Implementing AI in Your Veterinary Clinic: Tips from My Experience at Riverside By Dr. Liza Price

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.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has completely changed the way we operate at Riverside Vet, a member of the AcharaVet community, and if you’re considering it for your clinic, you’re already one step ahead. However, like any major change, adopting AI comes with its own learning curve.

Based on my experience, here are some actionable tips to help you successfully implement AI in your veterinary practice.

1. Start with Intention

Before diving into AI, you need to set a clear intention. What problems are you trying to solve? Are you looking to streamline workflows, improve communication, or reduce the administrative load? Without clear goals, you might just be adding technology for technology’s sake. At AcharaVet, our main goal was to get home on time and reduce burnout while still providing top-notch care. Setting that as our North Star helped us stay focused throughout the process.

  • Define the specific problem(s) you want AI to solve. Write them down and share them with your team so everyone’s on the same page.

2. Involve Your Team Early

AI adoption isn’t a one-person job—it’s a team effort. From the get-go, make sure your whole staff is involved and understands the “why” behind AI implementation. Explain how AI can make their day-to-day tasks easier and relieve administrative burdens. The more your team buys in, the smoother the transition will be.

  • Hold a team meeting to discuss how AI can benefit their workflows. Be transparent about challenges and encourage feedback.

3. Start Small

You don’t have to jump into the deep end. Like we did at Riverside Vet, start small by focusing on one key area where AI can make the most immediate impact. For us, it was AI-powered SOAP notes and automated client communication. By easing into it, we had time to build trust with the technology without overwhelming the team.

  • Identify one specific task where AI can help and implement it first. This could be automating SOAP notes, scheduling, or improving client follow-up.

4. Be Patient with the Process

Implementing AI isn’t an overnight success. Like building any new habit, it takes time to fully integrate into your workflows. When I first started using Tails AI for quick SOAP notes, it wasn’t perfect right away. But over time, as I trusted the process and gave it feedback, it became a powerful tool. Be patient with yourself and your team as you all adjust.

  • Give yourself a 30-day window to assess how well the AI is working for your clinic. Track improvements and setbacks, and don’t be afraid to adjust your approach.

5. Train and Retrain

AI is a tool, but the people using it need to be well-equipped to get the most out of it. Continuous training is key. Whether it’s learning to use the AI to its full potential or adjusting how you interact with it, your team will need to refine their approach. At RIverside Vet, we built a relationship with Tails AI over time, and consistent training made all the difference.

  • Schedule regular training sessions with your team. Focus on small, incremental improvements to their workflow with AI.

6. Measure Your Success

It’s important to track how AI is impacting your clinic. Is it reducing the time spent on administrative tasks? Are staff members more satisfied? Is it allowing you to see more patients without compromising care? These metrics will help you assess AI’s success and identify improvement areas.

  • Use a KPI tracker to measure key metrics such as workflow efficiency, employee satisfaction, and patient load. Review these regularly and adjust your AI usage as needed.

7. Prepare for Challenges

As with anything new, there will be challenges. Whether it’s learning how to use the software or encountering resistance from staff, expect some bumps along the way. The key is to view challenges as opportunities to refine your processes. Keep your end goals in mind and work through the setbacks with patience and persistence.

  • Create a “challenge board” where staff can log any issues they’re facing with the AI. Review it regularly and troubleshoot as a team.

8. Build Trust with AI

It’s natural to feel hesitant about relying on AI, especially if you’re used to doing things a certain way. I had my reservations about letting AI take over my SOAP notes, but once I saw the results, I realized just how much it could lighten my load. Building trust with AI is essential for long-term success.

  • Test AI with smaller tasks first and review the results. The more you see its effectiveness, the more trust you’ll build.

Final Thoughts

AI can be a game-changer for veterinary practices, but it’s important to approach it with intention, patience, and a commitment to continuous learning. By involving your team, starting small, and tracking your success, you can create a more efficient, less stressful clinic environment—one that lets everyone get home on time.

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