9 January

The use of Virtual Reality for Veterinary Training

adminAnimal Health, B2B, TechnologyNo Comments

Every veterinarian student undergoes a combination of laboratory courses, classroom-based lectures, and clinical experience as part of his or her education. The latter is usually considered most difficult as it requires not only thorough understanding of the subject, but the ability to apply knowledge, situational awareness, discipline, and empathy, among many other traits. So, is Virtual Reality a good tool to help students to exercise these qualities and skills in preparation for the real challenge?

Let’s take a look:

Issues faced by Veterinary Students during Externships

Tackling Emotionally Challenging Situations

Working with wounded or anguished animals and their distraught owners can be emotionally destabilizing. Veterinary students often find it difficult to cope with the emotional toll of these situations. Some beginners take time to develop strategies for managing their stress and coping under pressure.

Effective Time Management

Clinical experiences can be demanding and often even require multitasking. Balancing clinical responsibilities with academic responsibilities can be cumbersome when working long hours with a heavy workload. This will only become more incommodious when they work at specialist hospitals or with referral centers. 

Client communication

Veterinary students may need to communicate with the client about the health and treatment of their animals. This may sound straightforward, but clients aren’t always receptive to advice, sometimes being stingy, other times skeptical. This can be difficult to handle for those with little experience in customer service.

Applying Knowledge in Real-world Settings

Veterinary students may need to adapt their own approach to fit the needs of individual animals and their owners. Very often, being a good vet is about making good decisions under pressure, despite high stakes. A very necessary practice to cultivate is seeking support from mentors and colleagues when overwhelming concerns and challenges arise. 

How can Virtual Reality Help in Training?

Virtual reality (VR) can be a useful tool for veterinarians in training, as it allows them to practice procedures and techniques in a simulated environment without the need for real animals or cadavers. This can be especially beneficial for procedures that are rare or difficult to perform, as it allows veterinarians to gain experience and confidence before performing them on live patients. The benefits of VR in training can include:

Response under pressure

During an emergency, one wrong decision can lead to catastrophe. Recreating the immense stress of being in clinics and subjecting the students to it in a risk-free simulation acclimates them to the precarity of the situation. They can practice on this platform to regulate their anxiety and trepidation and foster a rational, collected approach to dangerous circumstances. It also gives them the option to disengage if they initially feel overwhelmed.

Simulation of common procedures

VR can be used to simulate veterinary procedures such as spaying or neutering, patient sedation, and wound care. This creates a safe and controlled environment for practice before performance on live patients. This also enables monitoring and evaluation by instructors, so the common, recurrent mistakes can be pointed out and avoided.

Training for rare or difficult procedures

Post-graduation, veterinarians who join remote branches of veterinary practice would be required to perform advanced or complex diagnostic and surgical procedures. Vets that opt to work in unconventional locations such as zoos and wildlife reserves, where they are exposed to unfamiliar species and genera could benefit from relevant preparatory training. Simulating rare or difficult procedures on exotic animals might only be an option using VR. This can be especially useful for veterinarians who do not have access to a large number of cases in their practice.

Familiarity with new equipment

The use of veterinary equipment takes time to master, as moving with precision and confidence does not come naturally to all. The risk of errors cannot be taken on live patients. Hence, acquaintance with the strength of the medical supply or the flexibility needed when using an instrument is imperative.

Collaborative training

This virtual tool would be accessible to students across distances and facilitate collaborative training, allowing veterinarians to work with other professionals or students in a simulated environment. A common issue students face these days that many pre-clinical and clinical placements were cancelled during the pandemic. The rising fuel prices are making it difficult for students to fulfill 26 weeks of work experience. With a setting highly analogous with a clinical rotation training, the simulation should provide adequate immersion and engagement, as well as being an affordable alternative.

Overall, the use of VR in veterinary training can provide a valuable supplement to traditional methods of education and can help veterinarians to gain hands-on experience and improve their skills in a safe and controlled environment.

The Risks and Limitations of using VR in the training of Vet Students

Recreating the visual and aural cues simultaneously present at the trauma bay is no easy task. The consequences of implementing a substandard program that fails to capture the true nature of emergencies can produce unqualified veterinarians. And substituting the real-world experience with a low-stakes, pretend scenario will have its drawbacks as well.

Emotional Desensitization

While acclimating students to emergencies, the university does run the risk of inducing apathy in them. Students that view their patients and clients as artificial entities may find it difficult to empathize with them. In a simulation where every step can be reversed and every scenario can be re-attempted, students may not develop a clear sense of the real-world consequences of their mistakes.

Limited Tactile Feedback

Virtual systems may not provide the same level of tactile feedback as performing the procedure in the real world. This can make it more difficult for veterinarians to develop the dexterity, agility and skill needed to perform the procedure accurately. Additionally, the VR software does not represent textures, thickness of hides, pressure, etc. very well. Haptic feedback is still in development, but is not as of yet commercially available. Hence, injecting a rhinoceros in real life would be a massively different experience from doing it in a Virtual setting. 

Limited application

While VR can be useful for training in certain procedures or scenarios, it may not be suitable for all aspects of veterinary education. For example, it may not be possible to use VR to replicate the experience of working with live animals or surgeries that require precise and steady hand movement. There tend to be lags, glitches and minor incongruities in Virtual settings that can create discrepancies between live procedures and artificial ones.

We also have to keep in mind that the most difficult portion of a veterinarian’s experience is not physical, but emotional and sociopsychological. Euthanizing an animal is never easy; dismissive clients can be frustrating; and handling vulnerable and abused pets calls for patience and sensitivity. These are subjects that cannot be adequately addressed in a classroom. Moreover, the complex and oft-times overwhelming nature of veterinarian work environments cannot be simulated in a virtual reality setting.

While VR can be a valuable tool for veterinarian training, it is important to carefully consider its limitations and to ensure that it is used in conjunction with other forms of education and training.

Successful Development of VR for use in Veterinary Training

Back in 2018, the American Veterinary Medical Association offered Clinical sciences Professor Pedro Boscan and a small team a grant for the creation of a proof-of-concept virtual reality prototype for an anesthesiology machine. Two years later project VetVR was launched for the development and testing virtual educational tools for veterinary medicine. Since the last two years a virtual model to simulate training in anesthesiology basics has been in development.

Students have been voluntarily taking virtual anesthesiology exams to test the VR tool. Lynn Keets, a third year DVM student collecting data from VR trainees says, “I think it offers a novel approach, a different learning pedagogy system … Not everyone is adapted to sit in a classroom, so in that way, it does add value.”

The Royal School of Veterinary Studies’ Digital Education Unit has been using “Immersive Media”, including Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and 360o videos to enhance clinical education.

“Once you’ve done the preparatory work to create a 3D model, you can actually do quite a lot with it beyond print it. You can put it into a virtual space for students to explore, you can label it, you can create layers,” says Brian Mather, Senior E-Learning Developer. At the moment the VR environment is viewable but not interactive. But even accessing VR versions of complex techniques can enable students to move more confidently in their practical usage of machinery.

Mathers further comments, “VR is becoming far more affordable and accessible. We are also very close to a stage where technologies merge and gaps are filled. Phone/communication/entertainment/teaching devices all fit nicely into your pocket, and if that device became your virtual reality headset too, that’s when things start to get really interesting.”

