Gettyimages/Annastills Are you an “early adopter” of technology? If so, you may be using an AI vet scribe at work to help you keep extra-detailed records. Although I bought a Mac in 1986 and an electric car as soon as I could afford one, I was fairly late to the vet scribe party. To be honest, I’d been reluctant to join the bandwagon because most vet productivity apps I’ve tried have mostly underwhelmed. They tend to be clunky and don’t adequately solve the problems we really need them to. Hence, I’ve mostly been content to find workarounds by modifying existing human healthcare tech to bypass vet-specific applications. Over the past few months, however, I’ve been test-driving a variety of AI veterinary scribe apps, and I’ve been wowed. Not only do they solve a major problem we all run into (keeping complete records in an age of extreme client scrutiny), but they’re also getting better every month (unlike our PIMS, sadly). So, what exactly is an AI vet scribe? If you’ve ever stayed an hour or two late finishing records after a full day of appointments—or worse, you’ve completely forgotten to enter your notes on a patient and didn’t catch the omission until much later—you’ve already identified the problem AI scribes are trying to solve. At its core, an AI vet scribe is a documentation tool. It listens to your client interactions, weeds out extraneous discussions, converts the conversation into text, and then organizes the information into a medical record—typically a SOAP note and/or client communication summary—all before you even touch the keyboard. The promise is straightforward It’s what we all want: less time charting and more time practicing. Here’s how it works: You walk into an exam room, hit record, and proceed with your appointment as you normally would. You can pause at any time (as when you’re waiting for sample collection and diagnostic findings) while you pop into another room and start a new recording; or you can ask it to generate one of a variety of possible summaries so by the time you leave the room, you already have a draft record waiting for your review. Regardless of which AI vet scribe app you choose, this draft would typically include patient history, physical exam findings, assessment/differentials, diagnostics, treatment plans, and discharge instructions. Of course, “draft” is the operative word. There is no way you’d rely on a machine when it comes to a legal document. But now that it’s “on paper,” you can be secure in the knowledge your pregnancy or menopause brain won’t fail you now. You will “remember” every bit of that appointment when the time comes to revise the draft. Think assistant, not replacement Despite the marketing hype that inevitably accompanies any new technology, AI scribes are in now way capable of replacing our brains. They are just taking notes and organizing them for you. They are potentially very good notes—sometimes shockingly good—but we remain responsible for every word that ultimately becomes part of the medical record. This is particularly important because AI systems can still omit details, misinterpret conversations, or occasionally, even hallucinate information that was never discussed. In fact, that’s my biggest gripe with these apps. If we let them, they would ultimately become the sole arbiters of what’s relevant. What’s more, outside info on another patient can sometimes find its way into your notes. (The mics on our smartphones are sometimes too smart by half!) Key point: Human review is non-negotiable! Why scribes have gained so much traction One lesson we’ve learned from healthcare technology over the years is veterinary medicine is rarely well served by products designed primarily for human healthcare. I’ve tried them, and they’ve let me down. I spent more time correcting than seemed reasonable, which explains why I was not initially thrilled with the concept of a vet scribe. I was so wrong. These vet-specific apps really save time. Hours of it. That’s partly because vet scribes understand that “BAR” isn’t a typo; that “PU/PD” is clinically meaningful shorthand, and that Librela, Cytopoint, and Cerenia don’t merit autocorrection. Vet scribes also manage to navigate the realities of veterinary communication, translating complex medical information into language clients can understand. Speaking of language, some of them are even amazing at translating Spanish (even Spanglish) into English, which is absolutely necessary in my bilingual practice (I find Pawperfect Notes is the best for this). That’s why veterinary-specific platforms have gained traction so quickly. They generally require much less correction and are better equipped to handle the terminology we use every day, as well as the kind of communication our clients require. However, the real value is not faster typing (although that’s helpful for modified hunt-and-peck keyboardists like me). What interests me most about AI scribes is not efficiency for efficiency’s sake; it’s the ability to provide a higher level of care because we now have more time to do so. Vet scribes: Because recordkeeping duty sucks Most of us did not enter the profession because we loved documentation. So, when it becomes less intrusive, we spend less time looking at screens and more time engaging with clients and patients. Or more time researching new diagnostic and treatment options. That is where these tools have the potential to make a meaningful difference. However, the question isn’t whether an AI scribe can write a SOAP note. The question is whether the tool can write it well enough we can stay present during the appointment (not hovering over the computer with our backs turned), leave on time more often, and still maintain the quality of medical records our patients deserve. That’s a much higher bar—and ultimately the one that matters. Which vet scribe is best for you? This matters more than you might think, which is why you really need to play around with these toys. Luckily, you can easily test drive many of these vet scribes—at no initial charge—usually without an in-person sales pitch. Just sign up for a free trial and start recording. Some apps offer a couple of free weeks or a set number of appointments (no more than 50 recordings, for example), so you can decide which one suits you better. Here are some of the features you should consider: Does it correctly capture your medical decision-making? Especially differentials, diagnostic rationale, client communication, and declined recommendations. Are you content with its templates and options? Some offer few options for the kinds of conversation types you might want to keep in your records. SOAPs and client communication are standard, but you may also want to record phone calls, rounds, or dental charting. How much editing is required? A note that needs 20 seconds of editing is valuable, while one that needs two minutes of editing might not be best for you.) How well does it handle terminology for your practice? Drug names, foreign languages, dental charting, disease names, large animal/exotic terms, or terminology an ER or specialist might require. Does the team have access? Some will offer a full practice package with technician access to the app. Does it integrate with your PIMS? You may prefer integration, but I personally don’t mind cutting and pasting since they all have built-in web browser functionality. For initial multi-app trial run purposes, however, PIMS integration might prove an unnecessary barrier.) What does it cost? It’s not a small issue, but it’s not as expensive as you might think. For a four-doctor practice, the one I’m using now would cost us only $300 a month. Unfortunately, not every practice wants to pay for veterinary productivity (or cares enough about our quality of life). But, like me, I have high hopes they will come to adopt (and pay for) vet scribes too. I pay for my own, and I think it’s beyond worth it. Patty Khuly, VMD, MBA, runs a small animal practice in Miami, Fla., and is available at drpattykhuly.com. Columnist’s opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Veterinary Practice News.
