The Value of AI Notetaking
Making Time for What Matters
For veterinarians, the workday doesn’t always end when the last appointment does.
After the exam rooms quiet down, there are still medical notes and details from the day’s appointments to complete. For some doctors, that can mean longer days, late nights, or taking work home.
The Value of Work/Life Balance
For doctors, one of the biggest benefits of AI notetaking is simple: less time spent documenting.
Last year, we asked our doctors how AI notetaking tools helped with efficiency in their practices. They told us they saved nearly an hour on average each day – allowing them to get home earlier, spend more time with family, or simply have the freedom to leave work at work.
“Like so many other doctors, one of the dreaded parts of my job was the medical records. Now I can finish them before I leave at a reasonable time,” said Dr. Sam Springer, the Managing DVM at Highlands Vet Center in Virginia. “This tool has made my job exponentially better and has rejuvenated my career.”
A Tool That Supports the Whole Team
The benefits of AI notetaking don’t stop with documentation, though.
The time they got back has allowed them to spend more time connecting with their teams, answering questions, and supporting the people around them.
“I’m able to dedicate more of my attention to the needs of the practice, while also having more time to mentor my Associate DVM effectively,” said Dr. Springer.
AI notetaking can also open the door to more meaningful development. With greater insight into communication styles, workflows, and treatment plan conversations, AI documentation can help practice leaders identify where feedback and support can make the biggest impact.
More Present with Clients
Building relationships and trust with clients is just as important as diagnosing and treating their pets. Without having to type every detail of the appointment, doctors can be more engaged in the conversation – listening, answering questions, and taking the time to explain clinical recommendations.
“With AI dictation, I can give the owner those extra few minutes of attention that help them feel more valued as a pet parent,” said Dr. Brandt Athey, from Akron-Medina Veterinary Hospital and Pet Resort in Ohio.
That’s not the only benefit to clients, though.
“I can quickly generate a visit summary that helps the pet parent remember what we talked about. This has been especially valuable when one owner has to deliver complicated care options to a spouse or the whole family,” said Dr. Athey.
Making Space for What Matters
Technology will never replace the passionate people at the heart of veterinary medicine. But at Heartland, we know that the right tools can certainly make the day-to-day work a little easier.
“The old joke I would hear from DVMs when I asked what they needed was ‘more time in the day’. Now I see tools like AI scribes giving DVMs and their teams exactly that – more time,” said Brett Frazier, Regional Director of Operations.
“That’s more time for patients and clients during the day, and more freedom to consistently leave the practice on time with their records finished,” he said.
Because the goal isn’t to get more done. It’s to create a better workday that leaves more room for the people, patients, and moments that matter.
More time for the work you love. More time for life outside of it.
At Heartland, we’re always looking for ways to support veterinarians and their teams – not just in the practice, but in building careers and lives they’re proud of.