We must remember that in everything, the spirit of the veterinarian must remain intact. It is well known that veterinarians are viewed as more approachable, patient, understanding, sympathetic, and sensitive than other medical professionals. This is in part because of the nature of their work, but this mindset and attitude should be fostered and respected. And if virtual reality can help to augment the performance, lower the burden on, or alleviate emotional distress to help veterinarians combat mental health and wellbeing related issues, then such program will need more research, development, and social support.


” Elianne Liong is a staff writer for Celeritas Digital.  She specializes in researching and publishing content related to a range of topics in the animal health and veterinary industry, including technology transformation, business processes, HR, data science, and advanced analytics. “

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    30 December

    Can Hydrogen still drive us toward a Clean Energy Future?

    adminAnimal Health, B2B, TechnologyNo Comments

    Last year, the universe of renewables was shaken by the exposure and downfall of a billion-dollar EV company, Nikola. The debacle shocked Wallstreet and raised many questions about the feasibility of Hydrogen as a potential path to a carbon-zero future. We can say without much meandering that there is no clear answer to those questions, even a year later as the trial has just played out. But there are factors to consider and we endeavor to provide our readers with some perspective on the matter.

    Hydrogen: an Old Dog in a New Game

    Up until a few years ago, hydrogen was a relatively obscure option as a fossil fuel substitute, overshadowed by the success of solar panels and hydropower plants. In reality, hydrogen has an extensive history as a fuel for jets and rockets, starting from way back in the early 19th century. For over two centuries, it has been studied, experimented with, and applied in impressive ways. Now, with the escalating global push towards decarbonization and a carbon-zero future, hydrogen has emerged from the shadows as a viable contender in the renewables arena.

    Given its position as the most abundant element in the world, it comes as little surprise that it is being considered renewable. Hydrogen is usually found accompanied by two ultimate rivals: oxygen and carbon. Hydrogen combines with two oxygen molecules to form water or teams up with various proportions of carbon atom to form methane, ethane, and propane.

    A Hydrogen Rainbow over the Renewable Waterfall

    A chunk of the questions around hydrogen involves its production. How hydrogen should be extracted is a matter of no small debate. Given that it is meant to lower carbon emissions, it wouldn’t do for it to be the cause of emissions itself. The so-called “hydrogen rainbow” has been extensively discussed and dissected. But let us briefly review the most common hydrogen production methods to build a clear idea of what is preferable and feasible in today’s economy.

    Steam Methane Reforming constitutes around 50% of world hydrogen extraction. It involves the use of a catalyst to accelerate the chemical process. High-temperature steam is used to split the hydrogen and carbon apart. This is an example of Grey Hydrogen production because the carbon dioxide escapes into the atmosphere, defeating the exercise’s purpose.

    This carbon can be captured, converted into CO2 and, via sequestration, be stored underground and prevented from worsening the climate change crisis. Hydrogen extracted this way is called Blue Hydrogen.

    There are quite a few alternatives for biogas-based hydrogen production, including Partial Oxidation Reforming (POR) and combinations such as Auto-Thermal Reforming (ATR). For full insight into their individual requirements, consumption, and cost, you can visit https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-457836/v1/624beb21-1a29-4d05-b1f9-fb5a08736158.pdf?c=1631884212. One should note, however, that the cost of other procedures such as coal gasification ($17.45/GJ) is considerably higher than SMR ($10.26/GJ) and POX ($12.43/GJ).

    Another molecule-splitting method produces Green Hydrogen. Here, instead of carbon-based molecules, one uses water. The water is run through an electrolyzer; the electrical current relies on a cathode and anode, like a battery. The water is split into two streams of high-purity elements. Electrolysis is not a new concept by any means and was mentioned in literary works as old as Jules Verne’s The Mysterious Island in 1874.

    Other forms of hydrogen generation can be explored at https://www.woodmac.com/news/opinion/decoding-the-hydrogen-rainbow/

    The Perfect Fit: why Pastoral Farms should make the Switch

    At Celeritas, our focus is on providing insights on animal health services and the technologies that can improve their operation. So, is hydrogen the right fuel for a livestock farm? And if it is, what factors should a cattle-rearing operation take into consideration before they make their decision?

    There are multiple reasons for which to switch away from gas or diesel engines. Hydrogen engines would require less fuel, needing just 0.02mJ to ignite, has a higher flame velocity, and generally runs at higher efficiency than gas or diesel engines. In essence, it hs the highest energy content by weight of any fuel. Natural gas run engines are also compatible with and require minimal modifications to run on hydrogen (H2) or H2 and natural gas combinations. Testing and development are ongoing to expand the application of this to other appliances.

    Another reason is the clear and present threat of wildfires, which evidence shows are chiefly sparked by the overheated and damaged exhaust systems in the engines of farm machinery. According to insurance-specialist, NFU Mutual, more than 800 fires have been sparked on farms by machinery. Putting aside the $20 million in property loss and the cost of burnt crops, the fires also cause 50 to 60 serious injuries every year. To worsen matters, we know that 70% of agricultural methane emissions arise from ruminants via eructation.

    We discussed in an earlier article how there are two renewable sources that can be easily implemented to critically enhance the production on a livestock farm. Solar Farms create minimal hindrance, provide a source of shade to regulate livestock body temperatures, and act as an additional source of income. Methane converters can change animal waste into biogas, which is a source of energy and electricity. This is ideal for farms where large-scale methane emissions are a regular source of conflict between agricultural corporations and environmental activists. That biogas, however could prove much more profitable and environmentally friendly if first transformed into hydrogen and used as a fuel or sold to a centralized hydrogen production plant.

    Bake the Cake and Eat it too?

    Let us first discuss the complexities of hydrogen production verses hydrogen outsourcing.

    Converting methane to hydrogen is a complex procedure that involves many stages. From collection of animal waste for centralized recycling, to the ultrasonic treatment to the purification of biogas. All these processes are costly to perform on a singular farm,

    At the same time, converting all farm equipment to work on hydrogen-based engines is a huge step. Farmers would understandably be reluctant to implement technological changes and convert to hydrogen without assurances about the longevity of the project. And external sourcing also depends on the existence of infrastructure to support the national transportation and distribution of hydrogen.

    On-site Hydrogen Conversion

    The procedure of on-site generation of hydrogen using steam methane reforming involves: livestock manure, food waste, and crop residue is collected for centralized recycling, mixture, and ultrasonic treatment. An anaerobic digester is then used to extract biogas, which is further compressed, scrubbed of impurities such as hydrogen sulfide, and then converted with an SMR at a temperature of 1073 K and a pressure of 1 atm [[1]] into hydrogen. Steam Methane Reformation (SMR) is renowned for its high hydrogen yield efficiency (~74%), energy efficiency of 80 – 85 % in a large-scale facility [[2]], and cost effectiveness.

    According to the American Biogas Council, there are more than 2200 biogas production sites in the US, with 250 of those on farms, and 652 landfill gas projects. 14,958 sites have been evaluated as ripe for development, including 8,574 dairy and poultry farms. However, biogas plants come at exorbitant costs. A study by the National Institute of Renewable Energy in 2013 discovered the cost of a digester for food waste was USD 561.00 per ton, excluding the operation and maintenance costs. In an analysis in which an SMR was integrated with an alkaline electrolyzer (AEL), the water-cooling costs were around $1000/kW, while the steam cycle CAPEX was calculated around M$6[[3]]. This analysis outlines a myriad of studies conducted over a span of years and locations.

