Category: Customer Engagement

In order for veterinary organizations to operate effectively, they have a variety of day-to-day tasks that they must perform. It is important to simplify these tasks whenever possible. By utilizing a management tool to streamline workflows and reduce administrative burdens, animal-care practices can gain a competitive edge by maintaining accurate records and data. While there are many veterinary practice management systems available, it can be challenging to choose the right one. It is important for practices to select a tool that can be easily integrated into their current platform and supports the features they already use to ensure a smooth workflow.

Here are some vital capabilities to look for when hunting for an upgraded Veterinary Practice Management System:

Online Scheduling

Having a seamless practice management system is crucial for a good staff, pet owner, and patient experience. Using an online scheduling tool can really cut down on phone bill and make things more efficient. You want to have an online calendar on your website that lets clients schedule appointments quickly and easily.

One great thing about having an online calendar is that it eliminates long wait times on the phone. Your clients can schedule their appointments at their convenience and get an idea of how long they’ll have to wait. So, when you’re looking for a practice management solution, make sure it includes an easy-to-use cloud-based or digital calendar for appointment scheduling.

Automated Appointments

Proper process management is key to clinical success. When running a veterinary clinic, it is crucial to hit your financial and quality targets. That’s why it’s important to get your hands on the latest and greatest veterinary software in the market.

Veterinary clinic employees have a crucial role to play in the lives of their patients, both furry and not-so-furry. They are responsible for the health and wellbeing of animals, which is a tough job in itself. But in addition to this, they also have to deal with many non-veterinary tasks that are part and parcel of running a clinic. Tasks like hiring new veterinary team members, managing supplies, marketing, and other administrative tasks can quickly pile up and become overwhelming. This is where special tools and IT systems come into play. With the right system in place, clinic employees can simplify their daily tasks, streamline their workflows, and save valuable time and resources.

By choosing the right system, veterinary facilities can achieve their targets and objectives, while also providing their patients with the best care possible. A good system can help automate repetitive tasks, track inventory and supplies, and even provide real-time analytics to help clinics make informed decisions. On the other hand, choosing the wrong system can have the opposite effect. It can slow down operations, reduce efficiency, and even harm the clinic’s reputation in the long run. Therefore, it’s crucial to choose wisely and ensure that the system you choose is compatible with your clinic’s existing workflow and can integrate easily with other tools and software.

Seamless Billing And Payments

One of the key features that a good practice management system should have is a hassle-free payment method. Whether it’s for your clients or your staff, you want transactions to be quick and easy. This is where seamless payment methods come in.

Ideally, your software should allow for simple payment methods like swiping a card or accepting payments on mobile devices. It should be quick and easy, so your staff can spend more time with your patients and less time processing payments. Another great feature to look for in a payment system is the ability to save credit card information. This can save your clients time on their next visit, as they won’t have to go through the payment process all over again. It also saves you and your staff time by not having to manually enter the payment information every time.

By scanning the patient’s insurance card, the front desk staff can quickly and easily gather all the necessary information. This eliminates the need for a copy machine to make a double-sided copy of the card and saves time. Furthermore, payment details can be confusing and hinder the client from understanding their payment responsibility and what they owe after the insurance has paid. Practice management software can notify the receptionist if a patient as has open balance on his or her account.

In today’s fast-paced world, people expect quick and easy payment options. Having a reliable payment method is not only convenient for your clients but also helps to keep your business running smoothly. So, make sure to choose a veterinary practice management system that has a seamless payment method that fits your clinic’s needs.

Collaboration

One of the most important aspects of running a successful medical practice is effective collaboration between clients and veterinarians. Medical practice software with collaboration features, such as direct messaging, phone appointments, and automated reminders, can greatly improve patient interactions and develop stronger relationships between patients and their physicians.

These tools allow patients to request refills, upload important documents, and communicate with their doctors through various channels, including email and secure instant message chat-boxes. This ensures that patients receive timely and accurate information, which can help them make more informed decisions about their healthcare.

Medical practice management software also offers benefits on the physician side. With the patient portal feature, physicians can digitally input prescriptions and securely send patients on their way to the pharmacy. This eliminates the need for paper prescriptions and helps providers stay connected with their patients through email and chat boxes.

Thinking of Introducing an LMS system to your veterinary clinic, hospital, or chain. You wouldn’t be the first one. You’d be among many this year that have chosen to opt for this highly beneficial system. 

So here’s what we’ll be discussing throughout this article! 

• What is an LMS?
• What Purpose does it serve?
• In what ways can Advanced Technologies can Improve an LMS
• Advantages of an LMS?
• Key Features in an LMS

What is an LMS?

LMS stands for Learning Management System. It is a software application or platform that enables the creation, delivery, and management of educational content and resources.

Learning management systems (LMSs) are designed to detect any deficiencies in training and learning using data analysis and reporting. They not only facilitate e-learning, but also act as a center for online content such as courses, modules, specializations, assessments, and discussion forums. Modern LMSs apply advanced algorithms to make personalized course recommendations based on the user’s skillset, as well as extracting data from e-learning materials to give more accurate suggestions. It also allows for tracking student progress and performance, administering assignments and exams, and generating reports.

LMSs are commonly used in educational institutions such as schools, colleges, and universities, as well as in corporate training and professional development programs. They can be accessed via web browsers or mobile devices, making it convenient for students to learn anytime and anywhere.

What Purposes does an LMS serve?

An LMS can serve several purposes in a veterinary organization or an animal care center. Here are some examples:

Training and Continued Education

Veterinary professionals are committed to lifelong learning, continuously seeking to enhance their skills and broaden their knowledge base. Embracing a growth mindset fosters perseverance, steadfastness, and contentment – essential elements that promote the prosperity of your practice.

An LMS (Learning Management System) can be used to deliver training and educational programs to veterinary staff, technicians, and other animal care professionals. It can help to train the staff in essential skills such as tele-triage and telehealth applications. It can provide interactive courses, webinars, videos, quizzes, and simulations that can help improve the skills and knowledge of employees in the field. This helps ensure that they are up to date with the latest practices and technologies in their industry. Additionally, an LMS can provide valuable feedback on performance which allows staff to learn from mistakes as well as track progress over time.

Compliance Training

The use of a Learning Management System (LMS) for compliance training is an invaluable tool for organizations that need to ensure their employees are compliant with regulations and policies related to animal welfare. The LMS can provide interactive training modules, assessments, and quizzes that help ensure employees have a good understanding of the standards and can effectively implement them in their work. Additionally, the LMS can help track and manage certifications, licenses, and continuing education credits for veterinary professionals and make sure they are renewed on time. This helps organizations remain compliant with standards while also ensuring employees have the necessary qualifications to do their job.

Performance Management

Performance Management is vital for any organization to ensure that their employees are meeting the necessary standards and KPI expectations. The use of a Learning Management System (LMS) can be beneficial in this regard as it allows managers to track employee performance and identify areas for improvement. By providing reports on completion rates, test scores, and other metrics, the LMS can help veterinary hospital managers get an understanding of how their interns are performing. This data can then be used to give targeted feedback and coaching which helps improve performance over time. Additionally, an LMS can also be used to measure the effectiveness of training programs by tracking employee progress over time.

Efficiency

The use of a Learning Management System (LMS) can be highly beneficial for veterinary technicians, animal care professionals, and animal care facilities in terms of efficiency. An LMS can streamline the administrative tasks involved in managing training and education programs such as scheduling courses, tracking attendance and grading assessments. This can save time and resources for the organization allowing staff members to focus on providing quality care to animals.

In what ways can Advanced Technologies Improve an LMS?

In order for a Learning Management System (LMS) to be successful, it must be intelligent and modern. As technology advances, the LMS should keep up with the times in order to have high user adoption. To ensure that people are more likely to use a platform, it should employ modern solutions such as intuitive user interfaces, responsive design, and accessible content. Additionally, AI technologies such as natural language processing (NLP), machine learning (ML) and predictive analytics can be used to provide personalized experiences that users can interact with easily.

Machine Learning

Personalized Learning Paths

To find patterns and trends in learning behavior, machine learning algorithms may be trained on vast datasets of user activity and performance data. An algorithm, for example, may examine how quickly a user normally completes specific sorts of exercises, what topics they struggle with, and what types of learning materials they utilize the most frequently.

With this data, the algorithm can create a bespoke learning route for each user, one that is matched to their unique learning style and interests. This might include suggestions for specific tasks or evaluations, as well as supplementary learning materials that are relevant to the user’s interests. The ML algorithm may even offer new courses and learning materials that are likely to be of interest to the user by examining the user’s previous interactions with the platform, such as which courses they have taken and which modules they have finished.

Consistent User Experience

Usage patterns can even be used to improve the user experience and guarantee that the platform operates consistently. ML algorithms, for example, may be used to alter the sequence of course content depending on user engagement data, such as how frequently users engage with content and at what points in their learning journeys.

Natural Language Processing:

Intelligent Tutoring Systems

Students may attempt to subvert the algorithm by using the correct keywords and phrases. NLP can analyze the language used by students when interacting with course materials, such as text-based quizzes, assignments, or essays. In this way, the system can determine the level of understanding of the material and provide guidance accordingly. Aside from simply determining whether the answer is correct or incorrect, the NLP system may detect particular areas where the learner’s knowledge may be poor. On that basis, it can offer assistance or resources to help the student improve their understanding.

Advanced, Automated Grading

NLP-incorporated programs can even provide feedback on the quality of the writing, such as grammar, spelling, structure, and other technical aspects of the content. The quality of an argument could be gauged, identifying room for improvement in its flow or organization. Together with Computer Vision, which we shall look at later, NLP can evaluate written essays for faults, allowing teachers to assess essays more efficiently.

Predictive Analytics

Proactive Alert System

Incorporating predictive analytics into an LMS can allow for the creation of an early warning system that helps instructors identify at-risk students who may be struggling with coursework. The system can analyze data from past student performance and behaviors, such as attendance, participation, and engagement, to predict which students may be at risk of failing or dropping out. Students with a history of low attendance, missed assignments, or low quiz/test scores can be flagged as at-risk and the instructor notified.

The instructor has a unique opportunity to help the student stay on track and achieve success in the course. By proactively reaching out and offering additional support or resources, the instructor can help the student understand the material better and build confidence in their ability to succeed. This intervention can be the key to the student’s success, and it can be the difference between them continuing in the course or abandoning their studies.

Resource Allocation

Predictive Analytics can be used to great effect in a Learning Management System (LMS) to better allocate resources. By collecting data on the course materials and activities that students are using, the system can identify which are proving most beneficial to students and which may be superfluous. This data can help instructors to focus their efforts on the best materials, and allows institutions with limited budgets or resources to reduce spending on those that are not being used as much. This allows for an optimized allocation of resources and a better understanding of what course materials are most effective.

Computer Vision

Individualized Observation

Computer vision is a useful tool for Learning Management Systems (LMS). It can track users’ eye movements and facial expressions as they engage with the information. This data may be used to discern between challenging and engaging portions of the material, and then alter the content accordingly. For example, if a user is having difficulty understanding a certain idea, the LMS might give extra resources such as video lessons or interactive activities to assist them. Moreover, computer vision may be used to determine when viewers are bored or disengaged with a topic, and consequently modify the information.

