Training Today: LMS Goes to the Dogs

VCA Animal Hospitals used to 
rely on software combining 
PowerPoint presentations and audio narration to deliver training to its hospital workforce, which comprises 13,000 workers in 500-plus animal hospitals across 40 states. But as the company grew, it needed to provide more training both to hospital staff and support-office employees.

The solution? Purchase a learning management system (LMS) and customize it to meet VCA’s needs. Nicknamed TRAX, the new system is powered by the Meridian Global LMS, which enables the use of video clips of veterinarians discussing medical best practices, simulations, online collaboration, and safety inspection checklists.

“The LMS has allowed us to get 
more training, in a structured way, to 
employees,” says Christy Ritchie, vice president of Training for VCA Animal Hospitals. She says TRAX has become the focal point for all training, whether delivering an online course or registering veterinarians for classroom instruction on topics such as anesthesiology and radiology. It also produces checklists and 
reports that tabulate who has taken training and how well they scored, as well as archiving the more than 200 
online and classroom sessions the company offers workers.

According to VCA Animal Hospitals, demand for training increased after the TRAX implementation, with employees asking for customer service training; IT systems training; and courses to complement company initiatives, such as marketing campaigns.