    Nanomaterials specialist and space station engineer Dr. Vivek Koncherry has been working on a system that can be retrofitted to tractors. This system will involve hydrogen fuel cells, tanks, a small battery, and an electric motor to create a fuel-cell electrical vehicle. These technologies will replace combustion engines and eliminate toxic emissions, replacing them with water. Hydrogen’s low mass generally allows the machine to have more fuel onboard, reducing the rate of refueling runs while offering the same refueling time.

    Cyclic Redox Processes, a.k.a Chemical Looping (CL) are the currently available option to address the need for small-scale hydrogen generation for decentralized distribution. The CL operations involve a reduction phase during which the separation is done using an oxygen-carrying metal oxide instead of steam. It must be kept in consideration that some materials vary I durability, recyclability, toxicity, and formation of coke (carbonaceous deposits).  This technology is, however, in development and lacks extensive study on the cost component of the hydrogen produced hence.

    There is, therefore, general consensus on the fact that efficient hydrogen production would favor large-scale plants and facilities. Condensing the multidimensional operation would have effects on both efficiency and cost. Moreover, the promise of a carbon-zero fuel depends on the capture of said carbon for sequestration, which is a cost prohibitive approach. Flexible generation also requires quick start-up capabilities and advanced control systems in order to adjust to variable demand [[4]]. Small scale on-site could be employed in the short run, but would not be compatible with long-term decarbonization. Thus, hydrogen conversion would depend on a swift transition to a hydrogen economy.

    Hydrogen Outsourcing

    The obvious alternative is the use of centralized industrial facilities on a national level, connected to the national energy grid. But in order for the adoption and modification process to begin on the consumption end, there needs to be a clear indication of the intensity of the government’s commitment to this renewable fuel alternative. The main constraint to the incorporation of hydrogen is the lack of a foundation to support its distribution and usage. This creates a Catch 22-esque circumstance where these interdependent parties are at a stalemate.

    On this basis, let us inspect the pillars that shall concretize a hydrogen-fueled future: infrastructure and safety regulations.

    Infrastructure

    Green hydrogen production, conversion and end uses across the energy system Image: IRENA

    The delivery of hydrogen as a fuel involves a dedicated network of pipelines, storage facilities, compressors and liquification plants, and dispensers, all of which have their own specifications with regards to hydrogen. As of December 2020, there were 1,608 miles of hydrogen pipeline in the United States. The microscale of Hydrogen – standard density 0.09 kg/m3 – means its propensity to escape confinement through cracks, joints, or seals is higher when using typical storage materials. The kind of complex alterations necessary are the primary barrier when considering a large-scale adoption. The threat of hydrogen embrittlement [[5]] only intensified the need for an infrastructural overhaul from the current natural gas and petroleum supporting framework.

    One option is the use of pristine graphene in the engineering of the storage containers [[6]]­ or cylinders lined with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) [[7]]. The latter is the world’s most recyclable material, accepted at most recycling centers globally. HDPE can be be reused in the form of rope, furniture, benches and trash cans, as well as building materials such as plastic lumber, piping, decking, plastic fencing.

    Using graphene though, provides a two-fold advantage. Even though it is not as common, graphene is now cheaper to produce using flash Joule heating. Carbon-based materials such as single-use plastic containers, coffee grounds, discarded furniture, and biodegradable food waste are heated at 5000o F to reassemble the carbon into flakes of graphene. The process makes use of waste material which would’ve otherwise been emitting greenhouse gases from landfills.

    Further complicating matters is the low volumetric energy density of gaseous hydrogen, which means that hydrogen must either be compressed or liquified for transportation. The issue with the former is the energy penalty of conversion – compressed hydrogen is stored at 35 or 70 MPa, which consumes 14.5 and 18 MJ per kg respectively. Alternatively, hydrogen can be liquified, a state achieved at – 252.9o C, with a process requiring 3.2 kWh/kg [[8]], doubling its volumetric energy density in comparison to its room temperature state at a higher pressure level. In this state, cryogenic tankers or tube trailers are typically needed. While higher volumetric energy density translates to better fuel quality, the temperature would be difficult to consistently maintain. If not maintained, however, the liquid hydrogen will evaporate, a phenomenon known as boil off, and as such, the closed reservoir would require venting. To combat this, tanks can undergo precooling [[9]], or cryo-compressed hydrogen storage can be employed, which curtails the pressurization and boil-off losses [[10]]. Click here to access links related to DOE-Funded Hydrogen Delivery Activities.

    Safety and Regulation

    If the hydrogen economy is to take off, solid policy guidance shall be its fuel. Coordination between the public and private sector with regards to planning, financing, and implementation will be necessary to make this possible. Accordingly, some states have signed into law aggressive measures such as the Clean Cars 2030 bill in order to phase out the consumption of gas and diesel.

    The first priority is addressing the safety concerns and threats posed by hydrogen transport and distribution. Hydrogen is not easily containable, highly flammable upon contact with oxygen, with a wide flammability range (the flame speed for hydrogen increases 25% as you shift from E class to H class and newer systems). A large-scale induction would depend on development of flame speed regulation techniques, requiring the sustained parallel enforcement of a strict safety code. The ISO Technical Committee 197 is responsible for the development of international standards for hydrogen application. Thus far, there are standards for certain portions of the value chain but there exist gaps which can lead to hazardous substitution and ad hoc countermeasures.

    With the incoming of the Biden-Harris administration, the foot of the US government is on the pedal of acceleration when it comes to climate-focused bills and laws. The $1 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed last year can help alleviate doubt on the government’s commitment to making actionable changes to facilitate the transition to renewables. The question remains on the transportation safety and the scalability of hydrogen. While there is widespread agreement that previously-mentioned transition is necessary, there is as yet no industry-wide consensus on the ultimate adoption of hydrogen.

    Key challenges that need to be addressed from the operational and legal angle, include

    • precise definitions of regulatory regime, ownership, and infrastructure sharing,
    • the synchronization of ramped-up demand, production build-out, and infrastructure availability and
    • ensuring the energy supply remains uninterrupted during the transition process

    This would give manufacturers, distributers and end users a level and regulated field with clear market structures to stimulate much-needed investments from the private sector.

    Technological Solutions to drive Hydrogen Investment

    Digital Twin Analysis

    Consideration of an optimal solution always involves the investigation of alternative systems, cost-return analysis, and compatibility with their current approach. Usually, this process would be a major hurdle as there do not yet exist many scenarios, studies, or research about the implementation of hydrogen on different scales and locations. However, utilizing the concept of digital twins, multiple modes and designs can be modelled, taking into account various variables and externalities to optimize the for highest return and minimal risk. According to estimates, digital twin analysis can optimize capital expenditure (CAPEX) by 10-15%.

    IoT Monitoring

    As discussed, the safety standards and precautions involved in the storage and distribution of hydrogen must be meticulously enforced and monitored to minimize the danger and risk. IoT systems on farms can provide instantaneous anomaly detection using pressure sensors, leakage controllers, alarm systems and cloud-based remote monitoring of both physical infrastructural conditions and KPIs. This can result in cost contraction of up to 20% via energy consumption reduction and a streamlined workforce.

    Is the Balance of Power still in Favor of Hydrogen?