Advanced, Automated Grading

Using Computer Vision for automated grading can be a powerful tool for instructors. These algorithms can analyze student responses to assignments and quizzes, including handwritten responses and multiple-choice answers. While grading multiple-choice questions, the Computer Vision algorithm can detect the student’s filled-in bubbles or checkboxes and compare them to the correct answers. This could even be used to evaluate a student’s performance on a video-based online assessment or assignments that requires uploading images. The system could even detect and recognize objects in videos and images with the help of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). This may be done quickly and precisely, providing immediate feedback and allowing instructors to focus on delivering tailored input for more open-ended assignments.

Content Analysis

Using computer vision algorithms, it is possible to analyze the visual content of images and videos and detect any inappropriate or potentially illegal material. By scanning through each frame of a video or image, these algorithms can identify elements such as nudity, violence, copyrighted material, and other items that may not be suitable for educational purposes. This helps ensure that the content uploaded to an LMS discourse server adheres to legal or policy requirements.

Advantages of an LMS

There are many benefits and advantages to both veterinary organizations and their vet teams when employing an LMS software. These include:

Flexibility

An LMS can allow veterinarians to learn at their own pace, enabling them to balance their professional and personal commitments. Given how hectic and unpredictable a veterinary work schedule can be, asynchronous learning can be a god-save. With 24/7 access to course materials and resources, animal caretakers can learn on-the-go, making the most of their time while traveling or waiting between appointments. Of course, given that Continued Educational credits are a licensure requirement, LMS can be particularly helpful in tracking veterinarians’ CEs and sending notifications to remind veterinary professionals when their CECs are due for renewal.

Keeping Knowledge Fresh and Whole

Animal Care is a constantly evolving field, with new research, findings, technology, and treatment methods being released every month.  A Learning Management System (LMS) offers veterinary professionals access to the latest videos, podcasts and webinars, as well as interactive simulations and online forums for discussion and collaboration. Through the use of an LMS, veterinary professionals can stay abreast of the latest developments in their field and engage in meaningful dialogue with their peers and experts in the industry. An LMS allows for a seamless and efficient delivery of educational materials, as well as platform for tracking progress and measuring the effectiveness of learning materials, enabling veterinary professionals to measure their progress and make improvements as needed.

Standardization

There is a serious need for Consistency in a veterinary hospital. There are professionals of different ages and from different backgrounds, with varied experiences, skills, and education. This can lead to a clash in thinking and preference and make for a hostile environment within a veterinary facility. Standardization helps to guarantee that all veterinary professionals within an organization have received the same training and have the same knowledge and abilities. This helps to maintain uniformity in the quality of veterinary care provided to patients, regardless of who provides the treatment. Having a centralized training platform will ensure that everyone has access to the same training materials, that cover all aspects of veterinary care, including clinical skills, patient care, and client communication. and that training is delivered reliably across the organization.

Tracking and Reporting

In a large veterinary hospital, an LMS could play a crucial role in tracking and reporting the learning performance of veterinarians. With a comprehensive LMS, veterinary hospitals can provide personalized learning paths for each veterinarian, track their progress, and identify areas where they need improvement. The LMS can provide real-time reports that showcase the learning outcomes and help veterinary hospitals track and measure the effectiveness of their training programs. Furthermore, a well-designed LMS can provide automated notifications, reminders, and alerts to ensure that veterinarians complete their training on time. This saves time and resources that can be better allocated to other critical hospital operations. In addition, a robust LMS can also provide veterinary hospitals with analytics and insights that can help them make informed decisions about future training programs. Overall, an LMS can greatly enhance the effectiveness of veterinary training programs, improve learning outcomes, and ultimately lead to better patient care.

Economical

At a big veterinary hospital, using a Learning Management System (LMS) might be a cost-effective choice for measuring and improving learning performance. By eliminating the need for in-person training and manual tracking of employee progress, an initial investment in an LMS can result in considerable cost savings over time. The LMS enables on-demand access to training materials that may be accessed at the employee’s leisure, decreasing the need for scheduling and coordination. Furthermore, the LMS tracks and reports on employee development in real time, enabling for the rapid discovery and repair of performance gaps. Veterinary clinics may enhance productivity, save costs, and improve overall quality of care by employing technology to automate the learning process.

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Key Features to Look for

Interactive and Collaborative Courses

These are the kinds of courses that encourage the participants to solve problems conjointly. An example of this is multiplayer online games such as Among Us, where the group has to decide which of their peers is an imposter by asking questions and searching for evidence. This can easily be applied to veterinary courses, as veterinarians often have to ask questions of owners to ascertain relevant behavioral signals and make decisions based on scans, tests, external examinations, etc. This allows veterinarians to exercise their skills and knowledge in an intuitive and engaging learning environment. It enhances coordination between veterinary team members and stimulates open discourse on topics of interest. Additionally, interactive courses are designed to motivate students by using multimedia elements such as videos, quizzes, polls, and other activities that help keep them vigorous.

Having interactive and collaborative courses in an LMS can be highly beneficial to a veterinary hospital for several reasons. First, interactive and collaborative courses engage learners more effectively than traditional, passive courses, leading to better knowledge retention and improved learning outcomes. Second, collaborative courses encourage knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer learning, which can lead to a more supportive and collaborative culture in the hospital.

Omniscience and Fluidity

Omniscience refers to the ability to access and retrieve any information from the LMS database, regardless of the time or location. Fluidity, on the other hand, refers to the flexibility and adaptability of the LMS to integrate with various technologies and devices, such as mobile devices and wearables.

In a veterinary hospital, having an LMS with omniscience and fluidity can provide access to real-time data, analytics, and insights that can inform decision-making processes. The LMS can enable the hospital staff to monitor the progress and performance of each veterinarian and identify knowledge gaps that need to be addressed. Furthermore, the ability to access the LMS from mobile devices can allow veterinarians to learn and collaborate with their peers from anywhere and at any time, increasing efficiency and productivity. Generally, having an LMS with omniscience and fluidity can help a veterinary hospital stay competitive and adapt to the changing landscape of veterinary medicine.

Customization:

Customizing a veterinary Learning Management System (LMS) is hugely beneficial for hospital staff. It can result in better training, improved employee engagement and increased retention rates. With a customizable LMS, hospitals have the ability to create training modules and courses that cater specifically to the type of veterinary medicine practiced at the hospital. They can also address relevant medical conditions, new treatments, fresh equipment, or the introduction of new systems and technology. When creating an LMS, goals and policies may also be incorporated into lessons, to have an overarching benefit across the organization or practice. This allows hospitals to create a training program that reflects their brand and culture. Therefore, this feature could enable the hospital to develop its own diverse, transparent, and lasting culture that could help foster a positive learning environment and maintain employee engagement.

Customization also allows hospitals to create a more organized approach to training. It enables them to track employee progress and generate reports that can be used to measure the effectiveness of the program. This can help the hospital identify areas of strength and weakness, while also helping to identify areas that need improvement.

Finally, a customizable LMS can help to increase employee engagement. This is because it enables the hospital to create a more interactive learning environment, with interactive quizzes, simulations, and games. This helps to keep employees motivated and engaged, while also providing a more enjoyable and rewarding learning experience.

Tracking and Reporting

When searching for a learning management system for your veterinary clinic, don’t forget to look for this feature. The LMS needs to benefit the veterinarians, the clinic, and its manager/owner. The manager can benefit greatly from being able to monitor the progress, learning speed, scores, and completed assignments. And that’s what an LMS does – it tracks and reports performance in quizzes and projects. It gives the veterinary overseer a peak into the capabilities and interests of the veterinary staff around them. It can help them determine where each team member needs extra support or training, where their strengths and weaknesses lie, and what improvements are needed to meet evolving staff needs.

Performance monitoring and analysis can even provide hospitals with detailed reports that show compliance with industry standards and regulations, ensuring they meet all necessary accreditation requirements. By generating these reports, veterinary hospitals can demonstrate their adherence to the required standards and avoid any penalties for non-compliance.

Contact us at sales@celeritasdigital.com to learn more about getting a Learning Management System for your veterinary practice.

Wearable devices have become a part of almost every home and health plan today. The go-to solution for most healthcare providers is a Fitbit-style application with a Smart Health Watch. This has made gathering and analyzing health data rather easy. They enhance our general wellbeing by measuring activity and sleep habits. But these capabilities and benefits are not confined to human health. It is also used to track the health and behaviour of animals. This article will explore the way wearable technology is impacting animal health.

What is Wearable Technology?

Wearable technology refers to devices that are worn on the body and can collect and transmit data. These devices can range from fitness trackers and smartwatches to sensors and cameras that can be attached to animals. Wearable devices have been around for some time, but recent advancements in technology have made them more accessible and affordable. 

The Benefits of Wearable Technology for Animal Health Monitoring

In our article on Precision Livestock Farming, we discussed the immense importance of maintaining regular records and making quick improvements to resolve minor issues before they snowball. Monitoring makes up a major aspect of that discussion. 

One of the key benefits of using wearable technology to monitor animal health is that it allows for non-invasive monitoring. In the past, checking the animal for illnesses would involve capturing and handling the animal, which can be stressful for the animal and time-consuming for the veterinarian or researcher. By using wearable sensors, it is possible to monitor animals without causing any disturbance to their natural behaviors, which is especially crucial when studying wildlife. Interfering with their natural behavior can affect the accuracy of the collected data and potentially impact their survival.

Wearable devices also help to improve the accuracy of animal health monitoring. Traditional methods of monitoring animal health relied on subjective observations and physical examinations. With wearable technology, data can be collected and analyzed in real-time, providing more accurate and detailed information on an animal’s health and behaviors. For example, sensors can be used to monitor an animal’s heart rate, body temperature, and activity levels. This data can then be analyzed to identify any abnormalities or changes in the animal’s health.

Another benefit of utilizing bio-sensors to monitor animal health is that it allows for continuous monitoring. Traditional monitoring methods would involve periodic check-ups, which may not capture changes in an animal’s health that occur between check-ups. Wearable technology allows for continuous monitoring, which can provide a more comprehensive picture of an animal’s health and behaviours over time. This is particularly useful when monitoring chronic conditions or diseases.

Wearable Technology for Livestock Monitoring

Livestock monitoring is a crucial aspect of animal husbandry. Farmers need to keep track of the health and welfare of their animals to ensure they are productive and healthy. Farmers can now use wearable devices to collect real-time data about their animals’ behavior, health, and productivity. This information can be used to identify health issues early and take corrective action before it’s too late.

Wearable technology for livestock monitoring includes sensors, trackers, and smart devices that are attached to the animals. These devices can track various parameters such as body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, activity levels, and location. The data is then transmitted to a cloud-based platform, where it is analysed and presented to the farmer in an easy-to-understand format.

