The Virtues of Virtual Training

By: Robin Brown

We all understand the value of well-trained staff members, but traditional training can be costly and time-consuming- especially if it involves travel expenses and time away from the clinic.

As a result, many veterinary practices are leaning toward e-learning programs, or virtual training. Virtual training simply means that educational content is delivered by electronic means rather than a traditional classroom setting. Thanks to the Internet, virtual training is becoming more and more popular among busy veterinary practices.

Virtual training has many virtues:

• It's cost-effective. High course fees, instructor costs, travel expenses, and time spent away from normal job duties are no longer a problem.
• It's convenient. Staff members have the flexablity to train anytime, anywhere (provided they have an Internet connection).
• It's consistant. Training materials and course content are the same for every participant.

That's why McAllister Software Systems joined forces with VetMedTeam to offer a series of online AVImark courese as part of the VetMedTeam C.E. catalog. We figured it was another great way to help our clinics use AVImark to its fullest potential, while reducing training costs and increasing overall productivity. We also thought it would be a nice addition to our other virtual training methods, including our Training CDs, webinars, and online certification courses.

More than twenty AVImark courses are currently available via the VetMedTeam course catalog, covering individual AVImark features such as appointment and boarding calendars, inventory lists, treatment lists, reminders, whiteboards, estimates, and invoicing. Once courses are open, veterinarians and their staff can access them at any time during a twele-week session.

For more information please vist our website at www.avimark.net/training/elearning, or visit http://www.vetmedteam.com/classes.aspx to sign up.

Robin Brown is Director of Training and communications at McAllister Software Systems. She developed the AVImark training program for the company's in-house tech support staff, and she uses her expertise to conduct external training sessions for AVImark customers. She can be reached at robin.brown@avimark.net.