    Hydrogen offers an opportunity for decarbonization across the chemical, agricultural, industrial, and transportation sectors. But the optimism surrounding the implementation of hydrogen shall not suffice to drive its mainstream adoption across the nation. Further research is needed to determine the trade-offs between the production, transformation, and delivery of hydrogen as a whole value chain and development into the most feasible and cost-effective infrastructural modifications will be necessary. Increased investment, engineering advancements, technological enhancements, a capable and competent workforce, and the support of the government combined will determine whether hydrogen truly becomes the fuel of the future.

    [1] J.V. Karaeva, Hy-drogen production at centralized utilization of agricultural waste, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Volume 46, Issue 69, 2021, Pages 34089-34096, ISSN 0360-3199,

    [2] IEA 2005 Small Scale Hy-drogen Production from Metal-Metal Oxide Redox Cycles. OECD Publishing

    [3] Mary Katebah, Ma’moun Al-Rawashdeh, Patrick Linke, Analysis of hydrogen production costs in Steam-Methane Reforming considering integration with electrolysis and CO2 capture, Cleaner Engineering and Technology, Volume 10, 2022, 100552, ISSN 2666-7908

    [4] M. Zanfir, 5 – Portable and small-scale stationary hy-drogen production from micro-reactor systems, Editor(s): Angelo Basile, Adolfo Iulianelli, Advances in Hydrogen Production, Storage and Distribution, Woodhead Publishing, 2014, Pages 123-155, ISBN 9780857097682,

    [5] Lynch, S. P. (2011-01-01), Raja, V. S.; Shoji, Tetsuo (eds.), “2 – Hydrogen embrittlement (HE) phenomena and mechanisms”, Stress Corrosion Cracking, Woodhead Publishing Series in Metals and Surface Engineering, Woodhead Publishing, pp. 90–130

    [6] J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 44, 18419–18425 Publication Date: October 28, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.1c05253 Copyright © 2021 American Chemical Society

    [7] A Study of HDPE in High Pressure of Hydrogen Gas – Measurement of Permeation  Parameters and Fracture Criteria, Sompong Prachumchon, University of Nebraska-Lincoln,

    [8] Hydrogen storage in hydride-forming materials, P. Millet, in Advances in Hy-drogen Production, Storage and Distribution, 2014, 14.2.3 Liquid hydrogen storage

    [9] Reducing Hy-drogen Boil-Off Losses during Fuelling by Pre-Cooling Cryogenic Tank, by Fardin Ghaffari-TabriziORCID, Jan Haemisch *ORCID and Daniela Lindner ORCID, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Space Propulsion, D-74239 Langer Grund, Germany

    [10] Henrietta W. Langmi, Nicolaas Engelbrecht, Phillimon M. Modisha, Dmitri Bessarabov, Chapter 13 – Hy-drogen storage, Editor(s): Tom Smolinka, Jurgen Garche, Electrochemical Power Sources: Fundamentals, Systems, and Applications, Elsevier, 2022, Pages 455-486, ISBN 9780128194249,

    ” Elianne Liong is a staff writer for Celeritas Digital.  She specializes in researching and publishing content related to a range of topics in the animal health and veterinary industry, including technology transformation, business processes, HR, data science, and advanced analytics. “

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      13 December

      Using SEO to attract pet owners for your Veterinary Practice

      adminAnimal Health, B2B, Customer Engagement, Digital, Life Sciences, TechnologyNo Comments

      Search Engine Optimization is one of the most important digital marketing practices used to reach patients effectively. Now that it has become an increasingly important tool to drive traffic and conversions, marketers of animal health services are looking for a competitive edge in their marketing strategies. With search engine optimization, veterinarians can reach potential clients across the web through pet-friendly content that is well-optimized. SEO is as important for a health organization as it is for any other customer-facing industry. Continue reading to find out why.

      Why is SEO Important for the Veterinary community?

      We all are aware of the fact that SEO is the driving force behind any successful internet marketing campaign. Without it, a website will get lost in the crowd, among all the other websites. If clients and pet owners cannot find you, then you need to rethink your marketing ideology. With SEO, marketers can reach their potential target market with well-optimized content that can address their queries. One major issue faced by specialist vet clinics is that the niche that they are catering to are unaware of them and therefore settle for substandard treatment. Multimodal optimization of search engines produces more customers, attracts visitors by drawing more relevant traffic, improves brand recognition, service, and product experience, and increases offline and online sales.

      Benefits of SEO for Animal Health Marketers

      People are using the internet now more than ever to keep their health in check and find a suitable solution for specific medical conditions. This is the reason marketing teams around the world have put a lot of effort into finding better ways to improve their digital services. Better SEO and digital presence not only increase the traffic to your website but also bring in the high-intent users who are most likely to convert into customers. SEO benefits for animal care facilities are more than enough to testify to its importance. Some of these benefits include:

      Generating More Sales

      As soon as people find what they’re looking for on your website, they are more likely to buy from you because your content has won their trust in the product they were seeking online. When website visitors find value in what you offer through search engine optimization, they’ll be much more likely to return and become an active lead you have been waiting for all this time.

      Increasing Traffic

      Using quality keywords in your website content improves search engine rankings and can boost your website traffic visits organically. This will allow you to reach more potential customers looking for relevant product information online.

      Creates an Irreplaceable Brand Identity

      With high-quality content on your website and the relevant keywords that are mindfully-placed throughout the text and not excessively, your page will gain authority in the search engine pages. This effort helps to increase your brand’s visibility and search rankings.

      How can you improve your website Ranking through SEO?

      First and foremost, you need to understand keywords. Attracting quality customers en masse to your website requires selecting the best keywords.

      After great keyword research, it’s time to introduce these words and phrases into the content. Create well-groomed and informative content planned around your keywords, and remember, a well-crafted content strategy is a key to driving traffic to your business’s website.

      Effective headline creation works as a stepping stone for the bigger journey that awaits. A great headline will capture your visitors’ attention and convince them to read more.

      A backlink is a booster for your content. It is a link from one website that points to a page on your own site. When Google sees multiple websites linking to your site, it automatically assumes your authority and prowess, and ranks you higher in the search results.

      While going through SEO optimization, you must ensure the page is set up well. Check your on-page SEO. If the page is not properly optimized, Google might not know exactly what your page is about. So, please pay attention to your on-page SEO features.

      If you are a veterinarian marketing team member and require assistance with SEO for your brand, you can always reach out to Celeritas. Our team of professional content creators and digital high-rankers is always ready to assist you.

      ” Elianne Liong is a staff writer for Celeritas Digital.  She specializes in researching and publishing content related to a range of topics in the animal health and veterinary industry, including technology transformation, business processes, HR, data science, and advanced analytics. “

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      Our Insights can Inform your Critical Decisions

      We research the latest trends and opportunities related to animal health. Our mission is to make it quicker and easier for our clients to understand the value that well-designed technology solutions can bring to their sales, operations, and marketing functions.

      LET’S CHAT​

      Thinking about how to tap a strategy opportunity, or solve a tactical business problem, using technology? We can brainstorm with you.

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        1 December

        The Animal Health Portal: A Veterinary Lifesaver

        adminAnimal Health, B2B, Customer Engagement, Digital, Life Sciences, TechnologyNo Comments

        In America, the percentage of households that own or adopt animals is rising every year. A survey conducted by the APPA in 2021-22 showed that 70% of households owned a pet. Additionally, as knowledge of potential threats spreads, veterinary appointments are now part of a pet owner’s routine. The demand for and willingness to spend on extensive care, pet health plans, etc. are also on the rise. All this translates to better, more in-depth treatment for pets than could be expected a few decades ago. However, two of the greatest concerns in the veterinary field are the understaffing of veterinarian clinics and the lack of urgent care available to pets as a result. That is where the Animal Health Portal comes into play. These online systems are solutions to the pressure on animal health providers and pet owners alike.