One of the most significant applications of wearable technology in livestock monitoring is in the dairy industry. Dairy farmers use wearable technology to monitor the health and productivity of their cows. The real-time data collected is analysed to foresee potential diseases and physical conditions, such as respiratory problems or infections. This allows farmers and herders to be proactive. They can nip the issue in the bud by quarantining the animal to prevent the spread of diseases, or taking measures to improve the overall health.

The technology used in dairy cow monitoring includes activity sensors, milk yield sensors, and rumination sensors. Activity sensors track the cow’s movements and provide data on their activity levels, which can be an indicator of their overall health. Milk yield sensors measure the amount of milk produced by the cow, which can provide insights into their health and productivity. Rumination sensors track how long the cow spends chewing their cud, which is an important indicator of their digestive health.

Wearable technology is helpful for Veterinarians

Wearable technology is not just beneficial for farmers, but it can also be incredibly helpful for veterinarians. Veterinarians can use wearable technology to monitor the health and behavior of their animal patients and make more informed diagnoses and treatment plans. Here are some of the ways wearable technology can be helpful for veterinarians:

Remote monitoring

Tags on the animals’ ears can be attached or chips can be implanted to detect harmful substances, such as toxins or pollutants, in food or water that animals consume. This gives veterinarians access to their patients’ vital signs, such as heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature – all in one place. This information can provide valuable insights into animal health, well-being, and the environment in which they live. Remote monitoring can also save time and money by reducing the need for in-person check-ups.

Behavior tracking

For animal caretakers, the way an animal moves (lethargic or energetic) reveals much about its health. Sick animals show reduced play, grooming, and sexual behavior, a weakening of appetite. Biosensors can track an animal’s activity levels, expulsion of waste, and eating regularity. This can help detect potential health problems in animals. An alert can then be sent out to the pet parent and the local veterinarian.

Post-operative care

For example, a post-operative patient could wear a device that tracks their heart rate and respiration, which can provide important information about their recovery. Veterinarians can use this data to make adjustments to the animal’s medication or care plan as needed.

Client education

Keeping animal owners informed of their pet’s wellness metrics is important. If the owner cannot grasp a condition that is not externally manifesting, they may not consent to treatment procedures or tests. For example, if a dog is wearing a device that tracks their activity levels, the veterinarian can use this data to show the owner how much exercise their pet is getting and whether they need to increase their activity level.

Conclusion

In conclusion, wearable technology is proving to be an invaluable tool in animal health, farming, and veterinary medicine. For farmers, wearable technology allows for the early detection of health issues, ensuring that their livestock stays healthy and productive. For veterinarians, wearable technology enables them to remotely monitor animal patients and make more informed diagnoses and treatment plans. It also offers a wealth of data on animal behavior, which can be used to promote animal welfare and educate pet owners.

As wearable technology continues to evolve, it is likely that we will see even more innovative uses in the animal health industry. For example, wearable technology could be used to monitor the effects of climate change on animal populations, or to track the spread of diseases that affect both animals and humans.

Despite the many benefits of wearable technology, it is important to remember that it should never replace the expertise and care of experienced animal health professionals. Wearable technology is a valuable tool, but it should be used in conjunction with traditional methods of animal care.

Overall, wearable technology has already had a significant impact on animal health, farming, and veterinary medicine. As such, it is likely to become an increasingly important part of animal health in the years to come.

Exploring Artificial Intelligence (AI) has oft been compared to the opening of Pandora’s Box. This famous Greek Mythological symbol of curiosity, for those who are unfamiliar, comes from the woman who opened a forbidden box and unleashed all the horrors of the earth upon humanity. “Pandora’s Box” now represents anything that is best left untouched, for fear of what might come out of it.

However, artificial intelligence should be seen as less of a box of horrors and more of a door to possibilities. In the past few months, the myriad uses of AI have rocked the internet. From internet influencers expounding on its merits to get follows and likes to content creators like myself using it to enhance their productions.

But artificial intelligence is not just a cute tool to get work done faster. Pandora let out death; artificial intelligence could help extend life. Pandora released disease; artificial intelligence could help diminish or even eradicate it. Pandora’s box contained poverty; artificial intelligence can release many from it.

In this article we will discuss the use cases and potential of artificial intelligence in the animal health sphere.

AI in Food & Agriculture

AI is being used for agricultural purposes. The world’s population is set to reach around 10 billion by 2050. With the amount of land remaining constant, an increased supply of food is dependent on changes in farming and animal rearing techniques and the fertility and yield of the land and cattle.

Identifying Animal Signatures

Contactless biometric AI (Artificial Intelligence) recognition tools, such as the one offered by F4T Lab, can create a ID by scanning the animal’s face. This eliminates the need for invasive and cumbersome hardware. It also removes the possibility of disputes after recovery from theft.

Data Gathering

Agricultural models can both gather large amounts of granular data, from genealogy, medical treatments, vaccines, and productivity. Evaluating farming methods, AI can offer smart solutions for better outcomes, minimized losses, and reduced workloads ^[[1]].

AI technology is being leveraged to regulate the usage of water, and systems that help track individual performance of every animal, from first parity until culling phase.

Herd Monitoring and Healthcare

AI-integrated UAVs can use optics and radiometric sensors to monitor and analyze special and temporal data on cattle location, movement, and interaction ^[[2]][[3]] that can perform tasks such as:

• Checking their current physical condition
• Determining which animals are high-performing
• Measuring stress levels and how they can affect production and fertility
• Getting better financial and insurance options because of more accurate and reliable animal tracking.
• Faster data sampling: Precision Hawk’s agricultural drones can “gather data on 500 to 1,000 acres in less than a day.”

In many cases, particular animal movements can suggest diseases, medical conditions, and weakness. If the values collected exceed the regular parameters, the Artificial Intelligence can be trained via deep learning to recognize this as ill health or injury. It can then alert animal caretakers to injuries, excessive weight, or the need for special attention.

Optimizing Breeding Strategies

Machine learning is having a huge impact on the optimization of animal genetic selection strategies. Various ML models exist that can aid in the prompt and efficient genetic selection of animals based on the forecasting of breeding values ^[[4]]­. Based on the geographical parameters, the system can provide farmers with recommendations for suitable and profitable breeds.

Mitigating Extreme Climatic Disruptions

The constantly shifting climate conditions have obfuscated the decision-making process for farmers and animal rearers. AI models can process a variety of factors and forecasted conditions to perform efficient water and environmental regulation. AI has been proven capable of sensing and reacting to the changes in heat by reducing ambient temperatures, aiding in heat loss e.g., shading and sheltering, and dietary alterations to reduce heat stress effects ^[[5]]. This function has proved accurate, with low statistical errors, ensuring high performance despite meteorological inconsistencies ^[[6]].

AI for Behavioral Sciences

Behavioral science is the study of influencing or maneuvering a creature’s behavioral patterns toward activities they might not inherently perform. Behavioral interventions are often used to modify negative behaviors.

Information Processing

AI can be useful in the compilation and synthesis of report findings in behavioral change intervention. While irregular and esoteric language is often used in these reports, machine learning coupled with advanced matching technology can interpret the information. This kind of AI would be immensely useful in predicting potential outcomes of behavioral interventions. AI can also perform personal profiling, which can be used to identify more volatile and aggressive herd members, forecast their misadventures, and prevent them from engaging in them.

Compliance

In a sea of treatments that must often be shoved down patients’ throats, nudgeomics is considered by some to be the best option. Nudge Theory uses the shifts in the environment, known as choice architecture, to direct or “nudge” the subjects towards certain actions. Combined with artificial intelligence, apps like DnaNudge can recommend genetically personalized nutritional products to raise patient compliance levels and reduce troubling behaviors. Furthermore, AI can determine based on past records and reports which behavioral technique (habituation, desensitization, counterconditioning, response substitution, overlearning, etc.) should be employed.

AI Diagnostic Capabilities

Recently, Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) have intensely propagated the pattern-recognition abilities of our AI technology. DNNs are data processing systems that mimic the brain’s learning style to assign labels to different sets of data. Simply put, if a machine is fed enough data on one particular condition, it can recognize it in any given scenario. This translates to artificial intelligence being highly capable of recognizing diseases from fresh scan images based on past learning.

Alzheimer’s

Cognitive decline and neuropathology are aspects of Alzheimer’s that dogs are able to develop. Typically, blood tests, X-rays, thyroid testing, and ultrasounds are used to confirm the disease. Recently, however, An AI-integrated histopathologic tool has been developed which opens a new paradigm for the study and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s brain disease ^[[7]]. By assessing the arrangements and features of the medial temporal lobe and the frontal cortex on slide images of brain autopsies, the algorithm was able to measure brain impairment to a substantial degree. The artificial intelligence-based biotech company, BERG, has developed applications to produce detailed disease maps that can help in the identification of disease biomarkers. Drugs can then be developed to target their sources.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that effects mammals such as goats, pigs, cats, and dogs, among others. Combined with nanotechnology, highly sensitive AI can enhance the diagnostic process of tuberculosis. By identifying the morphological changes caused by certain histological reactions, TB-AI can automatically detect acid-fast stained TB bacilli ^[[8]]. The nanotechnological component of the test can discern the minuscule molecules of the bacterial structure. When the immune cells envelop the bacteria, they shed what is essentially cell waste covered in Lymphangioleiomyomatosis, more succinctly known as LAM, and the protein LprG. The nanoparticles isolate these two molecules, confirming the presence of the TB bacteria.

Cardiological Conditions

The echocardiograph is a primary method of measuring the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS). These are the two most crucial indicators of cardiac systolic function. The AI algorithm, through data mining and interpretation, was able to analyze high-dimensional and complex data to identify hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with a sensitivity of 0.96 and specificity of 0.77 (Narula S. et al.). Another artificially intelligent program for associative memory classification was developed in a study by Sengupta P.P. et al. Here, the algorithm effectively distinguished constrictive pericarditis and restrictive cardiomyopathy (AUC 0.96).

An AI-enhanced echocardiogram was also able to detect heart failure more accurately than a blood test (NT-ProBNP) ^[[9]]. It would check for decreased heart function in patients with shortness of breath. A regular ECG can establish that there is a cardiovascular abnormality but this does not necessarily indicate heart failure. An ECG also tests for unusual BNP hormone levels in your blood but these can be symptomatic of a myriad of issues ranging from obesity to severe pulmonary hypertension. By training AI programs to recognize the ECG patterns of patients with LVSD, the researchers were able to receive highly accurate ECG analysis within about 10 seconds. Furthermore, deep learning algorithms can use coronary angiogram results to perform CAD tests that detect heart disease.

COVID-19

AI is currently being trained in University of Florida-supported research ^[][10] to detect fresh variants of COVID-19. This is intended to help tackle the onerous challenge of tracking the constantly mutating virus and to mitigate the most serious consequences. According to Marco Salemi, Ph.D., a professor of experimental pathology at the UF College of Medicine, “The coronavirus is a moving target and we have always been one step behind. Every time the epidemic seems to be coming under control, another variant emerges that is more virulent.” But with global sources of public data on the genetic sequences of coronavirus, preventative measures can be set in place to actively hinder its transmission.

