Veterinary practice owners and managers are becoming increasingly aware of the power of mobile technology, which is a great thing.  There’s no doubt that the explosion of smartphone technology has created a tremendous opportunity to provide value to clients year-round, not just when they’re in the office.

One of the most interesting things I learned in business school was that the rate of consumer technology adoption is accelerating beyond belief.  This can be intimidating for veterinarians who, as a rule, don’t have a history of being early adopters when it comes to technology.  The fact that the average veterinary clinic is a good ten years behind the times in this area isn’t cute anymore….it’s a threat for those practices that don’t adapt.  And a tremendous opportunity for those that do.  

When I was an emergency veterinarian, I would see 2-3 patients every shift who had medical records that I needed but couldn't get.  And I'm not talking about vaccine dates or prescription refills....I mean relevant, potentially life-saving information like X-Rays, labwork results, drug doses, or even something as simple as physical exam findings.  Some of this is due to the nature of emergency medicine: we're here when your veterinarian is closed.  But try telling that to a pet owner who just spent $500 on a workup not 6 hours ago that now has to be repeated, all because those records are not available.      

Photo by Dana L. Jackson