welcome, or
click here to download the Registration Form, fill it out and mail it with payment!
Register before October 29th, 2022 to take advantage of the Early Registration Discount!
Veterinarians $450.00 (before 10/29/2022) |
Technician, Receptionists, Support Staff $225.00 (before 10/29/2022) |
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One (1) Day Registraion is now available for $225.00! |
Speaker Bios...
First Last, MS, DVM, Diplomate (ACVD)
Joseph
Jordan, PhD, CEO, NC Physicians Health Program,
NC Veterinary Health Program
Dr. Joseph Jordan, Chief Executive Officer of the North Carolina Physicians Health Program, has 25+ years experience in working with persons experiencing substance abuse and co-occurring disorders.
He has worked in long-term residential programs and coordinated both adolescent inpatient dual diagnosis and adult and adolescent intensive outpatient treatment programs.
Prior to joining NCPHP, Dr. Jordan served as Ethics Officer and Director of Special Projects for a national credentialing board. Dr Jordan has previously served on state and national committees and boards devoted to the study, development, and refinement of substance abuse counseling practice.
On-Site Registration is Now Available!
You can register Online now or On-Site, Walkins are Welcome, or
click here to download the Registration Form, fill it out and mail it with payment!
Register before October 29th, 2022 to take advantage of the Early Registration Discount!
Veterinarians $450.00 (before 10/29/2022) |
Technician, Receptionists, Support Staff $225.00 (before 10/29/2022) |
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One (1) Day Registraion is now available for $225.00! |
Exhibitors At The Conference
Please visit these Exhibitors at the Conference to see the latest and best products and services for your veterinary practice: Coming Soon
Summus Medical Laser |
MicroVet Diagnostics |
ServiceVet Technologies |
BCP Veterinary Pharmacy |
Care Credit |
Epicur Pharma |
Visbiome Vet |
Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Science Inc |
Purina |
Simmons & Associates South East |
Weave |
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Click here to download the Ralph Lee's Great Smokies Veterinary Conference Exhibitor Contract
Conference Hotel Information
Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville
Nestled among the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville, NC is more than just a peaceful mountain retreat...
"With a privileged location just a mile from downtown Asheville, our hotel makes a convenient home base for exploring the area. From whitewater rafting to museums, plenty of excitement awaits our hotel's guests. In Asheville, NC, the spectacular Biltmore Estate is a must-see, while a Gray Line trolley tour offers an interesting look at the city's history. We are just minutes from the excellent dining and shopping at Grove Arcade. Elegant facilities and an ideal location make us "The Place to Meet" in Asheville. ..."
For Hotel Reservations:
Room rates start at $167 + tax (standard room) and rate guaranteed until October 16th, 2022.
Call our toll-free number 1-844-330-0296 (24/7) and mention the group name Ralph Lee’s Great Smokies Veterinary in order to receive the special group rate.
For In-House reservations attendees can call our local number during normal business hours 828-285-2603 and mention the group name, Ralph Lee’s Great Smokies Veterinary
Use the weblink https://ashevillecp.com/ then enter dates of stay and Group Code: RAL
Book online using the weblink created for this conference Ralph Lee’s Great Smokies Veterinary
On-Site Registration is Now Available!
You can register Online now or On-Site, Walkins are Welcome, or
click here to download the Registration Form, fill it out and mail it with payment!
Register before October 29th, 2022 to take advantage of the Early Registration Discount!
Veterinarians $450.00 (before 10/29/2022) |
Technician, Receptionists, Support Staff $225.00 (before 10/29/2022) |
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One (1) Day Registraion is now available for $225.00! |
Area Information
The Biltmore Estate (Photo Courtesy of ExploreAsheville.com )
Asheville, North Carolina
"Asheville is that type of unique, special place that lingers sweetly in your mind and memories for years to come. The city's rich architectural legacy with its mix of Art Deco, Beaux Arts and Neoclassical styles is the perfect retro-urban backdrop to the edgy energy that emanates from the locally owned-shops and art galleries, distinctive restaurants and exciting entertainment venues. Known as an art colony, a healing resort and a home to notable luminaries, statesmen and bohemians, Asheville is one of the most welcoming, vibrant cities in America."
Discover Asheville, N.C. at https://www.ExploreAsheville.com. And remember who you really are. Because there's more to life than the climb. There's the view that takes your breath away, the refreshing mountain air and the fresh flavors of the Blue Ridge. (Video Courtesy of ExploreAsheville.com )
Fall Foliage near Asheville, North Carolina (Photo Courtesy of Cynthia L. Drury)
The Groove Arcade in Asheville (Photo Courtesy of ExploreAsheville.com )
Fall Foliage near Asheville, North Carolina (Photo Courtesy of Cynthia L. Drury)
On-Site Registration is Now Available!
You can register Online now or On-Site, Walkins are Welcome, or
click here to download the Registration Form, fill it out and mail it with payment!
Register before October 29th, 2022 to take advantage of the Early Registration Discount!
Veterinarians $450.00 (before 10/29/2022) |
Technician, Receptionists, Support Staff $225.00 (before 10/29/2022) |
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One (1) Day Registraion is now available for $225.00! |