Post-chemo Treatment

An AI-based system used in a study by the University of Michigan Health lab ^[[11]] can also determine the kind of treatment human bladder cancer patients will require post-chemotherapy. It is often very taxing to decipher the difference between cancer cells and scarred tissue. AI was able to significantly improve the evaluations of the trained practitioners, as well as provide a learning experience for the medical and veterinary students who participated in the study.

One interesting takeaway from the above study was that the AI tools could act as a second opinion, to aid a radiologist but not replace them. AI errors are distinct from human errors, so the two resources would need to be paired to cancel out each other’s shortcomings.

The use of AI in diagnosis procedures has been explored for the last two decades and at this stage, the uses are extensive. As more research and development occurs, the likelihood is that every day medical equipment and instruments will have built-in AI functions. Yet the question stands as to whether specialists will use these capabilities or discard them due to incompatibility with their systems or incomplete functions.

AI In Drug Development

There exists an abundance of significant clinical trial data in the databases of large pharmaceutical companies, yet much of it is in the form of unstructured, unsearchable data. NLP is an effective solution to this predicament. NLP (Natural Language Processing) is an Artificial Intelligence-based program that scans and converts images and unstructured texts into detailed and high-value, information-rich text. This enhances the precision of search results which can then be analyzed by the AI tech platform to glean insights and discover hidden implications.

BioXcel Therapeutics uses artificial intelligence technology to identify potential patients or new applications for existing drugs in the immuno-oncology and neuroscience fields. Deep Genomics is another biotech firm that has developed an AI platform to connect pharmaceutical researchers with the right test subjects and participants to maximize the likelihood of valid and reliable clinical endpoints. AI may also be involved in the trial design, recognizing risks and opportunities, forecasting trial duration, and analyzing the sequence of actions using associative or observational learning.

Hence, AI significantly aids in the designing and managing of clinical trials and data extraction. In doing so, the overall cost of preparing for, conducting, and evaluating the trial is neatly minimized and the drug release and distribution period is shortened.

AI Enhanced Communication Tools

Artificial intelligence can not only make calculations that exceed human capacity but also help people navigate through their devices with ease. This has been discovered with the use of Alexa, Siri, Cortana, and other AI personal assistants. Navigating medical devices and applications can also prove taxing. But having an AI guide and task-executer to help both veterinary students and clients adapt to new equipment and technological changes.

Implementing conversational AI into hospital services can enhance the client experience as well as customer relationship management. Buoy Health is an AI-powered chatbot that a client can explain health concern and symptoms to. The program can pinpoint key information and decipher whether the need is manageable or urgent. Based on its conclusion and their financial preference, it can then direct them to the appropriate medical center and treatment. AI chatbots have the potential to be used in complex medical consultations. When pet owners perceive chatbots as more accurate and easier to use, it increases their user satisfaction and behavioral intention to use the agents in veterinary consultations ^[[12]].

Botnation is a no-code solution to eliminating bias in veterinarians by simulating a pre-check-up interview session. The bot has been evaluated as having an “intuitive interface”, alongside flexible integration and conversation tracking. AI can augment health and self-management apps, providing predictive features and daily tracking of tests and readings, or facilitating engaging activities to assist with mental wellness. Sensely is a virtual assistant avatar that will visit its patient regularly, monitor their health, and ask their owners to examine their vital signs.

In agriculture, farmers and herders have used chatbots. These Artificial Intelligence powered algorithms assist them with unanswered questions ^[[13]], advising them on financially feasible products and equipment options, updating them on the latest erosion control strategies, and providing various other recommendations.

LIMITATIONS

While there are ostensibly no limitations for AI in the Life Sciences sectors, there are limitations to its adoption level. Many parties may reject or neglect the implementation or utilization of AI technology due to multiple reasons.

Animal owners might have inhibitions relegating the care of a valued family member to an artificial entity. Cattle rearers may be skeptical about providing AI software with access to their entire digital data archives. A 2019 study by Harvard Business Review showed that human patients were reluctant to use artificial intelligence software to receive healthcare. This is partially because people generally underestimate the accuracy and precision of AI-based diagnostic tools. They assume that AI would be ill-equipped to address their pet’s specific symptoms.

Meanwhile, as aforementioned, these have undergone much advancement to the point that the systems outperform specialists in their respective fields. Yet there is insufficient awareness of their scope coupled with skepticism emerging from misunderstandings surrounding the functionality of artificially intelligent algorithms. Patients may use them in conjunction with medical experts’ confirmations and supervision. Hence, it will take a while before the consumers of health services embrace this technology as a reliable and un-dismissible force in Life Sciences.

References

^[1] D.G. Panpatte, Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture: An Emerging Era of Research, Intuitional Science, CANADA (2018), pp. 1-8

[2] Alanezi, M.A.; Mohammad, A.; Sha’aban, Y.A.; Bouchekara, H.R.E.H.; Shahriar, M.S. Auto-Encoder Learning-Based UAV Communications for Livestock Management. Drones 2022, 6, 276. https://doi.org/10.3390/ drones6100276

[3] Rivas, A.; Chamoso, P.; González-Briones, A.; Corchado, J.M. Detection of cattle using drones and convolutional neural networks. Sensors 2018, 18, 2048.

[4] Hamadani, A., Ganai, N.A., Mudasir, S. et al. Comparison of artificial intelligence algorithms and their ranking for the prediction of genetic merit in sheep. Sci Rep 12, 18726 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23499-w

[5] Fuentes, S.; Gonzalez Viejo, C.; Cullen, B.; Tongson, E.; Chauhan, S.S.; Dunshea, F.R. Artificial Intelligence Applied to a Robotic Dairy Farm to Model Milk Productivity and Quality based on Cow Data and Daily Environmental Parameters. Sensors 2020, 20, 2975. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20102975

^[6] Ahmed Elbeltagi, Nand Lal Kushwaha, Ankur Srivastava, Amira Talaat Zoof,

Chapter 5 – Artificial intelligent-based water and soil management, Deep Learning for Sustainable Agriculture, Pages 129-142,

^[7] https://healthitanalytics.com/news/researchers-leverage-ai-to-detect-causes-of-alzheimers-disease

[8] XIONG, Y., BA, X., HOU, A., ZHANG, K., CHEN, L., LI, T.. Automatic detection of mycobacterium tuberculosis using artificial intelligence. Journal of Thoracic Disease, North America, 10, mar. 2018. Available at: <https://jtd.amegroups.com/article/view/19696>

^[9] https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/CIRCEP.120.008437

^[10] https://healthitanalytics.com/news/florida-researchers-to-use-ai-to-track-coronavirus-variants

^[11] “Computerized Decision Support for Bladder Cancer Treatment Response Assessment in CT Urography: Effect on Diagnostic Accuracy in Multi-Institution Multi-Specialty Study,” Tomography. DOI: 10.3390/tomography8020054

[12] Duen-Huang Huang, Hao-En Chueh, Chatbot usage intention analysis: Veterinary consultation, Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, Volume 6, Issue 3, 2021, Pages 135-144, ISSN 2444-569X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2020.09.002.

^[13] Tanha Talaviya, Dhara Shah, Nivedita Patel, Hiteshri Yagnik, Manan Shah, Implementation of artificial intelligence in agriculture for optimisation of irrigation and application of pesticides and herbicides, Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture, Volume 4, 2020, Pages 58-73, ISSN 2589-7217,

Telehealth apps are revolutionizing the way veterinarians care for pet patients. With the help of these apps, pet owners may set up virtual consultations with their vet to discuss the health and welfare of their pets. This enables veterinarians to offer the same level of care without leaving the comfort of their own home as they would in a real office environment. Also, tele-health apps aid in ensuring that all pets receive timely, high-quality care, which is crucial for animal welfare. By leveraging telemedicine technology, veterinarians can now provide better, more cost-effective healthcare for their pet patients than ever before.

The ideal answer to many of the everyday issues that veterinary practices currently encounter may be found in tele-health apps. These apps make it easier to offer online meetings, consultations, and virtual appointments between pet owners and veterinarians. They also make it possible for vets to remotely check on the health of animal patients, enhancing animal welfare. Also, veterinary professionals can provide their clients a more practical and affordable method of care for their pets thanks to tele-health technologies. As a result, tele-health apps are growing in popularity for veterinary firms since they assist in resolving a number of problems related to providing care for animals.

Let us delve further into the problems faced by veterinarians and how tele-health can solve them.

Problem: Reaching remote patients

The number one limitation small veterinary practices face is reach. The number of pets and pet owners in America has been steadily increasing. So, the problem isn’t the lack of potential clients, the problem is tapping into that potential. If the clinic could be extended to reach its entire target audience, it would be massively more profitable. This is even more important for specialist and tertiary care hospitals that depend entirely on referrals from nearby veterinarians. If only their clients could find them independently, right? 

Telehealth Solution: Remote consultations

There are quite a few benefits of remote consultations. Firstly, they allow for quick and efficient detection and treatment of pet health issues without the need for in-person visits. This can be especially useful for remotely-located pet owners, who are unable to access the services of clinic. Online consultations also accommodate those animals and their humans that have mobility issues that prevent them from traveling to your location. Generally, having these appointments is a huge convenience for busy pet parents and a cost-saver too. Remote consultations also reduce wait times for both in-person and virtual appointments. It thus enables veterinarians to see more patients in less time.

In addition, remote consultations allow veterinarians to keep an eye on their patients, checking in on them for signs of worsening or improvement. Using virtual visits, veterinarians may also give pet owners timely guidance and assistance, fostering better client relations and raising the standard of care overall.

As technology continues to advance, it is likely that remote consultations will become an increasingly important part of the veterinary care landscape, helping to improve access to care and promote better pet health outcomes.

Problem: Chronic Conditions

The leading cause of death in animals is chronic diseases. These include cancer, arthritis, chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes and glaucoma, among others. The emotional and physical toll of these conditions can be great for both the animal and its owner. But the veterinarians also face the burden of consistently medicating and performing therapies. Unfortunately, pet owners may be negligent, try untested alternatives, forget instructions, or fail to administer the medication. As a result, it is difficult to ensure the maintenance of the treatment regimen. These animals require ongoing management and supervision. Bringing the weakened animal in regularly, however, isn’t feasible for either the owner or the care provider.

Telehealth Solution: Improved Patient Monitoring

The importance of accurate patient monitoring in a veterinarian clinic cannot be overstated. Having all the necessary information is what makes treatment plans effective and successful. Through the use of tele-health applications and remote monitoring devices, veterinarians can track vital signs and health metrics in real-time. Studies have shown that pedometer apps on phones can be as reliable as pedometrical devices. This allows for quick diagnosis and fast action when necessary. And earlier interventions reap better results for animals.

A veterinarian can continuously keep track of important health indicators and physiological factors like hormones, blood sugar levels or heart rate. Remote monitoring can therefore be very helpful for creatures with chronic disorders that require continuing care. Through better patient monitoring, vets can also to determine which patients need in-person appointments. Triaging patients this way can make for a better use of clinical resources, reducing the strain on overworked veterinarians. This can help reduce wait times for in-person appointments and improve the overall quality of care for all patients.

