Vet Tech: How the Digital Transformation Is Impacting Modern Veterinary Clinics

It has been almost three decades since the Internet arrived in the vast majority of homes and businesses. Since then, the digital transformation has led to big changes in the way we work, communicate, and take care of our health.

Digital transformation has not only impacted the human medical sector. It has also an impact on the way in which veterinary clinics work. First, vet tech is beneficial for the pets’ health, thanks to the advances in new devices and resources. Second, it has improved the way that professionals perform procedures.

However, if you have a veterinary clinic, it might be difficult to determine which steps you should take in order to improve your business. In this guide, we will take a look at the present and future of vet tech, including:

• The direction of veterinary medicine and technology.
• What options you can find on the market to implement at your clinic.
• What equipment allows you to offer better services to your customers.

Vet Tech: Its Impact and Importance

New technology is changing the way veterinarians treat their patients, so it is necessary to understand all the benefits, in order to take advantage of them. It can help your team to improve the diagnosis of your patients, thanks to a combination of machine learning and data collection. There are some tasks which are quite difficult or even impossible for a human to perform, but which can be easily managed with machine assistance.

Technology has helped improve collaboration and communication within teams. Now it’s easier than ever to work with other companies and offer better services to your clients. In fact, this is a growing trend since everyday it’s more important to become specialized in a specific field.

And we can’t forget the impact that it has on the marketing and business management of your clinic. Thanks to technology, it is easier to automate certain daily tasks.

Future Vet Tech in Medicine: What to Look Out For 

What can we expect in the future? From AI to telemedicine, let’s look at the main developments in the veterinary field.

AI in Veterinary Practices

Artificial intelligence might sound like sci-fi to many of us, but it is already a large help in human medicine and in the veterinarian field.

Due to its algorithms, artificial intelligence emulates human learning capacities to process data at an overwhelming speed. In the veterinary field, it is often used to study and take care of sick and injured patients, specially in cases which couldn’t have been treated in the past.

Machine Learning in Veterinary Practices

In the field of AI, we must also mention machine learning. It is a subcategory of artificial intelligence, that is dedicated to analyze trends in old data. It helps to detect unusual changes or diseases that might be undetectable to the human eye. Machine learning will have much more relevance in the future, with wearables, which are focused on monitor pet’s health and vitals.

Telemedicine in Veterinary Practices

Another trend that will continue to grow is telemedicine. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, telemedicine is a subcategory of telehealth that “involves the usage of a tool to exchange medical information electronically from one site to another to improve a patient’s clinical health status”.

For example, if a pet owner wants to know more about how to improve the behavior issues of their dog or if an animal requires a postoperative follow-up, using telemedicine can be a great idea. This kind of consultation can be performed online, and helps to reduce waiting time and to maximize the resources of the veterinarian. However, some consultations may require an extra device to monitor the health of their patients.

E-health and telemedicine

These terms can be a bit confusing. For example, what is the difference between e-health and telemedicine? Telemedicine is a subcategory of e-health, and refers to everything related to health and technology.

Advanced Veterinary Care Today: How to Implement It and Offer Higher Quality Services

So, how can you implement new vet tech into your business? The most essential part of these technological advancements is that they allow you to offer high quality service to your clients and patients. Let’s take a look at the indispensable technology that you will need to accomplish this goal.

Veterinary Technology: What’s Most Relevant in Clinics Today?

Before we take a deep dive into the most common tools, we should figure out what veterinarian clinics should consider, and which are the benefits of using these technologies. 

• Optimization of procedures and time: the first advantage is the optimization of daily procedures. Thanks to these improvements, the client is more satisfied, and it is possible to have better results at lower prices, which can appeal to potential customers.
• Interconnectivity: it is essential to stay in contact with specialists, to offer good quality health care to your patients.
• Document digitization & confidentiality: to improve communication and the internal organization of the clinic, you have to digitalize your documents. If you use new equipment, you can have results automatically sent to your mobile device. In this case, you may ensure the confidentiality and security of the data with cybersecurity.
• Promote your business: we can’t forget that a veterinary clinic is a business. In order to improve communication with your clients, it’s important to take a look at the technology you have at your disposal. Fortunately, there are some software companies that have created specific solutions for the veterinary sector. It is also easier for small and medium clinics to promote themselves with digital marketing. For example, with the segmentation options offered by the current marketing tools, you can make sure to find your clients in the market.
• Better diagnoses: due to clinical advances and things like wearables, pet scan options and 3D printing, veterinary clinics can give more accurate diagnoses. Let’s talk more about this.