        What is an Animal Health Portal?

        Owners need timely access to their animal’s medical information on a regular basis. When entering a dog park, they’d need proof of immunization; when visiting an animal pharmacy, they would benefit from having the prescription; and if they shift to a new locality, they would need the EMR and medical history records of charge. Providing certain files and documents falls on the shoulders of the data coordinator, who must receive the email, review a release form, or gain permission from a manager before reverting back. Often, these regular delays can frustrate both the client and the provider and put a strain on their relationships with veterinarians.

        An Animal Health Portal provides this information immediately and at the tip of the client’s fingers. It is an online platform where animal caretakers can remotely access lab results, contact their care provider, request prescription refills, manage payments, and more 24/7. But the benefits far exceed convenience and really impact the quality of care provided and the patient experience.

        Features of an Animal Health Portal

        Online portals can perform a variety of functions that make life easier for both vets and their clients. It can help a veterinarian to establish a closer and more consistent bond with the animal and its human partner. A pet parent could put up a query at any time and the appropriate personnel could respond promptly and pertinently. At times, a pet owner may not be available during the visitation, especially during an emergency, but needs a way to remain accurately informed about their pet’s condition. All relevant updates could be communicated via the vet portal, whether that is test results, treatment procedures, or shifts between departments – everything can be synced and tracked from a remote device.

        When shifting to a new local veterinary clinic, consideration of the animal’s previous medical conditions, allergies, or medications is crucial before diagnosis or a new regimen can be ordered. Hence conflicting treatments can be avoided. For this, medical history must be up-to-date, and the pet owner must be able to provide verified data. The portal would regularly collect all necessary information, efficiently organize it, and provide authentication that can then be checked by the next center.

        Veterinary centers are busy organizations with a shortage of staff and an abundance of functions to complete. And animal owners often have their hands full while at the clinics, keeping an eye on their little dependent. This complicates and distracts from other tasks, such as filling out forms, providing feedback, refilling prescriptions, or making payments. Using an Animal Health Portal allows them to complete a myriad of tasks from the comfort of their home.

        Benefits of this technology to a Veterinary Organization

        Streamlined Workflow: an integrated, all-inclusive system that eliminates overlap and discrepancies; the Animal Health Portal facilitates fast-paced communication, decision-making, and procedural efficiency.

        Rapid Growth: AHP automates many manual and repetitive tasks, improving time management, reducing workload, and freeing up the staff to perform assistance and supportive roles to both patients and veterinarians.

        Patient Engagement: improves interactions by automating unnecessary, cumbersome procedures. It also provides reliable and pertinent awareness and encourages owners to participate more in their pet’s healthcare.

        Improved Medical Outcomes: The online platform reduces miscommunication, misdiagnosis, and other clinical errors. It offers veterinarians the chance to check sets of symptoms for consistency with other illnesses.

        Conclusion

        Animal Health Portals create value for animals, their caretakers, and veterinarians. They connect patients and their care providers, making it easier to handle any situation, whether a minor disturbance or an emergency. This improves relationships between the owners and their care providers and facilitates better treatment. It also opens doors for owners to make better choices for their pet’s diet and lifestyle since it’s much easier to implement.

        When all staff is geared away from menial, distracting tasks and directed towards the better ministration of the animals, pet lovers can feel confident in the care of their friends. In a way, it makes repeat calls and visits redundant, as every function conceivable is now conveniently available right where it is needed.


        ” Elianne Liong is a staff writer for Celeritas Digital.  She specializes in researching and publishing content related to a range of topics in the animal health and veterinary industry, including technology transformation, business processes, HR, data science, and advanced analytics. “

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          24 October

          An MSL guide to Veterinarian Meeting Strategy

          adminAnimal Health, B2B, Customer Engagement, Digital, Pharma Marketing, Sales and MarketingNo Comments

          What is the role of a Medical Sales Liaison (MSL)

          An MSL is a medically specialized representative for pharmaceutical companies. By outlining the product specifications, advising, and educating, they act as a bridge between pharma companies and their clients. MSLs maintain relationships with clinicians, researchers, and other KOLs in specific therapeutic fields, from biotechnology to medical devices. This aids them in positively conveying the benefits of a company’s drug or device. While MSLs usually aim to portray a company favorably, it is their ultimate objective to provide accurate and unadulterated information. Furthering the pharmaceutical company’s interests is not their primary responsibility; rather it is to promote their concepts and developments.

          MSL Meeting Strategy does depend on a few key factors, however. For one, the direction of the approach depends on the position and significance of the stakeholder in question. Before meeting clients, it is imperative to conduct stakeholder mapping to categorize stakeholders according to their influence. You can then create an engagement plan to cater to each particular group more effectually.

          How an MSL should Prepare for KOL Meetings

          To start, nailing down the format of the MSL presentation is essential to making an impact. Generally, about 30% of the presentation delves into the general industry landscape and the rest explains the company strategy and its penetration into this landscape. However, intricate details are often excluded, although these are key.

          Use Other MSL’s previous work as a Guide

          One clever trick is to reach out to your mentors and close colleagues for examples of their best designs. These resources have already been refined and perfected for maximum efficacy. Therefore, all you’d have to do is input your data into a meticulously produced template. Simultaneously, it reduces the redundant task of planning out a demonstration from scrap.

          This allows you to focus your effort on the meat of the preparatory process: background research.

          Background Research

          Upon assignment, an MSL is usually provided with an article to use in the development of their material. This, however, contains a minimal amount of information. To truly establish yourself in the industry, it is best to consult alternative sources. Being well-researched in every single aspect of your subject and therapeutic area raises your success rate and grants you an edge over other presenters.

          • Scan through the company’s investor section for detailed, up-to-date, and accurate information. This can provide an extensive base upon which to build your case. Also, pay attention to the tone and word choice used in press releases and public statements. The phraseology will give you a better insight into the company’s angle and positioning. The better you understand their message, the better you can relay that to the clients when asked.
          • Thoroughly familiarize yourself with the target opinion leader or organization. Focus your search on commonalities between your base company and the target organization. Ask yourself: how do their goals, intentions, or interests align? Are they a good cultural fit? Highlight those aspects during the address.
          • You also want to explore recent research releases and news related to the topic, such as on pub-med or medical news sites. Referencing an article from the New York Medical Journal, even if you’re reusing notes, will lend a fresh, relevant flavor to your work.

          Anticipate and Accommodate Every Outcome  

          Remember that, as an MSL, you may be addressing a marketing team or a panel of specialists in the subject you’re detailing. This means that during the Q&A session, you may face a myriad of intricate medical, functional, or operational questions.

          • Anticipating questions and creating slides based on past FAQs can showcase your energy and devotion to the project. A Medical Science Liaison’s job is to build relationships, so distinguishing yourself in these ways is paramount.
          • Prepare yourself to mold your explanation to the audience you face. Be flexible enough to effectively convey your message, whether to a top epidemiologist or a businessman. Familiarize yourself with the pertinent jargon, but you should not be rigidly dependent on it. Improvisation is the key to leading productive sessions regardless of the type of attendees.
          • It does help to loosely script out the presentation, including structure and order. Use this when practicing and present it to an experienced MSL to understand the intricacies of delivery techniques. They might disclose important guidelines, such as the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

          The level of forethought invested into each meeting will certainly be noted and appreciated by your medical colleagues and KOLs. Their good opinion will go a long way, not just with the current assignment, but in future sessions as well.