Problem: Limited Facilities

The staff at an animal care unit must be mindful of the number of animals they can safely accommodate at any given time. The center only has the facilities to support a limited number of pets before overcrowding becomes an issue. Even with separate rooms for different categories, excessive arrivals can lead to chaos and disarray. This can become dangerous and detrimental to the environment around the animals. The longer the wait-lines, the lower the client satisfaction rates, as well. Furthermore, with resources fully engaged and the staff struggling to onboard more animals, the mental wellbeing of veterinary nurses, technicians, and assistants is deeply at stake.

Telehealth Solution: Reduced wait-times

Waiting for an appointment at the vet can be one of the most frustrating experiences for pet owners. This is caused by an imbalance between numbers of available veterinarians and rapidly increasing demand for veterinary services Long wait times can lead to a feeling of impatience, frustration, and even anger. Extended wait periods can be distressing for animals and possibly exacerbate medical issues. Unfortunately, this negative experience often carries over into client satisfaction with the entire veterinary visit.

Research has shown that shorter wait times have a significant impact on client satisfaction at veterinary hospitals. Studies have found that shortening wait times from 15 minutes to 5 minutes or less can significantly increase patient satisfaction ratings. But veterinary clinics may demonstrate to their consumers that they appreciate their time and are devoted to offering high-quality, effective treatment by cutting down on wait times.

In addition, reduced wait times can help veterinary clinics attract and retain clients. Clients are more likely to return to clinics where they have positive experiences, and shorter wait times are a key factor in creating positive experiences.

Problem: Misaligned Records

Most veterinary hospitals lack a standardized information organization system. This makes it difficult to find or exchange records consistently. Multiple electronic systems are employed for EMRs, billings, appointment scheduling, etc. Of course, confusion and disorganization ensue. This makes compiling or synchronizing patient data between them in one place difficult. Lack of standardization makes it even more difficult to transfer files and as a result, discrepancies crop up unchecked.

Matters are further complicated by the side-by-side use of paper records. These are easily misplaced and becomes a burden to store after a while. In fact, just sorting through all these different techniques would require intense and regular staff training.

Telehealth Solution: Streamline Record-keeping

Telehealth can be a major asset to veterinary clinics by making record-keeping fluid and flexible. It allows veterinarians to store patient records, such as medical history, survey responses, feedback, and treatment plans, in one centralized location. As the appointment commences, the doctor’s notes are all stored within the patient’s file organized by session and date. This makes it easier for them to access up-to-date information quickly and accurately, as well as update and export records.

Moreover, telehealth can help reduce paperwork by eliminating the need to manually transfer physical documents between different departments or locations. Sharing patient information with other animal care providers or specialists is a lot easier, improving collaboration and coordination of care.

Result: Improved Animal Welfare

One of the key advantages of telehealth is improved access to care. With the help of telehealth, pet owners in isolated or rural locations may get high-quality veterinarian treatment without having to travel a great distance, which relieves stress for both the animals and their owners.

Telehealth can also lead to more timely intervention and treatment for pets. Remote monitoring allows veterinarians to identify and prevent the progression of more serious health issues.  This will ultimately improve the results for animals.

In addition, telehealth can help reduce stress for pets by minimizing the need for in-person visits. Many pets experience stress and anxiety during visits to the veterinary clinic, and telehealth can help reduce this stress by enabling virtual visits from the comfort of their own homes.

Overall, telehealth can improve animal welfare by improving access to care, reducing stress and anxiety for pets, and enabling more timely intervention and treatment. By utilizing telehealth, veterinary clinics can enhance the overall quality of care for pets and improve their welfare.

Data Analytics is the next phase in the evolutionary data cycle. Today, decades worth of data may be quickly processed to provide insights into the veterinary industry. From identifying the roots of a problem to providing data-rich remedies, data analytics can accomplish much. Animal health is a sector that utilizes the most complex processes and is intensely data-rich. Getting quick, detailed, and accurate reports on animal health related topics a game-changer.

BIOTECH TYPES

Red Biotech: the research and creation of medicinal and veterinary products

Yellow Biotech: the production and provision of food

Green Biotech: transgenics and genetic modifications

Blue Biotech: use and exploitation of marine-based resources

White Biotech: waste reductive industrial manufacturing

While we will provide a short overview of what each of these entails, the focus of this article isn’t an extensive exposition of the topics. Rather we will be delving into the use of data analytics in each sub-field. However, knowing each category is vital to understanding data analytics’ role in improving the former’s performance. So here is a great site for a summary of what each of the above entails: https://builtin.com/biotech

DATA ANALYTICS TYPES

Descriptive: the condition of the business

Diagnostic: the root cause behind the descriptive.

Predictive: future trends based on past trends

Prescriptive: what to do based on the current situation and future likelihoods.

Cognitive: combining intelligent technologies like AI, MLA, and Deep Learning to perform tasks or functions.

Again, we don’t have the space to detail each of these and although you might get a good idea of what they refer to based on the context of their usage in the article, you deserve a proper resource. So, here’s a more elaborate source to help you easily understand: https://www.weirdgeek.com/2018/11/types-of-analytics/

APPLICATIONS of DATA ANALYTICS

There is a myriad of new applications of data analytics in every field in animal health and biotechnology. We, however, aim to explore the most interesting in each of the above genres of biotechnology.

Red Biotech: the research and creation of medicinal and veterinary products

Red Biotech is by far the most common and has the greatest number of applications so don’t panic when you see the size of this section. The rest won’t be as extensive, we promise.

Mining scientific journals, medical records, and clinical trial data is the first step. Predictive analytics can then be used to improve decision-making by highlighting relevant factors. This accelerates the rate of drug discovery while lowering the cost and raising the efficacy of control studies and treatment trials.

Because drugs aren’t personalized, they often have irregular side effects. A highly accurate way to prescribe drugs could be made possible by prescriptive analytics. Complex data sequences and heterogenous data sets can be sorted by interactions to find drugs or treatment options tailored to the patient’s unique needs. This would yield not just what drug would be ideal, but the time, sequence, and dosage that would suit you. This is known as precision medicine.

Learning analytics can measure the cost vs value discrepancy in training programs. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for analytics, really. Measuring each staff member’s level of training is determined based on the level of proficiency, time-to-competency, the complexity of the subject matter, etc. Data Analytics can monitor their rate of application or the effectiveness of practice. Using their response data coupled with feedback patterns, it can then strengthen the training program. All this requires barely any human intervention or monitoring.

Combing through the genomic sequences and EHRs can offer many advantages. Livestock feed additive suppliers and animal health research and development companies could benefit from being able to monitor the precise risk of infection (using QRMA, e.g.), disease outbreaks among herds, and develop targeted drug series for groups with similar symptoms or features.

Furthermore, internet sources can also be utilized for risk management. Dr. Ed Tucker, VP of Janssen Research & Development put it best in an interview with MIT Sloan Management Review. He says, “You can do what’s called Internet “scrapes” of information, where you draw down lots of various hits or posts from the Internet, and then analyze that data. You can listen to the chat essentially, the public sentiment, in the virtual environment.” https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/how-pharmaceuticals-can-avoid-the-side-effects-of-social-media/

Yellow Biotech: production of food

Biotech is applied to the animal feed industry in terms of output, nutritional value, preservation, early maturation, etc. Commercial farms often have issues in foreseeing disastrous natural events. Climate does not follow the same trends as a consequence of climate change and hence both food growers and livestock rearers face more weather anomalies than usual. This makes maintaining the optimal conditions and balancing the nutrient intake levels for particular cattle breeds – such as Black Angus, Simmental, and Hereford – more complicated.

Technology such as soil sensors and weather trackers now provide access to crop yields, weather data, fertilization, soil and pasture quality, and erosion over some time, etc. Analysis of these factors can then be implemented to identify undesirable plant genes for rDNA erasure. Predictive analysis can also be applied to weather data to help prepare for environmental upheavals and capitalize on opportunities. Analytics software can further pinpoint waste management methods to aid environmentally sensitive agribusinesses.

Blue Biotech: the use and exploitation of marine-based resources

The global consumption of seafood is growing every year. By 2030 it is predicted to rise by as much as 20% annually and most of this protein is sourced from the ocean. Alongside the consistent rise of ocean exploitation is the rise of marine pollution, 80% of which is caused by land-based waste. These threaten our marine ecology as well as our future source of food. Part of the issue with sustainably keeping up with seafood demand is that the fishing industry does not currently practice precision fishing.

Precision fishing uses sophisticated sensing and tracking technology to monitor the size and location of shoals. This forecast would cover an extensive area and offer a variety of options. Fishing companies can then use data on the status of fish stock, shoal growth rate, fleet size, quantity and value of landing, etc. to help determine the responsible pursuit of certain schools. Ship operators and navigators could make data analytics-powered navigation decisions for optimal outcomes in storms and periods of turbulence.

Fault detection systems can also inform operators about maintenance needs and ship performance to reduce or manage risk. These advanced systems could also propose potential energy-efficiency improvement methods based on the calculation and verification of ships’ carbon emissions.

Green Biotech: transgenics and genetic modifications

The Genomic branch handles massive data sets which were traditionally manually sifted through to glean insights. This was usually a long and arduous process. It also contains the field of genetic modification – the selection and transfer of certain stretches of DNA from one organism to another. The issue is that results aren’t always predictable and outside variables could lead to a lack of conclusiveness. That is, until genetic modification met data analyticscv.

Most geneticists now have greater access to the concurrent analysis of multiple genes. Data analytics also play a part in Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), which is the mass sequencing of genes used to detect mutations. In this way, analysis allows for a more accurate diagnosis of disorders that involve a great deal of genetic diversity. The interpretation of results is also much more straightforward now, which makes it easier to decide on the best course of action.

White Biotech: waste reductive industrial manufacturing

White biotech uses biomaterial such as microorganisms and enzymes to produce sustainable materials and products such as biofuels and bioplastics. It also aims to produce industrial components in a waste-minimizing manner. The aim is to optimize production practices to make them energy efficient. 

Using type and origin data on different waste amassment points, companies can assess their material sourcing. Data analysis could find correlations between environmental management problems and available bio-solution technologies. It can also identify further profitable applications for the designs and fibers based on demand study.

CHALLENGES WITH DATA ANALYTICS  

The overarching concern with Big Data is well known: privacy.

Giving large corporations unfiltered access to our personal information as well as permission to collect further information is the equivalent of having an observer live in your house.

The controversy is amplified, however, when you include health data. Farm owners can be hesitant to publicly expose the dietary and health information of their livestock to researchers for fear of information leaks. Furthermore, participants in clinical studies may consent to the review and publishing of the overall results, but not to giving individual firms access to their personal medical reports.

Technically, the data is already available and all this new capability does is interpret it. But this software could come to unpredictable conclusions that some clients might prefer remained unknown.

No veterinary team manager starts out with the intention of forcing their clinic into a socially precarious position. But over time, due to both pre-existent and self-perpetuated conditions, a certain miasma settles in. Let us examine the foundations of such cases to determine the best way to tear their structure down.

