VMC, Inc Newsletter - January 2009

VMC, Inc.
30792 Southview Drive
Suite 200
Evergreen, CO 80439

Phone: 303-674-8169
Fax: 303-670-3899

email: vmc@vmc-inc.com

Website:
www.vmc-inc.com

News from VMC, Inc.

Mark Want to know if you have an inventory problem or not?

We all know the importance of effective inventory control, especially in difficult economic times. So how good of a job are you doing? One simple way to find out is to have someone affix a red dot to every single inventory item you have in your practice. A month later go look around and see how many items are still remaining that have a red dot on them, then do the same the following month. If you have really good inventory control in place you should see few if any red dots after 60 days.

Shelf life is the time from which a product comes into your practice to which time it is used or sold. What is the optimal shelf life for any inventory product? Thirty days, sixty days, ninety days? No, the optimal shelf life would be a minute or a second, you only want what you need at any given time, but a realistic shelf life would be thirty to sixty days. So, there should be few if any red dots after sixty days and those that still have red dots on them might lead you to your source of your inventory problem. Take the red dot challenge, it may be a very enlightening experience.

Mark Opperman
President, VMC Inc.

Let us hear from you - tell us what you'd like to see in future issues. You can contact us at vmc@vmc-inc.com

How to Help Your Managers Through Tough HR Discussions
by Sheila Grosdidier, BS, RVT

Often when a Practice Manager or supervising team member interviews potential team members, gives performance appraisals, has disciplinary discussions or must terminate an employee, they find themselves at a loss to find the right words at that critical time. One solution many people use is to create scripts for these situations. The scripts help the manager to stay focused, to be consistent and to keep from deviating off the path. Here are some examples provided by BLR (Business Legal Reports) of scripts that managers might consider using during these times.

Read the Full Article

E-Verify Legislation

by Sheila Grosdidier, BS, RVT

E-Verify is the federal online database that checks identity (validity of Social Security numbers) and employment eligibility of new hires. Employers must still complete the I-9 form and, if presented with a List B document, can only accept one that contains a photograph. It documents that each new employee (both citizen and non-citizen) is authorized to work in the United States. Employers who are required to use E-Verify, or who chose to use E-Verify must use this within three business days of the new hire's start date.

Controlled Substances and Substance Abuse

by Sheila Grosdidier, BS, RVT

Veterinary Clinics have controlled substances that they must protect. This is an additional problem if they have an employee with a substance abuse problem. With the new ADA regulations, the following information from the Department of Labor web site is something clinics need to be aware of i.e. the employee may have a right to a leave of absence to seek help for his/her substance abuse problem.

Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993
In some circumstances, treatment for alcohol or drug abuse meets the criteria for leave under FMLA. More information is available at:
http://www.dol.gov/asp/programs/drugs/workingpartners/regs/fmla.asp

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Under certain circumstances, someone with a history of alcoholism or drug addiction may be considered a qualified individual with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other Federal non-discrimination statutes, such as the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. More information is available at:
http://www.dol.gov/asp/programs/drugs/workingpartners/regs/ada.asp

Employers who face this issue should be aware of federal and state requirements for a hospital of their size and should see legal advice in dealing with this situation.