          How to Ace Meetings with Key Opinion Leaders

          For a Medical Science Liaison, having medical knowledge is a given necessity. But an often-overlooked attribute is the skill of communication. All sales representatives have access to data, statistics, and expository resources. What sets an MSL apart is not the presentation but the delivery.

          MSLs must regularly interact with both internal and external stakeholders in a myriad of organizations across the veterinary segment. The burden of identifying these stakeholders also falls upon them.  But what determines which members of the medical community will be valuable to approach for any given proposition?

          Who are Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) in the Veterinarian field?

          It’s important to first identify all actors who will play a part in the pharmaceutical distribution process. Accordingly, distinguish and prioritize these based on their level of influence.

          Primary

          For general-purpose antibiotic, antibacterial, or anti-inflammatory medicines which are commonly prescribed for primary animal care, disseminating information to veterinarians is vital. These may include

          • Doctors of Veterinary Medicine (DMVs)
          • Primary Care Vets
          • Veterinary Practitioners
          • Small practice vets

          Secondary

          These are specialists who will ultimately determine the lifecycle and success of advanced treatments, diagnostic tools, and medications. Complicated patient cases are attended by them. They are the ones who will benefit from the product, contribute to its improvement, and give feedback on its performance.

          • Specialist veterinarians
          • Clinical managers at Veterinary Centers
          • Veterinary pharmacists
          • Veterinary surgeons who are in charge of leading teams of vets.

          Central (Key Opinion Leaders)

          Those who determine not just the usage, but dictate the trends in therapeutic niches. They have extensive experience, established themselves in their industry segment, and are followed by many other industry experts.

          • State Veterinarian Medical Board Director
          • Influential experts in the veterinary field
          • Senior veterinarians,
          • Faculty heads in schools of veterinary science
          • Faculty heads in colleges of veterinary medicine
          • Key researchers in veterinary research journals
          • Directors of veterinarian councils, medical associations, and centers
          • Key Speakers at veterinarian councils and events

          Medical Science Liaisons should plan out their entire session to cater to the distinct expectations and needs of each stakeholder group.

          The Story behind the Product

          People are drawn to stories and vivid images more than banal facts and figures. So, manipulate your words, statistical data, and the composition of the information to portray a compelling image. When telling a story, the audience cannot be overlooked. Connect the generic material to real-world hospital occurrences which would resonate with the M.Ds. Personalize the presentation by delving into the origin of your passion, incorporating it in an engaging and not indulgent manner. This should help you to differentiate yourself from other MSLs while simultaneously building a relationship with future clients.

          The Value of the Product

          The value of the product must be distinctly tailored to each stakeholder. It is essential to intuit what motivates and excites them: what their goals, preferences, and perceptions are. Also, pay attention to their moods and mental capacity for retention. On this basis, one can highlight the unique benefit of the treatment or procedure to an individual’s practice or therapeutic specialization. No matter how polished the presentation is, if it does not directly address their need, it will not make an impression. Provide objective evidence to back up every claim and to cement their confidence in your offering and company. Don’t get too caught up in the engagement to address their real concerns, such as availability, logistics, convenience, etc. Explore the industry landscape to address the current alternatives and how your product outpaces those.

          The Drawbacks of the Product

          Elaborate on both the positives and the negatives. Doctors always know that drugs and medications are incomplete without side effects. Overselling the treatment method will only create skepticism and lower their perception of your reliability. So do what most professional salespersons do: emphasize the advantages, and mention the potential downsides. Then illustrate how the benefits outweigh the costs. This is a balanced and judicious manner in which to establish the superiority of the drug.

          Key Takeaways

          • Conducting extensive background research allows the MSL to smoothly present to and engage any set of stakeholders.
          • It is highly worthwhile to prepare separate strategies to target different stakeholder groups.
          • Be attentive to the meeting attendees: glean their expectations and requirements and regulate the meeting accordingly.
          • Present your information in an attractive format but don’t forget to place emphasis on the functional features of the solution as well.
          • It is just as important to touch on the negatives as it is to showcase the positives.
          • In everything, make sure that your performance is spot on.

          Keep in mind, your goal isn’t just to instill a favorable perspective of the medical consumable, but also to establish yourself as a capable MSL.

          ” Elianne Liong is a staff writer for Celeritas Digital.  She specializes in researching and publishing content related to a range of topics in the animal health and veterinary industry, including technology transformation, business processes, HR, data science, and advanced analytics. “

          Blogs

          Our Insights can Inform your Critical Decisions

          We research the latest trends and opportunities related to animal health. Our mission is to make it quicker and easier for our clients to understand the value that well-designed technology solutions can bring to their sales, operations, and marketing functions.

          LET’S CHAT​

          Thinking about how to tap a strategy opportunity, or solve a tactical business problem, using technology? We can brainstorm with you.

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          sales@celeritasdigital.com

              PHONE NUMBER

          Phone (US): (646) 374-0260 Ext: 711

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          Address: 157 Columbus Avenue, 4th Floor New York, NY 10023

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            14 October

            Stakeholder Mapping for Pharmaceutical Products

            adminB2B, Customer Engagement, Digital, Pharma Marketing, Sales and Marketing, TechnologyNo Comments

            What is a Stakeholder Map?

            Stakeholder Mapping involves identifying professionals in the target therapeutic field who would utilize or influence the utilization of the pharmaceutical product. This should clearly portray their motives, impact, and interests. Medical Science Liaisons are hired or contracted to meet with these stakeholders prior to and during the launch and distribution period to educate and create awareness of the drug. These sessions must be guided by an overall insight into the significance of each meeting.

            In this article, we will discuss stakeholder mapping techniques and outline the step-by-step methods to perfect your sales and engagement strategy when approaching industry thought leaders.

            Why is Stakeholder Mapping important?

            Contacting stakeholders can be key to knowing where they stand upon the release of the pharmaceutical product. Having discussions will reveal how the deliverables will be of value to them, potential improvements or unrecognized biases, the likeliness of them recommending or implementing them, their critiques, and their opposition.

            It is therefore important to develop a visual hierarchy of the Key Opinion Leaders of the industry, organized according to their level of authority, influence, and relevance.

            Step 1: Identify Key Stakeholders

            Begin the stakeholder mapping process by making a precise list of actors who will play a part in the pharmaceutical distribution process. It would be highly useful to categorize them under these three headings:

            Primary

            For general-purpose antibiotic, antibacterial, or anti-inflammatory medicines which are commonly prescribed for primary healthcare, disseminating information to the above professionals is vital.

            Secondary

            These are those who will ultimately determine the lifecycle and success of advanced treatments, diagnostic tools, and medications. Complicated patient cases are attended by them. They are the ones who will benefit from the product, contribute to its improvement, and give feedback on its performance.

            Tertiary (Key Opinion Leaders)

            Those who determine not just the usage, but dictate the trends in therapeutic niches. They have extensive experience, established themselves in their industry segment, and are followed by many other industry experts.

            You can use the above list as a guide to how to make a stakeholder map and what to add to it.

            Step 2: Assess based on the Power/Interest Matrix

            You must now position these individuals, professionals, or consumer groups based on their engagement level and ability to influence perceptions.

