35 Appointments in One Day, Home on Time: How AI Rescued Riverside Vet from Burnout
Dr. Liza Price is the owner of Riverside Vet and a partner at AcharaVet, a veterinary practice dedicated to empowering teams through AI-powered workflows and a people-first approach.
Getting home on time used to feel like a joke in the world of vet med. You say it, you hope for it, but deep down, you know it’s not happening. We all know the drill—endless SOAP notes, late-night record keeping, and never really turning off after a long day. As much as I love this profession, it can take its toll.
At Riverside Vet, a member of the AcharaVet community, we felt the pressure like everyone else. Running a clinic and maintaining the standard of care we wanted while also trying to prioritize work-life balance? It seemed impossible—until we found Tails AI.
Why I Finally Tried AI
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t all-in on Artificial Intelligence (AI) right away. I liked my routine and the way I worked, even if it meant staying late. But everything changed when my associate had a personal emergency and I had no choice but to step up. Suddenly, I was looking at a packed schedule and no backup. There was no way I could get through the day without being completely overwhelmed.
We had talked about Tails AI, but I hadn’t really committed. Well, that day forced me to dive in, and let me tell you—it made all the difference. I saw 35 appointments, got home on time, and only had three records left to finish. That’s when it hit me—this wasn’t just a fun tool. It was exactly what we needed to prevent burnout and keep our clinic running smoothly.
Building Trust with AI
It wasn’t love at first sight. There was a learning curve. I’d been doing things my way for over a decade, so trying something new was a bit uncomfortable. At first, I’d still do my exams and dictate the notes afterward, just to see how it worked. But once I saw how Tails could keep up, I started recording everything right in the room. By the time I walked out, my notes were already synced and ready. It’s amazing how much more confident and present you can be when you’re not constantly thinking about catching up on paperwork.
The Impact on Our Clinic
Before AI, I was always behind on notes, running on empty, and my team could feel it. Now, with Tails, I’m in the moment with my clients, focusing on them instead of worrying about all the admin tasks waiting for me. It’s not just me who’s benefiting—the entire clinic feels it. My techs love the patient summary feature. They’re not digging through records anymore; they can get the info they need fast, which speeds up everything.
Our culture has changed too. We’re happier, more efficient, and the best part? We’re getting home on time. It’s no small thing to be able to pick up my daughter from daycare and still have energy left at the end of the day.
Achieving Work-Life Balance
In vet med, we often accept that the grind is just part of the job. But it doesn’t have to be. You can run an efficient clinic, take care of your team, and still get home on time. I’m proof of that.
This isn’t about adding fancy tech for the sake of it. It’s about making vet med sustainable, so we can focus on what matters—our patients, our clients, and our team’s well-being. I hesitated at first, but once I made the leap, I wondered why I hadn’t done it sooner.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Crisis moments reveal a tool’s true value:
When an associate took emergency leave, Dr. Price handled a packed schedule solo. Tails AI turned what would have been a burnout week into a manageable one. - Start skeptical, finish converted:
Dr. Price was hesitant about AI and preferred her established routine. She began by dictating after exams to verify accuracy, then progressed to real-time recording. - Culture shift is the real win:
The whole clinic became happier, more efficient, and started getting home on time. Work-life balance went from a joke to a reality.
WATCH OUTS & LESSONS LEARNED
- Give yourself permission to test before committing:
Dr. Price’s adoption journey went from hesitant to all-in, but only because she verified accuracy on her own terms first. Pushing adoption too fast can backfire.
