Here's how you can set up a continuing education (CE) plan that will benefit your whole team and practice.

Set a Budget

Creating a budget and putting the funds toward specific education can help keep costs in check. Even the best ideas can cause bills to add up more quickly than anticipated. A CE plan that's chosen purposefully and wisely is an investment in your veterinary team and your practice. Decide what you're willing to spend, and then build your plan to fit that budget.

Choose a Focus, Then Set a Goal

There are seemingly unlimited topics when it comes to education, and if everyone on the team chooses their own path, it could be more difficult to organize. Your team may also have a harder time seeing the benefits that go beyond simply meeting requirements. Consider working with your team to choose a focus and set a goal. Once you know that, you can make a CE plan that achieves that goal and benefits everyone.

Delegate the Work

Now that you have a focus, ask individual teams/departments to each come up with a plan on how to learn more and work toward the goal within their area of the practice. As an example, consider education around creating a low-stress or fear-free environment. What each team should learn, and how they apply that knowledge, will vary. For example, in this instance, a lot of positive changes can be made in areas like reception, so consider having the reception team take the lead and report back on what they learn and implement.

Provide the Resources

In-person education is great, but it isn't always easily accessible—especially if you're looking for a specific focus. It may also be undesirable for team members to attend live events with busy schedules and busy lives. Luckily, there are several mobile-friendly, technology-based CE platforms for veterinary teams. Find a program that your practice can partner with to offer your team a feasible way to achieve their goals.

Set a Deadline

It's easy to keep putting a task on the back burner or moving it down the priority list when it isn't due yet. Decide on a reasonable time frame for your team to achieve your education plan goals and set a firm deadline. Use gentle reminders along the way to keep everyone on track.

Bring It All Together and Celebrate

Once each team has completed their piece of the puzzle, bring the group together to present what they've learned. Everyone should come to the meeting with a summary and actionable steps the practice can follow to achieve the overall goal. Make sure management supports the application of the new adjustments or advancements. Some things might be ready to be implemented immediately while others will require more time and discussion. When everything is successfully implemented, make sure to celebrate the team's achievements.

Creating an education plan that benefits all members of your team can help bring everyone together and reach a common goal.