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Editor’s note: This article was updated on 09/20/2023
When it comes to change, many would rather stick with the way they have always done things than try something new. However, new companies are emerging in the veterinary medicine sector, with platforms and offerings ranging from promising to solving the problems that professionals face daily in clinics. You may be wondering which ones are worth investigating.
Shawn Wilkie, founder and CEO of Talkatoo, a subscription-based veterinary dictation software, and co-host of the show Veterinary Innovation Podcast, shared the companies he believes are worth investigating, while speaking at the Fetch dvm360® 2023 conference in Kansas City, Missouri. In no particular order, the companies he discussed included the following.
Instinctive science
A cloud-based operating system, Instinct Science offers a fully electronic medical records and practice management system. Instinct Science functions as a standalone digital workflow treatment plan as well as an e-prescribing platform. The company, based in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, was founded to help solve the problem of other tools being impractical and not promoting clinic efficiency. Solutions offered by Instinct Science include Instinct Treatment Plan, Instinct EMR, and InstinctScripts.1
“It’s another one of those web-based practice management software programs and they have a little different approach…they don’t do as much on the pet parent communication side, but they do a bunch interesting things. So they are trying to solve the same problem. They feel that existing veterinary practice management tools are cumbersome and perhaps not developed for modern times,” Wilkie explained.
Pet app
It’s no surprise to the veterinary industry that more and more patients are visiting clinics: 1 in 5 households have brought home a pet since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.2 Although the pandemic has prompted many families to bring pets into their forever homes, the trend is also resulting in more calls, texts, appointments and stressed team members. To alleviate some pressure, PetsApp is a customer communications platform that can also handle marketing and patient management.1
“I think their app is really great. Again, the user interface design and the experience of using their software is really good, and it’s definitely a challenge to make. What they were trying to solve was the unsustainable number of incoming calls. There are so many missed calls in your practice, along with poor customer service and compromised patient care,” Wilkie said.
The CEO and co-founder of the Minneapolis, MN-based company, Thom Jenkins, MA VetMB, MRCVS, is a veterinarian and has had an inside perspective on what can go wrong and how things can be improved. With PetsApp, veterinary clinics can text chat with their clients and manage appointments, reminders, video calls and digital payments.1
VetSnap
VetSnap is the first controlled drug logging software compliant with federal DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) regulations.3 Its controlled logbook offers veterinary practices a simple and secure solution for managing controlled substances. Normally, documenting a clinic’s inventory can be tedious for team members and finding errors can be a major challenge.1
With VetSnap, veterinary teams can access real-time tracking when inventory is checked in, completed, opened or restocked. The software also downloads client and patient information from Veterinary Practice Information Software (PIMS) and identifies possible differences between PIMS codes and logs; It filters, organizes and searches logbooks by container, veterinarian, drug and time. The software is also available on tablets, phones and computers to allow veterinary teams to access their logbook anytime, anywhere.1
“(VetSnap) has made (logbooks) more accessible. They did it in real time. They allowed you to restock items based on the medication log. And, last but not least, they made it very easy to solve this problem (and) sort of organize something very important (that) has this potentially scary impact for a veterinary hospital. Nobody wants the DEA to come to their hospital and say, “Show me your medication log” and have that conversation – I don’t think it’s fun. So they created this product that really helps,” Wilkie said.
Digital
When it comes to the clinic, outdated and cumbersome systems can wreak havoc, according to Wilkie. They can make integrating add-ons difficult; this can lead to frustration, complications and higher costs at the clinic. All of these factors can affect staff, potentially leading to burnout due to a hectic and disorganized system. Digitail is an all-in-one cloud-based management software that includes a pet parent app.1
“One of the things they do that few people have done, when it comes to practice management systems, is build KPIs (key performance indicators) and analytics into their software on everything that’s going on. came to this office. They also have a smart whiteboard component and they really try to…fill in a lot of things (that) people buy multiple software programs for,” Wilkie said. “And the one thing I know as an entrepreneur for 20 years is that doing one thing is really hard. Doing a lot of things is even harder. But if you can get enough people around you (who) are smart enough, you might be able to do it.
Veterinary clinics can also send invoices, manage inventory and create reports; Additionally, Digitail offers data migration, cleansing and standardization.4 Change can be difficult for many to accept; as the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” However, Wilkie encouraged attendees interested in new management software to seek out more information about Digitail.
Pet Office
PetDesk created its communications management software to improve the understanding and exchange of information between customers and veterinary professionals. The software aims to combat staff burnout by saving time with its offerings.1
“PetDesk’s goal is staff burnout, time savings (and) the new problem of veterinary care and monetization. They voluntarily help with all these things. So what is their solution for? It sends online appointment confirmations to clients (and) allows pet owners to track the health of their pet(s) and communicate with that staff in real time using their app or their mobile website,” Wilkie said.
“(PetDesk) is a really cool tool (that) allows customers to view their prescriptions, create new prescription records (and) refill their prescriptions, all in one app. And then most importantly, and this is a very common theme in (veterinary medicine), they’re really trying to help you with customer communication, trying to help you interact with your customers digitally on their own terms. of your client,” he said. continued.
The app will also allow pet parents to submit appointment requests, access health records and communicate with staff if necessary. The clinic can use this platform to communicate with all clients, targeting messages to certain or specific segments through email, SMS, app notifications, etc. Additionally, PetDesk gives its users the ability to build their online presence through website building, social media management and more to help get the clinic’s name out in the community.5
More to watch
Throughout his talk, Wilkie also cited PetDx, Med Dimensions, SignalPET, Vetstoria and Zomedica as other companies to watch within the veterinary industry. While the change isn’t for everyone, the improvements and services each of these companies can offer to veterinary clinics can provide solutions to providing pets with the care they need to live happy, healthy lives . These options can also help veterinary teams stay happy and organized in the workplace.1
The references
- Wilkie S. 10 innovative companies in the field of veterinary medicine worth checking out. Presented at: Fetch dvm360 conference; August 25, 2023; Kansas City, MO.
- A new ASPCA survey shows that the overwhelming majority of dogs and cats acquired during the pandemic are still in their homes. Press release American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. May 26, 2021. Accessed September 12, 2023. https://www.aspca.org/about-us/press-releases/new-aspca-survey-shows-overwhelming-majority-dogs-and-cats-acquired-during
- Shi Y. How does VetSnap comply with federal regulations for controlled drug registration? VetSnap. Published May 27, 2022. Accessed September 13, 2023. https://go.vetsnap.com/how-does-vetsnap-comply/
- Digitail – all-in-one cloud veterinary software. Digital. Published June 9, 2022. Accessed September 13, 2023. https://digitail.com/
- Why PetDesk? Pet office. Published June 30, 2023. Accessed September 13, 2023. https://petdesk.com/product/