Life and Death

Death roams the halls of every kind of hospital, from pediatric to geriatric. But directly playing the agent of Death, as veterinarians do, is a whole other kind of trauma. Active or “aggressive” euthanasia (and dysthanasia) is a regular occurrence in veterinary hospitals. And it carries an emotional toll for both parent and vet when deciding to put an animal down. Deliberately taking the life of a beloved animal because of suffering, behavioral issues, or even financial insufficiency is not easy. Especially not for someone who cares deeply for animals, as many veterinarians do.

High Demand, Low Supply

The precipitous trend of animal adoption in the developed world is inadequately matched by the output of veterinary students. It doesn’t help that the cost of quality veterinary education ranges from $200,000 to well over $400,000 in the U.S. alone. The result is understaffed veterinary care centers where the practice manager is the beggar, not the chooser. This makes enforcing rules of conduct a tight rope to walk. What are you going to do? Fire your team’s only experienced veterinary technician for being mean to the intern a few times?

Elitist Expectations

Ever watched the first episode of Grey’s Anatomy? Right out the door, we get to hear the menacing monologue droning on in the background. “The 7 years you spend here as a surgical resident will be the best and worst of your life,” it says, “You will be pushed to the breaking point. Look around you. Say hello to your competition. Eight of you will switch to an easier specialty. Five of you will crack under the pressure. Two of you will be asked to leave. This is your arena.” Internet personality, Doctor Mike, remarked that this sounded more like the Hunger Games than Grey’s Anatomy. Unfortunately, though, this dramatized version of the surgical experience sounds all too familiar.

A similar belief is perpetuated in the veterinary community. That those who endure the extreme workloads and rigorous training are worthy of respect and advancement. Commitment, it is called. Tolerance. Capacity to bear the veterinarian yoke.

And out of this bud, The Hazing blooms

For most in the medical field, the word hazing requires no definition. If you haven’t experienced hazing, then are you even a true veterinarian at all? (Let us be clear, that was said ironically). Why does this happen? Because the new hire is viewed as an added burden instead of a potential source of respite. Like leeches that will suck the energy of their attendings, hanging heavily off of their shoulders like sloths. 

Hazing is not necessarily the blatant, outright egg-throwing ritual you remember from Initiation Day. Often, it is deliberate maliciousness, sabotage, ostracism, and passive-aggression shown towards new initiates. Essentially, they’re put through the grinder to determine whether they’re durable enough. It isn’t always that extreme, of course. Sometimes the intern is simply abandoned to “learn on their feet” … till they walk out with blisters and bad memories. Or they survive, in which case: hurray! Another grim, sardonic, brutal addition to the bunch.

Needless to say, hazing is unhealthy and yields nothing that could not be accomplished by better means. In fact, it exacerbates the problem, driving away future hires and dooming the practice to perpetual staff-shortage.

Janus, the two-faced Client

The client can, sadly, play the dual role of angel and demon in the veterinary clinic. They are affectionate and considerate toward their pets but do not always extend this behavior to their animals’ caretakers. As Shawn McVey, MA, MSW, CEO of Pathway (Veterinary Management), quips, “People come to us with beer budgets and champagne expectations for their animals,” They use their intense bond with animals as an excuse to vent their emotions inappropriately. And this can weigh heavily on veterinarians.

Institutional Ignorance

You don’t really need an optician to help you read the writing on the wall. Often, what’s going on is clear as day to everyone in the team. But sometimes, the veterinary manager is either overwhelmed or embittered by the attitudes of the team. They are usually busy with efficiency optimization, inventory management, and the practical HR functions. So weighed down are they, that they neither can nor wish to face this particularly nasty dragon.

The Culmination

The stress of all these elements combine to turn the clinic into a pressure cooker, with the veterinarians inside slowly, but inevitably falling apart.

We have an idiom where I come from: “Jab tak chal raha hai, chalne de”. It means as long as a system is going, let it go. And sometimes this means you keep on going till its gone. A rather grim thought, when we consider that we’re talking about human beings here, not just the practice. Around 70% of veterinarians have lost a colleague to suicide, according to a survey done last year. Worse, the suicide rate among veterinarians is 4 times that of the general population [1].

If these stark stats sound like something you want to address, then learn how to recognize the symptoms here.

Also join us in our upcoming webinar to learn strategies for preventing, negating, and managing these circumstances in your clinic

We cannot emphasize enough how important the environment around and mindset within a team affects the functionality of its members. There is no case that is too far gone.

[1] Stoewen DL. Suicide in veterinary medicine: let’s talk about it. Can Vet J. 2015 Jan;56(1):89-92. PMID: 25565722; PMCID: PMC4266064.

Ever walked into a really messy space and thought, “How do people function within such mess?” Of course, the answer is simple: it isn’t “messy” in their eyes, it’s normal. The same can be said of the state of most organizations. What outsiders may label as unhealthy patterns would be dismissed as the standard by employees. They have grown so accustomed to their ways that it’s the status quo.  

And that’s almost inevitable, right? Employees don’t always have the resources or influence to change their entire workplace. But the real danger arises when the practice manager gets lulled into that same sense of complacency. The kind that desensitizes them to the putrid milieu of social illness pervasive in the clinic. It is, therefore, important that ­­­you as a veterinary manager know the symptoms of this danger in order to better combat it.  

In our last article, we addressed the ugly truth of toxicity in veterinary culture. Here we will endeavor to help you identify the trademarks of this condition. And in our webinar, we will give you the necessary tools to lop that ugly head straight off!

Veterinary Silence Speaks the Loudest

Veterinary hospitals are rarely ever quiet spaces. The irate animals’ yelps and hisses, the mechanical whirring of the equipment, the tingle and jangle of supplies, medical items, and medication being shifted around – all keep the peace at bay for sure. There is chaos, there is commotion, and there are cantankerous clients.

But there is a different kind of silence that thrives within this disorderly system. It lives off of passive aggression, bitterness, cold-shouldering, issue-avoidance, and neglect. We cannot express how much offence is the direct offspring of miscommunications. Each member must feel comfortable voicing their concerns, opinions, and ideas. But that’s easier said than done. The practice of holding team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and sticking slogans to the wall won’t do the trick in-and-of itself. Intention is what breathes life into these practices. When you implement these as steps to a goal of creating a Cohesive vet team culture – that’s when these become meaningful. That’s when you see an improvement in morale.

In the meantime, do the following if you want to run your team into the ground

• Shrug off your people’s voices, suggestions, and concerns.
• Ignore genuine attempts to find solutions.
• Don’t appreciate or reciprocate good intentions from your new veterinary teammates.
• Don’t clearly communicate changes or reasons for changes.
• Make decisions about the team without warning or consulting the team members.
• Make decisions that clearly only benefit one person (you).
• Acquire minions that report each other’s failures, weaknesses, and dysfunctions to their overlord (you).
• Why be honest with your veterinary team when you can just put up facades and make excuses?
• Give shout-outs to outperformers who clearly function by overworking and bully others to alleviate their stress.
• Feed off of people’s fear.
• Be a psychopath.
• Eat children.

As a result, you will: 

• Isolate new recruits, making them feel unwelcome.
• Stifle the flow of ideas and positive conversations.
• Help doubts to grow by silencing their expression.
• Rub dirt into wounds to help them fester into resentment.
• Ensure that all relationships are built on the foundations of cynicism and distrust.

If that’s not your style, then it is crucial to establish clear lines of communication to promote a supportive and inclusive work environment in your veterinary clinic.

And the Award Goes To…

Wait a minute. Before you start dishing out credit and bonuses, consider your motives. Consider the purpose. Do you do this because it’s a convention? Is it because that other clinic five miles north of you does it? Is it even having any effect in the long term?

Acknowledgements come in many forms and with many reasons. There is recognition for high-performance or contribution to the team or for finding creative solutions or client retention rates. But remember that true appreciation is both a courtesy and a message. What do we mean by the latter? Well, if you’re rewarding individuals, then that promotes a competitive spirit. If you instead make a rule that if the team accomplishes a quota of tasks then they get a surprise, that promotes team collaboration. This can be in the form of an outing, a fun activity like an escape room, or a shared prize. It should be some boon they may have been asking for since a while; something that they all can use and cherish, or a symbol of teamwork. Such as a mascot.

Dodging Responsibilities

Speaking of acknowledgements, let’s acknowledge that burnout is a serious issue and mustn’t be taken lightly. We encourage veterinary managers to draw the line for their clinical workers before they reach the point of no return. But there’s a difference between drawing boundaries to preserve one’s own wellbeing and shirking duties under the guise of exhaustion. The latter can signal indifference to the plight of desperate animals and fellow veterinarians. If there’s one thing that veterinarians understand, it’s empathy. And a seemingly insensitive teammate will attract coldness and bitterness from their coworkers and clients alike.

Often disputes and hostilities are borne from the refusal to help in a time of crisis. Rejecting small, non-stressful tasks such as answering calls, cleaning kennels, holding animals, or filling prescriptions can really be unwise. The way to manage such attitudes is to assess the capability of an individual in that role prior to hiring. Make it clear by outlining responsibilities and setting expectations right from the start. Also make your good intentions obvious from the start. There is no formula for how much work a veterinarian can or cannot do. Some people have a lower endurance. They may have disabilities, chronic illnesses, debilitating fatigue, or any other myriad of issues to combat with. Keep an eye out for veterinarians who seem at their wits ends. If you spot someone showing clear signs of exhaustion, even if they’re not acknowledging it, tell them to get some rest. This may be difficult and seem counterintuitive, but it will highlight to your team, especially new recruits, that their wellbeing surpasses the bottom line in terms of priorities.

Being a Group, not a Team

Group members feel like they are pulled together for administrative purposes. Members focus on themselves because they’re not sufficiently involved in the execution of organizational goals. Members are instructed and not asked their opinion on the best approach. Members often distrust the motives of superiors and co-workers. It’s each man for himself. Disagreement is considered non-supportive. Conflicts arise and remain unresolved by supervisors or superiors until the wound has festered. Personal motivation is seen as irrelevant and non-vital to the running of the business and therefore unaddressed.

If that sounded dreary to read, imagine how oppressive an environment it must be to work in.

Now teams on the other hand understand interdependence and mutual support. In a team, your goal is everyone’s goal. You work to meet the goal of the organization and the organization aids in your career goals. Whether that be research, further education, or social initiates, everyone takes interest and gets involved.

Teammates feel a sense of ownership. Commitment is borne of having established the groundrules, set the boundaries, and chosen goals themselves. Team leaders encourage participation and collaboration to find solutions. They stimulate honest and open communication, and absorb questions, ideas, and feelings. Conflict is natural and should be seen as an opportunity for growth, ideation, and creativity.

As a manager, a great first step is to figure out the personal goals and career objectives each member has. Sit down with them and draft resolutions, commitments, find out their aims and desires. Find out what they care about, what initiative they’re part of. Offer them support in the completion of those. Have the team be involved in supporting that plan.

