I’ll confess it- I’ve always been the kind of person who gets quietly excited about new technology. Maybe it’s because I’m an older millennial who grew up on Atari and the original Nintendo— the kind of kid who blew into game cartridges to get them to work—and later watched personal computers enter people’s homes for the first time. Technology has shaped every phase of my life, so it was inevitable that AI would eventually capture my attention
What surprised me was how long it took me to bring AI into my clinical workflow, particularly after I learned it had been around since 1956.
For 16 years, I typed every medical record manually. But about six months ago, between a full caseload and the reality of relief work, I finally decided to try AI dictation tools. And honestly? It has been one of the biggest quality-of-life improvements in my veterinary career.
Veterinary medicine is deeply rewarding—but paperwork is not. Documentation has always been one of the most draining and time-consuming parts of my job. SOAP notes squeezed between appointments, lunch, and the end of the day often spill outside the boundaries of the workday. I wanted a way to stay thorough without staying late or bringing work home.
I knew my documentation strategy was outdated, as if nothing had changed since 2009, the year I graduated from veterinary school. About a year ago, after Evette announced it was adding AI dictation transcript as one of our work benefits, I thought, “Let’s give it a try. Got nothing to lose.” And that one moment of curiosity introduced AI to my workflow.
AI dictation offered a simple solution to my pain point: Speak naturally, and let the system write the medical record for you.
I dove into several platforms to find what worked best.
In the past 12 months, I’ve experimented with:
• CoVet AI Scribe
• Scribble Vet
• HappyDoc
• Scribenote
• TalkingVet (my current choice)
Each platform has strengths—speed, formatting style, integration, accuracy, standard templates, custom templates, both self-made and with professional assistance—and each has meaningfully reduced my documentation burden.
One unexpected observation:
Some small independent clinics have already integrated AI dictation, while some large corporate practices remain behind. I frankly expected the opposite.
As a relief veterinarian, this makes flexible tools even more valuable. Even if a clinic doesn’t use AI, I can still open the app on my phone or use the browser version, record the visit, and then copy/paste the note into the clinic’s PIMS. It’s portable, adaptable, and incredibly practical.
One of the most impressive features of modern veterinary dictation tools is their ability to capture multiple speakers at once.
When the recorder is running:
• The client shares history,
• The technician adds observations,
• I discuss exam findings, my medical plan, and laboratory results.
The AI listens to everyone and reorganizes the conversation into a clean, structured, medically accurate record. It creates a chart that reflects the entire team’s perspective—something we’ve never had in our field before, since a medical scribe is not an official role in veterinary medicine.
Using AI dictation feels natural in a way traditional typing never has. These tools adapt quickly to:
• your tone,
• your phrasing,
• your rhythm,
• and even your accent.
As a non-native English speaker, this has been especially meaningful. AI helps ensure that my medical records remain clear, polished, and professional—even on days when English feels harder and requires more effort.
It doesn’t just transcribe; it refines, organizes, and elevates your communication.
Some platforms now go beyond basic dictation and offer:
• differential diagnosis suggestions,
• structured assessment summaries,
• and automated recommendations based on what you describe.
This has quickly become one of my favorite features. It feels like having a quiet thinking partner beside you—one that expands your differential list or brings up possibilities you might not have verbalized yet in a busy appointment.
It doesn’t replace clinical judgment; it supports it. You do not need to worry about replacing you either, as it still depends on humans to review its accuracy.
After a year of using AI, the benefits are clear:
I leave work on time and do not bring work home. My notes are completed before I walk out the door, something that is extremely valuable as a relief veterinarian.
My records are more complete. Speaking captures details that rushed typing often leaves out. I do not have to struggle to remember information on each case, particularly on busy days with 20+ patients.
Client communication is smoother. Summaries are clearer, and misunderstandings are fewer.
I’m more present in the exam room. I’m not mentally drafting SOAP notes while examining the patient and speaking to clients.
I feel more confident as a non-native English speaker. My written communication is consistent, accurate, and polished.
Given the pace of development, I can imagine a near future where AI listens quietly in the background of every exam room and writes medical records directly into the PIMS in real time.
No uploading recordings.
No dictating afterward.
No copy/paste.
Just seamless, integrated charting that happens as we practice medicine. And with how fast these platforms are advancing, that future feels very close.
AI has already made its official entrance into the veterinary field. It’s no longer a prediction—it’s here, it’s functional, and it’s rapidly evolving. The clinics that choose to embrace it aren’t just adopting a new tool; they’re aligning themselves with the future of veterinary medicine.
Those who hesitate will eventually be forced to catch up.
Those who adapt now will help shape what comes next.
And as someone who grew up through every technological shift—from 8-bit consoles to smartphones—I can say this confidently:
AI is the next evolution in how we practice medicine.
And the clinics that welcome it will be the ones leading the profession forward.
.png)
