In this episode of The Business of Practice podcast, Stacey Cordivano, DVM, discussed her experience using an AI scribe system to create veterinary records.
Recently, Cordivano and her associate tested an AI program, CoVet AI Scribe, while doing dental work for a day. Her interest in AI scribes stemmed from the potential efficiencies they can provide, which can help veterinary well-being. “In the facilitation work that I do, I hear all the time that people are swamped with records,” Cordivano said. Many veterinarians struggle to find the time to complete their medical records.
How AI Scribes Work
“Initially, I thought AI technology sounded scary,” Cordivano continued. However, she found the technology to be fairly straightforward; it organizes your spoken words based on a template you create, which you can then copy and paste into your records. “The amount of time saved by not having to type all of the abnormalities, summary, and recommendations yourself is remarkable,” she added.
Cordivano said it’s important for the AI scribe to allow the veterinarian to edit or create templates specific to their needs. To use the scribe, the veterinarian downloads an app onto their phone. When activated, the app listens to your conversation and creates a medical record, leaving out any parts that are off-topic. The technology can automatically recognize the veterinarian’s summary and recommendations.
“The most detail and help the AI scribe has given to me is the generation of a more complete written history in my records,” said Cordivano. Originally a solo practitioner with two small children, her records were admittedly concise, and she often left out details the AI scribe now adds. She said she now talks more during her examinations than she did prior to using the scribe.
Cordivano said CoVet AI scribe has a setting where you can teach it frequently misspelled words. It also has a section in the templates for dispensed items, which she has found very helpful for creating accurate and complete invoices.
Client Perceptions of AI Scribes
“Clients love it!” she said. She thinks they find more value in her examinations because she is talking about her findings throughout the interaction, and the medical record reflects the details. Because the technology is recording the conversation, she always asks the client’s permission before activating the scribe.
Final Thoughts
In closing, Cordivano encouraged equine practitioners to try AI technology to help with their medical records. “We’ve got to be trying new things, and this is not a heavy lift,” she said.
About Dr. Stacey Cordivano
Stacey Cordivano, DVM, is a graduate of Penn State University and the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a one-year internship and then
founded Clay Creek Equine Veterinary Services in 2010. The parts of practice she enjoys the most are emergencies and chiropractic care. She hosts The Whole Veterinarian podcast and is a member of the AAEP Commission on Equine Veterinary Sustainability’s Equine Practice Culture Subcommittee. She is a Decade One facilitator and a MentorVet Equine Group facilitator, and she serves on the AAEP Wellness committee.
Related Reading
- Disease Du Jour: Artifical Intelligence Use in Veterinary Medicine
- Researchers Use Artificial Intelligence to Identify New Antibiotic
- Business Briefs: What Will Equine Practice Look Like in 2030?
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