For most clinics, the challenges are familiar: managing appointments, streamlining charting, and keeping clients happy. But for Amici Cannis, a non-profit veterinary hospital in the Andean highlands of Ecuador, the challenges are exceptionally complex.
Founded by U.S.-trained veterinarian Dr. Heather Steyn, the clinic has a multi-faceted mission:
The team—4 doctors and 8 veterinary technicians—was also preparing for a massive expansion: moving from a 1,200-square-foot clinic into a brand-new 12,500-square-foot hospital.
Scaling into that new space required a software platform that could handle bilingual workflows, support staff and students with radically different experience levels, function reliably in the field during mobile outreach, and produce the reporting Amici Cannis needs for nonprofit grant management.
Digitail checked all the boxes:
“We’ve always been a progressive hospital, but we needed something more agile,” said Dr. Steyn. “Digitail’s AI tools, cloud functionality, and bilingual capabilities made it the clear choice.”
With a generous donation from Digitail, the organization transitioned to a modern, AI-powered platform that supports bilingual care, efficient workflows, and the training of future veterinary leaders.
One of Amici Cannis’ most impactful initiatives is its year-round externship program for fourth-year veterinary students from top-tier U.S. schools, including UC Davis, Tufts, and Cornell. These externs arrive in Cotacachi to gain hands-on experience in both high-quality clinical care and public health-focused outreach.
Digitail enhances every part of this educational experience:
✔️ Students access real-time medical histories to prepare for cases
✔️ They document procedures and exams with AI-powered SOAP tools
✔️ They gain exposure to a fully paperless, modern veterinary practice management software used globally
✔️ They build digital literacy that aligns with emerging trends in veterinary medicine
This isn’t just about better training. It’s about changing the expectations of what veterinary care should look like. When these externs return to the U.S., they carry with them real-world experience with a powerful digital platform—often influencing the clinics they join to adopt more advanced, efficient systems like Digitail.
“We don’t just teach students to be better vets,” Dr. Steyn explains. “We prepare them to be adaptable and forward-thinking professionals.”
Many of the animals treated by Amici Cannis live in rural or Indigenous communities, where access to veterinary services is almost nonexistent. To reach them, the Amici team runs regular mobile clinics and door-to-door vaccination campaigns.
Here, the power of Digitail’s mobile-friendly, cloud-based infrastructure becomes essential.
“Digitail allows us to document patient care wherever we are,” says Dr. Steyn. “It’s no longer about doing the work and catching up on paperwork later—we can provide seamless care in the moment.”
Using tablets and mobile devices, staff can:
Cotacachi is a bilingual community, about half of Amici Cannis’ clients are Spanish-speaking Ecuadorians, and the other half are English-speaking expatriates. That linguistic diversity presents unique challenges for communication, documentation, and education.
Digitail’s multilingual capabilities offer a solution to the language barrier challenges that arise. Vets can write SOAP notes in Spanish and generate discharge instructions in English, or vice versa. Along with this feature, the software allows toggling between languages in the same record. Lastly, the clients can receive printed or digital summaries in their preferred language.
“Spanish and English fluency is essential for us,” says Dr. Steyn. “Digitail’s flexibility helps our doctors communicate more effectively and provide better care.”
This functionality isn’t just convenient, it’s essential for improving outcomes and building trust with pet parents.
The transition to a larger hospital facility is a monumental moment for Amici Cannis. The new clinic will offer expanded surgical capacity, dedicated diagnostic suites, and more space for training, outreach, and collaboration.
Digitail is being implemented ahead of the move, allowing the team to:
Amici Cannis has become a place of learning and innovation. Introducing Digitail to these professionals strengthens the platform’s visibility and reinforces its value in real-world, high-volume settings.
Digitail’s decision to donate its software to Amici Cannis represents more than corporate generosity; it’s a strategic collaboration that creates value for both parties.
This kind of partnership is a model for how veterinary software companies can align with mission-driven organizations to make a difference, not only for animals and communities, but for the profession itself.
“Digitail helps us work smarter, faster, and more compassionately,” Dr. Steyn said. “Together, we’re building a model of care that can inspire and educate far beyond Ecuador.”
Amici Cannis is proving that veterinary care in low-resource settings can be efficient, innovative, and deeply compassionate. With the right tools, they’re building a future where veterinary professionals are supported, communities are empowered, and every animal receives the care it deserves.
By choosing Digitail, Amici Cannis is not just keeping pace with modern veterinary standards, they’re leading the way in how digital tools can support real-world impact. And with a shared vision between these two organizations, the future of veterinary care—both in Ecuador and abroad—is looking brighter than ever.
Digitail is the all-in-one veterinary software that runs your entire practice—saving you time, keeping clients happy, and helping your business grow.