For starters to any business, inventory management can seem like simply stacking crates and stocking closets. But these inconspicuous expenses can very quickly build up, cutting into your profit margin with you none the wiser. Typically, between 12% to 15% of the overall practice income can be consumed by inventory costs.

Inventory management encompasses:

• counting inaccuracies or damage,
• managing product shortages,
• ensuring adequate availability,
• priority ordering based on relevant parameters,
• making timely payments and maintaining good cash flow,
• meticulous expiration date monitoring,
• verifying the accuracy of inventory reports,
• maintaining professional relationship with distributors
• minimizing inventory loss due to theft
• and much more

If this list alone is making your eyes blur over, then imagine how big of a migraine you’ll have when you look at the endless lists of stock that’s propagating in your storeroom. That is, unless you have a clear-cut system to collect, categorize and analyze the

The appropriate inventory management system is clearly vital in a veterinary hospital. Whether setting up a clinic, refreshing your practice, or adding new wings or care outlets, this article will be your guide to organizing your inventory in an efficient and intuitive manner.

What Constitutes Veterinary Inventory?

The variety and complexity of inventory will vary from small, privately owned clinic to vast veterinary hospital chains. It also depends on whether the practice is specialized or generalized. However, the overall veterinary purchases fall into two main categories: High-value assets and Supplies and Instruments.

High-Value Assets

These consist of the larger, more expensive machinery, equipment, and even technological devices that are used to operate the former. The availability and functionality of these assets is vital to the performance of your clinic and treatment of your patients. They depreciate in value, requiring regular maintenance to last in the long-term.

Image by Konstantin Kolosov from Pixabay 

• Medical machinery, such as heart rate and oxygen saturation monitors, centrifuges, autoclaves, x-ray machines, ultrasound machines, etc.
• Technology, such as laptops, printers, 3D printers, tablets, credit-card processors, patient monitors, etc.

Supplies and Instruments

This inventory is also dependent on the kind and extent of service you offer, but generally include the day to day tools, materials, and medicine that is required to complete procedures, aid your caregivers, and supply your clients directly. These should have a high turnover, and are meant to last in the short term, especially since some have an expiry date. 

Image by Hans from Pixabay 

• Medical supplies such as vaccines, antibiotics, anti-anxiety and anti-parasite medications, flea and tick products. ointments, shampoos.
• First-aid, safety, and surgical supplies, like cones, gauze, tick tweezers, self-adhesive tape, alcohol swabs, syringes, exam gloves, surgical masks, scissors, retractors, forceps, and elevators.
• Retail products and merchandise such as collars, leashes, pet clothing, pet food, treats, shopping bags, heated or insulated beds.
• Grooming supplies, including brushes and combs, scissors, nail-trimmers and clippers, ointments, wipes, shampoo, and cute accessories
• Office supplies for receptionists, veterinarians and general office staff.

Why should I care about Inventory Management?

We know that in many small-scale practices, the practice owner is the practice manager. Or the practice manager is the Operations, Finance, HR, and Marketing departments all wrapped up in one. So there just isn’t enough time to look into every single aspect of the business in minute detail. As a result, you may be used to slight losses here and there. But when it comes to inventory, you’d be feeding a massive portion of your profits to inefficiencies and oversights.

Wouldn’t it be tragic if you chose to ignore this seemingly complicated, but essential portion of the management when the simple solution was right at your feet all along? There are certain weaknesses and inventory costs that almost any service provider incurs. In order to minimize wastages and maximize profits, however, inventory must be meticulously organized and monitored.

Shortages

Sales from Inventory constitute a significant proportion of the revenue in a veterinary hospital. Having regular shortages can result in disgruntled clients who are likely to search for alternative supply sources. “ These outages can lead your clients to the conclusion that perhaps big box stores and your online competitors are more reliable.

Stock-outs can also result in delays in treatment, which may affect patient care. Unlike other businesses, a veterinary clinic deals with life-and-death situations, the treatment of which often cannot be delayed. Not having the required materials to handle an emergency is a serious red mark against your performance and reliability. It is a of immense priority to have functional inventory management workflows to prevent shortages.

Surplus

An excessive amount of stock can, conversely, indicate operational inefficiency as it means your hospital has excess working capital. To put it simply, your assets are lying idle and of course, that has an opportunity cost: increased holding costs.

Holding costs are one of two indirect costs in inventory management. They include the facility and utility costs of insulating temperature sensitive items like medication and vaccines. They also include the costs of installing CCTVs, paying insurance premiums, and other maintenance costs. Holding costs can represent as much as 15% of the unit expenses. And they can become cumbersome as the practice expands.

Labor Costs

The 5 Rs of Inventory Management are: recognize, react, reorder, receive, and restock.

This involves forecasting what items will be needed by which date based on current sales and usage. A purchase order is then compiled and placed. Before the fresh goods arrive, the old stock must be repositioned to make place for the new. Once the inventory is received, it must be stacked and stored. The supplies must be portioned according to requirements and then transported to the different departments and each item restocked in the right cabinet, drawer, closet, and shelf.

All this must be coordinated and overseen in a precise manner. For small practices, this may require one store-room and one worker. For a veterinary hospital with multiple wings, it can involve pallet trolleys, forklifts and many workers. Remember that up to 20% of the unit costs go to labor. In other words, a practice can incur $0.20 on every dollar spent on inventory on paying labor.

Within the hospital, the role of veterinarians is to focus on their clients and help their patients, not be tied up doing manual labor. Having to leave the exam room in search of instruments during a 10 minute checkup can really negatively impact patient experience.

Practice Value

As we discussed at the onset of this article, inventory costs can have significant impacts on profit. As the ratio

The higher your proportion of spending on inventory to revenue, the lower your practice profits fall. Let’s say your inventory to revenue ratio is 30% instead of 20%, you are spending an additional 10 cents for every dollar earned. Implementing strategies to lower inventory costs, which we will discuss further along, will directly improve your bottom line.

But what does that have to do with your practice’s value?

A practice’s worth is usually a multiple of its profit. Practices can be offered between 6 to 12 times their adjusted net revenue. Simplified, every dollar of savings is worth between 6 and 12 dollars in practice value.

Now, hopefully, you understand why all this is essential to the running of your care center.

Great, now let’s talk about the fundamentals you need to grasp to start directing your inventory is an effective manner!

It’s Elementary, my Dear Veterinarians

Yes, we know this phrase was not coined by Arthur Conan Doyle. But these are the basic building blocks of veterinary inventory management. 

Of course, you could skip to the shortcuts and solutions straight away, of course. But it would be ideal to have a rock solid foundational understanding of certain concepts, calculations, and distinctions. That way, you could really appreciate the tips, tactics, and strategies we will outline further on. 

Understanding Pricing Formulas: Markup, Margin, and Multiples of Cost

The financial stage of the inventory cycle is often the most daunting one. But remember that this is what determines the survival of your entire enterprise. Be bold and courageous as you traverse this realm: the fate of your veterinary clinic hangs in the balance.

We’re kidding; inventory finance is Grade 7 math easy. It’s all about percentages:

Markup

Markup is Price-Cost/Cost (M= P-C/C).

Cross-multiply to make P the subject (or let us do it for you): P= C (1+M)

Let’s say your markup percentage is 20% and your original cost is $100, then

Price = 100(1+0.2) or 100(1.2), which gives us $120.

Markup is quite literally the additional amount you are charging beyond the cost to make a profit. For Markup, cost the base, while for Margin, Price is the base.

Margin

Margin is Price-Cost/Price (M= P-C/P).

Cross-multiply to make P the subject (or don’t; it’s already done): P = C/1-M

If your Margin is 20% and your original Cost is $100, then

Price = 100/1-0.2, or 100/0.8, which gives us $125.

Basically, margin is the ratio of profit to revenue or how much more you’re selling the product for as compared to its cost. Remember, margin is the percentage by which the original cost is lower than the price, NOT the other way around. 

Multiples of Cost

Now most lab tests that require expensive machinery and equipment are charged at up to 4 or 5 multiples of their cost. This may seem simple enough but some inventory software calls for entering a percentage, not a number. Just remember that if something has doubled, it has been multiplies by 2 but the percentage increase is 100%. If it is multiplied by 3, the percentage increase is 200%. If it is multiplied by 4, the percentage increase is 300% and so on.

Performance Evaluation

Inventory is akin to a living, expanding cycle. As a business expands, the quantity and diversity of items entering and leaving will grow. And with it, the number of blind spots, the number of discrepancies between reports and reality, the number of expiries, the risk of theft, destruction, shortages, and mis-location all grow.

This means that you must employ evolving techniques to assess the performance and flow of inventory through the veterinary business. Otherwise, you stand to face more losses, both to revenue and to reputation. Here are some of the basics – blood tests, if you will – for veterinary inventory management:

Average Inventory

Average inventory shows you the worth of average inventory held during a particular period. This is found by totaling the value of inventory at the beginning and end of the month and dividing it by two. Keep in mind that the cost of the goods at purchase must be used here, not the sale price.

This is because the sale price may change based on the promotions running at any particular time and will not be always consistent with the margin that is generally applied, whereas the cost of the goods is a well-recorded number.

Inventory Turnover Rate

Inventory turnover rate measures the number of times your stock has been refreshed within a time period. To calculate it, you divide the total spending on your inventory for the year by the average value of the inventory. If we know that the average value of CPV-2 vaccine held during a month was $350 and that $2100 was spent on CPV-2 that year, then the turnover of CPV-2 vaccine was six.

This provides you an idea of how healthy your sales are. If your turnover is unusually low, this may be a symptom of overstocking. It will inform you that there are wastages in the form of expired medications or holding costs. If your turnover is unnaturally high, it may indicate a different form of wastage entirely. Staff may be utilizing more supplies than necessary or theft may be occurring.

Checking each item or set of items separately can also show you which items are underperforming. Therefore, you can take steps to remedy this issue. You can also determine the order quantity and frequency of each product. But calculating the individual turnover rate of each item individually can be tedious and time consuming. The right inventory management system would be able to provide performance comparisons and make astute recommendations.

Accuracy of Demand Forecast

As the name suggests, demand forecasting has to do with using past and current demand to predict future demand. Obviously, this can be a game-changer, enabling you to order in a manner that optimizes revenue while minimizing holding and labor costs.

It can also be used in the execution of strategic purchase and pricing decisions based on seasonal spikes in demand for specific services.

Forecast accuracy refers to how closely a forecast aligns with actual demand. As we discussed, the types of items that need stocking within the hospital are variable. Hence, forecasting is a crucial, but complicated component of your evaluations. Between medical supplies and patient medications, different categories of inventory will be subject to various criteria and follow distinct cycles. And the ability to both track these separate categories and analyze trends within them is no small task.

You would need a highly flexible and agile inventory forecaster to accumulate data from multiple sources, including historical and real-time usage figures on active and inactive clients, appointments, cancellations, etc.

Basically, these measures act as a test by helping in the diagnosis of your inventory system. 