            Important questions to ask include

            • Whether they are likely to endorse the medicine
            • How far is their reach and what kind of audience do they make an impression on?
            • Whether their authority as a professional and a specialist is recognized
            • Whether they have a good network of other highly-positioned members of the healthcare industry.
            • In what ways they might contribute to or hinder the spread and popularity of the drug
            • What are their motives?

            Once you have determined these factors, organize them into a stakeholder mapping matrix.

            You should strive to monitor the counselors/healthcare advisors, inform your HCPs, both general and specialist, satisfy Academic Lecturers and Insurance companies, and engage your Key Opinion Leaders.

            Step 3: Creating an Engagement Plan

            Based on the above, create central and periphery focus groups and plan out when and where you plan to have education sessions to distribute the information to the relevant parties.

            Some questions to ask when deciding how to approach each section:

            • In what ways do your values and objectives align with theirs?
            • What kind of questions might they pose when you pitch the concept to them?
            • Would they be more interested in the social, financial, or medical scope of the equipment?
            • What strategies and approaches can you use to gain their favor or win their support?
            • Would limiting information exchange dilute your relationship with them?

            You must take strategic actions to sustain these relationships based on their positioning on the matrix. For example, you should send medical representatives to meet KOLs more often and prioritize them in your communications schedule. Attempt to raise the interest level of those in the top left quadrant by finding common goals and emphasizing the benefit of promoting your service or company. Gather insights from medical professionals, and keep them informed and updated. Offer base-level information to those with little interest and power. Monitor their interactions and opinions to keep track of the general perception of your organization.

            To Wrap Up

            Stakeholder mapping will allow your medical sales team to prioritize and plan ahead to efficiently create awareness and help HCPs to appreciate the need for the development of a new, supplementary treatment option. The engagement plan also allows the MSL or company representative to manage meetings and reduce inconsistencies, and reduce redundancies and excessive workload.


            ” Elianne Liong is a staff writer for Celeritas Digital.  She specializes in researching and publishing content related to a range of topics in the animal health and veterinary industry, including technology transformation, business processes, HR, data science, and advanced analytics. “

            Blogs

            Our Insights can Inform your Critical Decisions

            We research the latest trends and opportunities related to animal health. Our mission is to make it quicker and easier for our clients to understand the value that well-designed technology solutions can bring to their sales, operations, and marketing functions.

            LET’S CHAT​

            Thinking about how to tap a strategy opportunity, or solve a tactical business problem, using technology? We can brainstorm with you.

                EMAIL ADDRESS

            sales@celeritasdigital.com

                PHONE NUMBER

            Phone (US): (646) 374-0260 Ext: 711

                OUR ADDRESS

            Address: 157 Columbus Avenue, 4th Floor New York, NY 10023

            SCHEDULE A MEETING

              12 October

              What are E-Detailers and how can they Benefit Pharma Marketers?

              adminB2B, Customer Engagement, Digital, Pharma Marketing, Sales and Marketing, TechnologyNo Comments

              Over the last decade, the US BioTech and Pharma industries have truly flourished, with pharma-related discoveries and innovations growing at an increasing rate. In line with this trend, there is building pressure on HCPs to adopt newer processes and prescribe advanced medication. Due to rigid FDA regulations, however, pharma financial resources are often depleted in generating drugs which fail to pass the approval process. Since the primary source of pharma revenue comes from the sale of newer medication, this traps companies with a limited portfolio of revenue-generating products. Therefore, each presentation session with a KOL or clinician group must be productive and impactful. Now, many forms of sales promotions used to build strong relationships are strictly monitored and limited in the pharma industry. So, sales representatives rely strongly on their presentation material to generate interest and attention. In these circumstances, E-Detailers can be of great value because they can prompt the doctor to interact with both the MSL and the information. E-Detailing is an information delivery mechanism, which provides your sales presentation in a digital format. It supplements the sales representative by providing quick and easy access to all relevant information with an efficient and attractive design.

              This article will address:

              What is an E-Detailer?

              What are its Features?

              What solution do E-Detailers provide?

              Key Features

              Enhanced Engagement

              In the past, passive presentations were the primary method of delivery of drug-related information. On average, however, those sales sessions last around 6 minutes. The constant flow of complex, jargon-heavy information can become cumbersome and fail to retain the HCP’s attention. That is why our E-Detailers are so highly effective. Our team employs HCP-specific User Interfaces (UI), which will prompt your client to respond, interact, and be involved in the sales process.

              Highly Effective

              Visuals and audio are, on average, processed faster than words. HCPS are more likely to comprehend the message when they can visualize the exact function and purpose of the drug. The distinct and precise images and graphics selected and designed by our team are tailored to be competently communicative and memorable. Our E-Detailers feature Mode of Action videos, multiplayer interactive games, and a variety of other immersive characteristics.

              Specialist Understanding and Sales Insight

              Our systems employ tracking mechanisms and advanced algorithms to measure individual interests, interactions, and reception. This is used to further optimize and customize the program to suit individual stakeholders. And since the E-detailer is consistent across channels and devices, you can ensure a high-quality experience in every interaction.

              Ease of Access to Product Details

              During meetings, health specialists might ask any number of unanticipated questions regarding the therapeutic area or the drug’s scope. For an untrained, non-medical sales representative, answering off-script molecular-biology questions can be challenging. E-Detailers allow your MSLs to have records, reports, analysis, and other documents readily and consistently available to your MSL on demand.

              Consistent Experience

              Each sales team has its own standard approach and presentation style and personal interactions vary from individual to individual. The resulting responses and levels of interest also vary from participant to participant. When working with Celeritas, however, one can rely on the maintenance of high-quality standards across all devices and systems. Regardless of a sales representative or MSL’s performance, our E-Detailers always deliver content consistently and at a sustained standard.

              Cost Effectiveness

              Our E-Detailers’ capabilities include data collection and analysis to gain insights regarding the best, most engaging content and features of our e-detailers to facilitate upgrades and improvements. Our digitized systems can be tweaked with fresh content, updates, and corrections to complement the preferences of specialists at almost no cost. This significantly reduces the burden of reprinting and redistributing medical resources.

              The Problem we Solve

              Meetings between physicians and pharma representatives last, on average, less than 6 minutes. During this short window, an MSL must simultaneously keep the meeting informative and address key areas of interest and potential qualms. During this pitch, Reps often find it difficult to retain the attention of an HCP who likely has to watch multiple presentations a week, for new drugs, devices, and other medical products.

              Solutions we Provide

              We will dedicate a team to collaborate closely with your marketing department, to design software that supports your company’s endeavors. We will develop engaging, easy-to-navigate software, accessible on any mobile device. This will allow you to make cost-effective updates, boost interactivity with your HCPs, and measure reception rates – all with one integrated platform.


              ” Elianne Liong is a staff writer for Celeritas Digital.  She specializes in researching and publishing content related to a range of topics in the animal health and veterinary industry, including technology transformation, business processes, HR, data science, and advanced analytics. “

              Blogs

              Our Insights can Inform your Critical Decisions

              We research the latest trends and opportunities related to animal health. Our mission is to make it quicker and easier for our clients to understand the value that well-designed technology solutions can bring to their sales, operations, and marketing functions.

              LET’S CHAT​

              Thinking about how to tap a strategy opportunity, or solve a tactical business problem, using technology? We can brainstorm with you.