Veterinary Diagnostics: How to Diagnose with Advanced Tools

One of the biggest steps in vet  tech is the improvement in diagnoses. This can be possible due to the combination of new devices and advances in machine learning. We will take a closer look at some of those devices, to understand its benefits:

• You don’t need to manually track the pet’s health.
• People can use software that helps detect patterns.
• Veterinarians can also examine specific areas more closely and in greater detail.
• Furthermore, you can obtain faster and more accurate diagnosis.

Veterinary Equipment: 3 Tools to Maximize Efficiency

It is pretty common to think that new releases are expensive or difficult to get access to. However, in reality, most of the options in the market are accessible, and the investment can be easy to get back. Let’s look at the veterinary equipment that will increase your efficiency and help you run your clinic as smoothly as possible.

PET Scan: How Is It Used in Veterinary Practices?

The PET scan is mostly used in diagnostic imaging, which plays an enormous role in the treatment of disease in veterinary medicine. It is most commonly used to detect cancer, because it can show how the tissues in the body work on a cellular level. If you have a PET scan, you will be able to look at molecular activity and detect disease even at an early stage.

ECG Monitor: Uses and Benefits

A more common instrument is the ECG monitor. An electrocardiograph has two main purposes: to record the heart rate and rhythm. It also helps monitor stress, anesthetized patients, and arrhythmia.

It is also important during anesthesia or post-surgical periods, although it can be limited in some cases. An example: you can’t monitor a patient for long hours with the traditional ECG Monitor, due to the wires, because the dog or cat can move. In this case, it would be impossible to detect a complication and get into a wrong diagnosis. This problem can be solved with other options, like the wireless harness.

Veterinary X-Ray: What to Consider Before Making a Purchase 

The veterinary X-ray is one of the instruments that has evolved the most in the last few decades. In the past, it took a lot of time to get results, but now it is possible to have them in a few seconds, and to display them directly to your mobile device. If you are thinking of buying a digital X-ray, you might wonder if it’s worth, considering the price. But the newest version offers more precise and fast results. This allows you to get a clear picture of the patient’s health in less time.

What Are the Essential Vet Tech Tools?

There are many tools that are essential at a veterinary clinic. Let’s take a look at some of them to learn how they can benefit your practice.

Tracking Harness: What It Is and How It Works

One of the essential tools for the modern veterinary clinic is the tracking harness. This is a wearable device that pets can comfortably wear while the veterinarian monitors relevant data related to their health.

Due to its wireless capabilities, the animal doesn’t have to be in a specific place. This is a big advantage for the veterinarian, because the professional can monitor patients in many situations. With Bluetooth connection, information is directly sent to the professional’s mobile device. It is also possible to set alarms to monitor the wellness of the pet, particularly in postoperative situations.

Another advantage of this type of device is that it allows you to compare different kinds of data, collected over an extended period of time. All of these factors lead to a more accurate diagnosis. It is also easy to use in surgical operations, such as neutering procedures, to monitor the patient’s vitals during the procedure.

What Are the Benefits of a Multiparametric Monitor?

There are some surgical operations that can’t be performed with the harness. In these cases, the use of a multiparametric monitor would be necessary. This device can help vets collect and monitor data quickly, which allows veterinarians to make better decisions.

Wireless Monitoring for Pets: What It Is and How it Works

Wireless monitoring seems to be one of the most valuable new technologies in the veterinary sector. It allows a more effective process of data collection, without requiring the presence of the veterinarian, and helps compare different vitals that might reveal relevant information for the diagnosis.

Pet Monitors and Other Wearable Devices

Wireless monitoring is possible due to the growing popularity of wearable devices, such as collars and harnesses. These types of devices make it easier for veterinarians to visualize results directly on their mobile devices and combine that information with machine learning processes. These devices also help detect some unexpected changes in vital signs that previously went undetected, due to the limitations that existed.

How to Monitor Vital Signs in Pets Wirelessly

Would you like to improve the way you monitor vital signs on your patients? One of the best options is Dinbeat UNO, our wireless harness. 

Start using Dinbeat UNO to monitor your patients’ most relevant vitals and improve the quality of your services. If you would like to get more information, we invite you to visit our Dinbeat UNO sales page or contact our team.