Dr. Jose Fernandez and Dr. Mike Eaves spent years working in emergency veterinary medicine. Long shifts, unpredictable caseloads, and limited time with pet parents left them craving a change. They envisioned a practice where relationships mattered and preventive care was the priority.
In June 2023, their dream became Southern Trail Animal Clinic in Easley, SC. Alongside four veterinary technicians and three vet assistants, they built a practice focused on client relationships and high-quality veterinary care.
Dr. Fernandez explained their mission clearly: “We wanted to bring our ER experience to general practice, focusing on preventive care and really deepening those client relationships that ER practice just can’t sustain.”
Picking the right veterinary practice management software was a big decision. Their experience with legacy systems like Cornerstone and Avimark had been frustrating. Complicated workflows, system crashes, and slow updates made running a clinic harder than it needed to be. They wanted a cloud-based, intuitive solution that wouldn’t slow them down.
After testing a few options, Digitail stood out. It felt cleaner, easier to use, and way less of a headache than other platforms.
We looked at ezyVet because everyone talks about ezyVet, but I didn’t like the interface. Too many windows, too many steps. When we tested Digitail, it was just simple and user-friendly.
Beyond functionality, Digitail’s responsiveness was a game changer. Instead of waiting years for updates, they roll out features and improvements fast, and feedback from clinics actually matters.
With other software, if something didn’t work, you were stuck with it. With Digitail, updates happen all the time. If you suggest something, they listen.
From day one, Southern Trail leveraged Digitail’s AI features. The dictation feature quickly became indispensable, transforming how they documented patient care. Utilizing Tails VIP is saving the team time and headaches.
Honestly, all my medical notes go through Tails, I speak fast, and my team can’t always keep up. Having AI dictation means nothing slips through the cracks. I can quickly see exactly what I discussed with each client.
Dr. Eaves, who used to spend a lot of valuable time documenting surgeries, now gets it done in minutes.
“He loves to use the dictation for sugeries. He dictates his notes, corrects them quickly, and Digitail takes care of the rest.” explains Dr. Fernandez
They also use AI for medication dosages and treatment protocols. Dr. Fernandez is even testing whether AI can remember specific anesthetic protocols for automatic calculations.
Dr. Fernandez explains, “I save my anesthetic protocol as a bookmark and ask Tails AI to calculate preliminary dosages.”
Staying on top of everything in a busy clinic can be a challenge, and for Dr. Fernandez, dealing with ADHD adds to the challenge of keeping track of conversations, ensuring nothing gets missed, and staying organized can be overwhelming. That’s where Tails AI comes in.
I talk fast, I move fast, and I forget things. AI dictation means I don’t lose track of conversations, and the verification feature helps catch things I might have missed. It’s like a second set of eyes on my work.
Southern Trail’s team uses Digitail’s AI-powered workflows across the entire patient journey every day, cutting out unnecessary steps and making life easier.
Our techs use Tails AI all day for discharge instructions. It’s quick, easy, and ensures our clients leave with clear, helpful info.
The team also loves how Tails AI can quickly summarize patient histories. Before, a 20-page medical history used to mean digging through paperwork. Now, Digitail’s AI does the work, pulling out vaccinations, medications, and treatments instantly.
“My receptionist already knows. When records come in, scan them and let Tails AI summarize. It saves a ton of time.” reflects Dr. Fernandez
Digitail’s pet parent app has a 40% adoption rate at Southern Trail. Clients can message the clinic, book appointments, and request prescription refills through the app.
“I personally love that clients can chat directly with us via the app,” Dr. Fernandez noted. “Although we’re still optimizing its use, those who do engage find it highly beneficial.”
But there’s a catch. Many pet parents don’t realize notifications are off by default, meaning they miss messages.
“I love that clients can chat with us directly, but a lot of them don’t know they have to turn notifications on. If we can find a way to solve that, I think more people would use it.”
Dr. Fernandez has one message for clinics on the fence about AI: set realistic expectations. AI can save hours, but it’s most useful when clinics actively engage with it.
AI is an assistant, not a replacement. Think of it like a colleague whose advice you value, but you still trust your own judgment. It’s not perfect, but it’s like having a second set of eyes. It catches things you might have missed.
Unlike previous software providers, Digitail stood out for its responsiveness and willingness to integrate client feedback. The Southern Trail team appreciated Digitail’s continuous improvement approach, where their voices were genuinely heard.
Digitail’s constant updates and quick responses have made a huge difference, it’s a lot easier to get responses and problems solved. Every time I have a suggestion, I submit it because I know Digitail listens. You can’t complain if you don’t say anything!
Unlike other platforms where integrations take forever, Digitail connects seamlessly with IDEXX for lab diagnostics and imaging. Dr. Fernandez says, “Digitail’s integration with IDEXX makes everything smoother. Ultrasounds, X-rays, everything just syncs effortlessly.”
For Southern Trail, Digitail isn’t just software—it’s a game-changing part of their daily operations. From keeping SOAP notes accurate to streamlining client communication and making AI work in their favor, it’s the kind of tool that makes practicing veterinary medicine easier.
Digitail saves me time, simplifies our workflow, and enhances client interactions. I can’t imagine practicing without it.
Digitail is the all-in-one cloud platform that allows you to run your entire practice with one single tool. We are your trusted partner to enhance patient engagement, streamline your processes, and grow your practice.