                  EMAIL ADDRESS

              sales@celeritasdigital.com

                  PHONE NUMBER

              Phone (US): (646) 374-0260 Ext: 711

                  OUR ADDRESS

              Address: 157 Columbus Avenue, 4th Floor New York, NY 10023

              SCHEDULE A MEETING

                26 September

                Using QR Codes for your Veterinarian Business

                adminB2B, Customer Engagement, Digital, Pharma Marketing, Sales and Marketing, TechnologyNo Comments

                QR codes emerged in the 90s with a few basic use cases and very few users. Over time they have come to represent a significant number of transactions, however. The QR code payment market is projected to rise to $35 billion by 2030. The market was already growing before covid, but the outbreak provided a significant boost to the technology.

                Initially, QR codes were initially reserved for marketing and sales-related functions. But recently, they have made significant headway in the veterinarian field. So read on to explore a few ways QR codes could alleviate the burdens of running a veterinarian clinic.

                What is a QR code and how can it be used by Veterinarians?

                A QR code is a scannable code that provides access to stored information. Depending on whether you use numerical or alphanumerical data, it could hold up to 7000 characters of data at a time. This can include website URLs, phone numbers, geographic locations, dates, and much more. It is so useful since it combines high capacity with high-speed reading.

                How can a simple little mechanism like this, using simplistic technology like an optical scanner be of value in the veterinarian sector?

                A)  Aiding Veterinarian Clinic Management

                Training and Engagement

                Many care centers want to support their veterinarians’ expansion of their expertise by providing useful educational resources. But when funds are limited, having a vast library, or running a lecture theatre can be difficult. QR codes make providing online courses and study materials much easier. The links to all the audio-visual classes and associated publications can be found by scanning one code. It’s a go-to solution for a small-scale medical facility.

                The hospital waiting room can often have an uncomfortable atmosphere despite the Patient Experience Officer’s best efforts. There is a feeling of tension or dread hanging in the air. With nothing to distract them but posters, visitors often feel troubled regardless of the kind of service provided by their doctor. Having a QR code that links them to an interactive site is a creative and much-needed solution. Here, patients can familiarize themselves with their animal’s caretaker and watch informative or entertaining videos in an easy format.

                Storage of Patient Information

                QR codes have the greatest scope in the organization and accessibility of patient records. In essence, patients’ files are all synced to a central database. Any authorized staff member may use the optical scanner in their phone to scan the QR code on the bracelet and find everything they require to help a furball in need. This includes clinical history, disease progression, and previous operations available at the database. Test results, diagnoses, health reports, scheduled operations, etc. can then be added to keep them up-to-date.

                One might think a patient’s phone could easily store this information, which could directly be shown to a doctor instead. During an emergency, however, when effective communication might not be possible, or the patient may not be in the right state of mind to provide entry, quickly scanning the bracelet can save time and lives.

                This also solves the issue of information silos and cross-department discrepancies. The animal’s data would be uniform, complete, and well-organized. It would also eradicate misinformative medical errors. For example, a nurse could simply scan a patient’s QR bracelet to confirm their dosage without having to consult anyone or waste time if their chart is unavailable.

                QR codes can be just as valuable to pet parents as they are to the clinic. QR codes can ease the completion of a host of functions, such as leaving a review, making a payment through your online payment portal, or lodging pet insurance claims.

                Administration

                Publicly posted QR codes help in appointment booking and scheduling. QR codes can direct a user’s phone to a booking site, from where the schedule is automatically updated. This delegation frees up the receptionist’s time to better manage the waiting room. Furthermore, QR codes form the simplest form of identification and entry authorization. Unlike biometric scanners, tokens, or general ID cards, they can hold quite a lot of information at very low costs. For a hospital administrator, this kind of staff management can be a major advantage.

                Additionally, an administrator needs to be well-versed in the company’s policies, payment options, insurance matters, and government regulations. They must apply and answer questions about these matters all the time. A QR code in the waiting area can be a major assistance in this area.

                All these benefits can really make an admin’s life much easier.

                Safety and Security

                Veterinary clinics largely handle patients who are dependent on their caretakers and require regular monitoring. They are often unable to grasp the importance of staying put, can be difficult to track, and are unable to express to any stranger where they are supposed to be. This means they need to have special measures at hand to deal with unusual behavior from their residents. Dynamic QR code badges can show anyone an animal’s patient number and family contact. These badges or ID tags are currently widely integrated into pet collars. They’re ideal for monitoring untrained pets that tend to wander off. In this way, veterinary facilities and clinics could ensure the safety of their charges.

                B)  Aiding Healthcare Recipients

                Clarity about Medication

                Drug counterfeits are a major issue in the pharmaceutical industry. And for many users, it can pose a major risk. To help their customers feel assured and well-informed, companies can print QR codes on their pill bottles. This will confirm the company name alongside the date of expiry, contents, and possible side effects. It can also provide medical administrators with exact dosage details, and aid drug intake tracking. This is especially useful when following a complex medical regimen.

                Clarity about Resources

                During emergencies, patients or their family members are usually frantic. Despite the best planning efforts, multi-wing, multi-departmental hospitals can be difficult to navigate. By providing access to the layout or 3D interactive map, advanced care information, FAQs, etc., you could reduce confusion and make for a better experience.

                Easier Payment Method

                Medical bills can be incredibly high. Payment options usually include payment plans and credit cards but those are often complicated to manage in the long term. With QR codes, one can instead make one-time payments without carrying either cash or a credit card with them. Lodging pet insurance claims also becomes much simpler. Though the vast landscape of insurance providers can present a limitation, generating QRs for the major ones can be beneficial to many pet owners.

                Factors to Keep in Mind

                Cybercrime

                QR codes, like any other form of widespread technology, are vulnerable to attacks. There are two main types of attacks to watch out for:

                Malware attacks, where the coder embeds a QR code with malicious webpages or domains. These can contain a virus or allow a hacker access to your phone camera and external sensor. They could track your location or tap into your camera and watch you, while you remain completely unaware. The malware could also capture personal and, vitally, medical information for ransom.

                Phishing attacks, known specifically as Q-phishing, are where the original website has been replaced by a lookalike. This domain can prompt you to provide private details which can be sold or used for criminal purposes. They might also trick you into buying non-existent healthcare instruments, equipment, or services.

                A veterinary hospital providing a QR code needs to be aware of this. Instead of helping to promote their clinic, it can ruin their reputation. It can erode users’ trust in their brand’s ability to safeguard their information properly. This will make it difficult to convince them to allow the hospital to store their data in its records.

                Availability of Technical Infrastructure

                Functional data management systems make it easier to take full advantage of QR technology. But there are many technological shortcomings in older veterinary organizations that make the implementation of these techniques a little complicated.

                Many pet care centers manage data manually and there are pre-existing mistakes and discrepancies in previous records. Others used obsolete methods of data management or obsolete digital systems. Hence, too much tedious data sorting would be required to implement the QR system. Much of the data is irretrievable or cannot be updated.

                Worse still, organizational silos handicap the company’s ability to merge data without contradictions and overlaps. The whole process would take too much restructuring and cause initial strains and learning pains. And so, some of these methods would be more of a hindrance than a help.


                ” Elianne Liong is a staff writer for Celeritas Digital.  She specializes in researching and publishing content related to a range of topics in the animal health and veterinary industry, including technology transformation, business processes, HR, data science, and advanced analytics. “

                 

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