5 Ways Veterinary Software Can Improve Patient Outcomes

Improving patient outcomes is a constant priority for veterinary professionals. In addition to developing your clinical skills and surrounding yourself with the latest diagnostic tools and technologies, strategically incorporating cloud-based veterinary software such as Shepherd can effectively ensure happier, healthier pets.

Here are five easy ways that Shepherd Veterinary Software can help you improve patient outcomes and lead to greater client satisfaction, healthier practices, and a more joy-filled career.

#1: Veterinary software lets you track and monitor patient progress and results  

Veterinary software simplifies the once cumbersome task of reviewing charts, monitoring a patient’s status, and checking on diagnostic reports by providing a central hub for all your patient information. From routine check-ups to complex medical procedures, comprehensive digital records allow you to observe and analyze each piece of data—from weight changes and lab results to medication history and hospitalization notes—ensuring that no crucial information slips through the cracks. With this level of precision, you can make more informed decisions and tailor treatment plans to each patient’s unique needs, which ultimately leads to better outcomes.

#2: Veterinary software helps you communicate with clients for greater compliance and education

Effective client communication is essential for building trust and ensuring compliance to improve patient outcomes. Veterinary software can automate many repetitive but necessary communications, such as appointment and refill reminders and templated emails for normal screening test results—all which help clients stay on top of their pet’s care. 

Additional features such as pet portals give clients access to their pets’ medical records and vaccine history, helping them feel informed and empowered as part of their pet’s care team. Two-way messaging options via a central messaging center or text-based communication app also provide clients with greater veterinary team access. Asynchronous two-way messaging ensures better service because the team can respond when they have the time and resources to truly focus on the client’s needs. 

By fostering transparent and open communication channels, veterinary software strengthens the veterinarian-client relationship, creating a more informed and engaged client—and, ultimately, a healthier pet.

#3: Veterinary software allows you to monitor medication adherence in-hospital and at home

Inside and outside the veterinary practice, tracking medication schedules can be a challenge. Unfortunately, every missed dose, forgotten treatment, and unrequested refill takes a toll on pet care outcomes and may affect clients’ confidence in your services or recommendations. 

Cloud-based veterinary software simplifies this cumbersome but critical process with streamlined in-hospital charting that syncs treatments across devices. This ensures that each recorded treatment is accounted for not only in the patient record but also on the final invoice, and reduces the likelihood of repeated or overlooked treatments. 

At home, veterinary software enhances medication compliance with automated reminders and refill alerts. Through a pet portal, it allows clients to request their pet’s medications with only a few clicks. By closing the gaps in medication monitoring, veterinary software helps optimize treatment efficacy and increases the likelihood of better outcomes.

#4: Veterinary software can help you identify potential health issues sooner

It’s easy to miss subtle patterns and trends when you’re flipping through a thick paper chart filled with hand-written notes or clicking through a half-dozen tabs to compare multiple diagnostic reports. Veterinary software simplifies medical record review by organizing patient information in an easy-to-read, digitized format. Search functions allow you to call up specific tests, invoiced items, or diagnosed conditions in a single click. Reference laboratory integrations can track and display the pet’s diagnostic result history in ready-made charts, graphs, and side-by-side comparisons for easy viewing or client education. With veterinary software that allows you to rapidly review and compare data from the pet’s entire medical record, you can enhance clinical accuracy and intervene earlier, in a more targeted fashion.

#5: Veterinary software gives you more hands-on time with patients

Veterinary medicine takes place in the clinic, not behind a screen. However, administrative tasks and laborious documentation often consume valuable time that could be better used for hands-on care or face-to-face time with clients. Veterinary software frees you from your desk and gets you back on the floor by automating repetitive tasks, such as client communications, inventory management, practice reports, and invoicing. At the same time, with an intuitive and simplified dashboard and interface, you can complete patient charts during the pet’s appointment, rather than wait for a break or until the day’s end. 

By increasing the time spent with patients and clients, veterinary software can enhance the quality of your services and enrich the overall patient and client experience.

Cloud-based veterinary practice management software not only boosts your team’s efficiency but also can improve pet health by facilitating more detailed patient care, monitoring, and assessment. Discover how Shepherd Veterinary Software can elevate your daily workflow and free up more time for what really matters—quality moments with your patients and clients. Contact our team to schedule a demo.