One key to happiness for veterinary professionals is the freedom to be present in the moment. This means focusing on patient and client care without the distractions of management inefficiencies and administrative burdens. Integrating artificial intelligence might initially seem like one of those annoying distractions, something you must do to maintain a competitive advantage in today’s market. However, AI has a much more positive outlook. By taking on the least desirable tasks and day-to-day headaches, artificial intelligence holds the promise to save veterinarians precious time and help them find meaning and joy in their work.
Distractions harm human minds and business performance. A 2020 study conducted at a major U.S. manufacturing facility found that workplace distractions were 15 times more costly to the company in terms of productivity loss than absenteeism due to illness. Numerous other studies also illustrate that distractions take a toll on employee well-being and productivity.
Here are some of the AI tools a veterinary practice can implement now.
Charting
The best AI tools create more thorough and accurate charts than manual charting and save significant time. Veterinary professionals then have more time to spend on patients and seeing more of them. A 2024 AAHA Trends article listed the positive impacts of digital charting and linked to several companies providing the services. One example was Scribenote.
The hesitation to use AI charting can originate from concerns about integrating the software with other parts of a practice management system. That challenge can be overcome. Other resistance can come from the cost of purchasing an AI tool. However, the cost must be weighed against the increase in productivity when the charting burden is radically reduced.
Bookkeeping
While you’re probably not distracted by daily bookkeeping — I hope someone else is keeping the books at your practice — bookkeeping is time-intensive and sometimes inaccurate when performed by a human. Newer AI-enabled practice management software platforms, such as Digitail, help generate invoices and track payments and integrate with digital and AI-enabled charting, drastically reducing a practice’s overhead burden. VetSOAP is another example that integrates charting and invoicing.
Inventory Management
Not only do veterinary practices lose money from lost inventory due to expiration and obsolescence, but inventory management is also time-consuming. Hospitals can manage their inventory better using AI, ideally via practice management software. If integrating AI seems like a hassle, consider the storage and labor costs without it. Freeing up room used by poorly ordered and over-ordered inventory can provide more space for practices, perhaps to house new diagnostic equipment.
Appointment Scheduling
Imagine running a practice that helps veterinarians prioritize their professional time and supports higher levels of patient care and client satisfaction. In an eye-opening study from England’s NHS health care system, AI tools that allowed patients to manage their appointment bookings resulted in:
- Patient wait times falling by 73%.
- Booking personnel answering 58% fewer phone calls.
- Repeat appointments dropping by 70%. (Patients got the proper care the first time.)
- Doctors spending 50% more time with patients by optimizing appointment bookings.
- 8 percent more appointments occurring without the need to hire additional staff.
The study also showed the promise of providing better care simply by reducing the overwhelming inefficiency of manually managing appointment bookings. Such outcomes can also be applied directly to veterinary practices, using friendly and accessible AI appointment management tools.
I should note that AI appointment booking does not replace customer service staff. Instead, it allows CSRs to assist clients who cannot or choose not to use software applications and to manage complex customer issues with more attention and fewer distractions. It also helps streamline client flow upon arrival at the hospital.
Radiology
In many cases, machine learning outperforms people in reviewing radiographic images for pathologies. AI uses large databases to compare images, and AI tools can help veterinary professionals connect with teleradiologists to interpret images quickly and effectively. Vetology is one example of an AI radiographic diagnostic platform.
It is easy for professionals to keep doing the same work they have always done as the world changes around them. Change is hard, and not all change is good. Use caution when purchasing expensive tools and embrace new ideas unless they are well-proven in the veterinary market. But do not let caution hold your practice back. AI tools can reduce distractions and overhead costs while potentially leveraging practitioners so that they find more time for the work they truly love.