Lead Time and Pipeline Inventory

Lead Time is a concept mostly used in the manufacturing industry. It denotes the time between the onset and completion of a project or portion of the process. When it comes to a veterinary practice, it would mainly be used to measure Material Lead Time. Material Lead Time is the time it takes the supplier to complete the order from the initial order placement date.

This is important as it is used to measure the Pipeline Inventory. Products en route to the clinic are refers to in this manner. While on the way, goods are considered part of the standard inventory despite not physically being present within the storeroom. You get a more complete overview of total cash tied up in inventory by including the pipeline inventory. Furthermore, this allows you to pre-sell medications to manage the high demands.

Pipeline inventory is calculated as Lead Time * Demand Rate. Say your lead time is 4 weeks at 50 units a week. You would need to order 200 units each time to maintain consistent inventory levels.

Categorize Inventory according to the 80/20 Rule

Identify the top-selling and fastest-moving inventory which generates a majority of the revenue. Then prioritize these items in terms of affordability, availability, and convenience. For ease, use structured, color-coded methods of product distinction, ranging from critical to dormant. Finally, ensure that those medications and supplies are always on hand and easily within reach of your staff.

This can prove advantageous in minimizing shrinkage (loss of inventory due to theft, inaccurate unit measurement, and damage). Additionally, it can reduce waste from expired items and enhance reorder frequency.

Do keep in mind that not all inventory in the veterinary hospital will move the same way. Remember that inventory and service items are two separate categories and should be treated as such. Usually it is understood that tangible objects are inventory and the care provided is service. But vaccines and injectables, though inputted as an inventory item, should be sold as a service item. As such, unlike in a retail warehouse, medications that are not high-demand must still be stocked. This is why inventory turnover should be calculated according to their classification. 

Strategies for Effective Inventory Management

Now that our concepts are thoroughly cleared, let’s get to the meat of the inventory management matter. Inventory makes up the bulk of the tangible assets of a veterinary clinic. They are also integral to maintaining high performance and service quality in a clinic. So, effectively coordinating inventory between multiple platforms, as taxing and time consuming as it may seem, must be done. Among the most complicated elements of Inventory Management are inventory monitoring, replenishment, cost reduction, categorization. Here are some tips and techniques to eliminate the complexity from these functions and save time to focus on animal care.

Start at the Drawing Board

The movements of inventory form part of the workflows in the clinic. Like with workflow mapping, recognizing the vulnerabilities is essential before taking the initiative to strengthen them. Doing this can really highlight the flaws and failures of the current system. This will help you identify the pressure points, areas where your team is overstretched.

Begin by formatting every activity in the inventory lifecycle into a process from the point of origin to the end result. At every step, ask feedback on simpler methods and shortcuts from the team members performing the tasks. This is important when coordinating many moving parts of the inventory mechanism. Then establish or update standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent the past mistakes from being repeated.

Careful and Consistent Categorization

The practical basis behind your inventory management system may already be lost to the ages. Perhaps you used the ABC method at some point but this analysis was never refreshed. Perhaps you simply recognized the item by location, i.e., supply closet, cabinet, or storage unit. Other criterion may include brand, demand, criticality, medical purpose, or monetary value. When inventory is recorded in a logical fashion like this, it is easier to compare your category sales to well-established benchmarks in the veterinary industry.

But which of these is the most important indicator of treatment and quantity of supplies? 

Studies have shown that a multi-criteria decision support model could result in a more efficient hospital inventory management system [1]. Using sensitivity analysis, the items were classified into W, B, and M sets. This signified that the items be monitored on weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly basis respectively.

Perpetual Inventory

Are you mentally wincing at the thought of having to take count of stocks so very often? Then a perpetual inventory system might be the solution for you. Perpetual Inventory Management System (PIMS) is a real-time stock monitoring and updating system. Using your electronic records and point-of-sales systems, it maintains an accurate and highly-detailed account of changes in inventory. Recording methods can range from manual to RFID (which is recommended) and the software tracks the order, delivery, transfers, usage, and any kind of transaction. This includes the pipeline inventory so that it is never overlooked by staff. If the order is delayed or unable to be fulfilled, the PIMS will record that. It will even provide the location of each category of stock to ease accessibility and prevent theft.

Unlike periodic method, where regular physically counts are required, perpetual inventory provides accuracy and leaves no place for inconsistencies. This eradicates the issue of stock-outs and customer disappointments with one stone.

Smart Ordering

Remember that, when ordering, there is no size that will fit every item. If you have utilized a multi-criteria classification model, you can distinguish items based on their demand. For medications and supplies that are used in large quantities and at high rates, bulk buying is suggested. But this would not be feasible for high urgency, low usage supplies.

Inventory replenishment is no easy task. Re-ordering the right amount at the right time requires lots of historical data to accurately forecast. The software must take into consideration the lead time or else the order may be filled up late. Rely on your inventory management software by feeding it a minimum quantity point for each item. Once it reaches that threshold, it should automatically ping you or add that item to your reorder list.

Consolidating suppliers can streamline the price comparison process. This will also cut down the time spent by staff paying invoices, loading, transporting, and restocking goods. Make use of our Suggested Order App to maximize your gains and your savings by comparing discounts from multiple suppliers, pharmacies, and manufacturers in one place. The app is easily integrated with our inventory management system so that you can get suggestions that are relevant to your precise needs. 

Tipping the Balance in your Favor

The major issue with managing costs is that there is no precise solution. You cannot simply reduce the size of your order to reduce holding costs. Conversely, that would increase the labor costs. Why? It takes time and effort to compile, place, receive, and restock the product throughout the hospital floor. And it’s the same vice versa. If you do not strike a balance, you not only forego precious revenue, you also fail to provide care that you have promised your patient.

When ordering, consider your sales based on frequency. Order certain items weekly, monthly, or after a fortnight, based on their demand. Even if you require only 40 units of white goods, if they come in a box of 50, order the full box instead.

Use your storage area size and inventory turnover rate to determine the frequency and quantity of your order. The ideal inventory turnover rate is 10 to 12 times per year. But of course, veterinary clinics work differently than your typical retailer. The average veterinary practice typically has a healthy turnover rate of 6 to 8 times a year. Keeping in mind your storage level can really help optimize your inventory management system and improve overall efficiency.

Drop-shipping

Let’s face it: having enough medications, supplies, injections, and vaccine available to customers at all times is nigh-impossible. But when products are unavailable to clients, those Big Box retailers start to look pretty attractive. And then there go your sales rates. Yet what if you could have every single animal care item under the sun available at the push of a button? And better yet, what if it took up no extra space on your shelf? And neither did you have to build an extra warehouse to hold it all?

If balancing the costs is too much hassle, consider drop-shipping. Show all the merchandise as “available” at your ecommerce outlet without having to hold it all in the clinic. Once the client places the order, the goods are shipped directly from supplier to customer. It’s so convenient for the pet’s parent, not to mention the cost-savings to your business. Obviously, this cannot apply to your entire inventory. Service goods and other items vital to the clinic’s operation would have to be available on hand. But it can immensely reduce the burden of sales stock. 

In Conclusion

Achieving effective inventory control requires striking a delicate balance between maintaining sufficient inventory levels and not overburdening your financial resources and storage capacity. Given the diverse range of challenges involved in inventory management, including those related to geopolitical events and technology advancements, there is no one-size-fits-all approach that guarantees success across all enterprises. In addition, it may be necessary to manage different types of inventories differently, such as perishable versus non-perishable goods. To determine the most effective approach for your business, it’s essential to keep accurate records while experimenting with different methods, and to use specialized software to monitor key metrics, generate reports, and develop dashboards that provide valuable insights.

[1] de Assis, A.G., dos Santos, A.F.A., dos Santos, L.A. et al. Classification of medicines and materials in hospital inventory management: a multi-criteria analysis. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 22, 325 (2022).

Human resource allocation in a veterinary hospital is no piece of cake. So, when extra, out-of-hours clients arrive with demands and expectations, it is easy for the already scarce triage staff to feel overwhelmed. Diverting veterinarians from their primary tasks or downtime to perform extra tasks can result in a breeding ground for inadequate patient care and veterinary workers’ burnout. Worse still, many of the patients occupying space in the waiting lines are non-critical and could afford to wait without the risk of extreme clinical outcomes. Tele-triage can avert many of these problems.

Veterinary nurse teams can help owners to attend to their pet themselves. But this requires clear instructions and solid communication capabilities from the veterinary hospital. Thus, a well-functioning tele-triage system is crucial in determining the priority of patients, separating those who require immediate attention from those who can wait safely.

WHAT IS TRIAGE?

Triage is the evaluation of patients based on their physical parameters. Patients are subsequently allocated to the appropriate care area according to the acuity and severity of their conditions. This is a critical step as it can identify life-threatening signs early and determine what resources the animal needs.

There are typically three stages in the triage process:

1. Tele-triage or pre-triage
2. Triage on Arrival
3. Post Triage

In this article, we are going to be discussing in detail the assessment measures, information collection and information provision concerning the first stage – Tele-triage – and how effective implementation can lower the caseload of veterinarians.

TRIAGE ASSESSMENT

There are different triage scales and scoring systems, from Animal Trauma Triage to the Manchester Triage System (MTS).

The Animal Trauma Triage (ATT)

A trauma specific illness severity score that objectively measures the seriousness of a patient’s injury through quantification. The numeric values (ranging from 0 to 3) indicate the level of severity, the highest value signifying the lowest likelihood of survival.

The Manchester Triage System (MTS)

A globally utilized clinical resource by healthcare professionals to manage patient flow during times of high demand and limited capacity. The MTS is reductive in that it works backwards from the premise that the patient is in a life-threatening condition. This way, no serious potential conclusions are missed. The MTS does require experienced personnel who have completed approved training from a registered MTS instructor.

The Veterinary Triage List

Developed by Ruys et al (2012) using the MTS as a basis. The triage system was categorized based on different bodily systems such as circulatory, gastrointestinal, respiratory, urogenital, neurological, obstetrical, and generalized, with varying levels of urgency dictating the required wait time.

The Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START) technique

Used by first responders during mass casualty incidents. START was designed for triage when faced with a high-density of incoming patients. The paramedics/nurses can segregate patients based on three primary observations: Respiration, Perfusion, and Mental Status (RPM). Included are the patient’s pulse, respiratory rate, capillary refill time, presence of bleeding, and the patient’s ability to follow commands. Victims are classified into 4 categories accordingly: Green (minimal); Yellow (delayed); Red (immediate); Black (dead).

TELE-TRIAGE

Let us turn to the procedures and precautions involved in Tele-triage:

Process

This primary form of triage is done over phone or chat, supplemented by images and video, where necessary. In such dilemmas it is understandable for the pet owner to be flustered so it is paramount that the nurse in question be level-headed and trained in tele-triage methodologies. The nurse should maintain a calm, polite, and sympathetic demeanor as they log and record the call. This must be done to protect the nurse and the clinic as the instructions or counsel given on call could have legal ramifications. First, they must ascertain the owner details and pet’s symptoms, and then provide directions for how to reach the trauma center and handle the pet appropriately, according to their condition. This includes warning the owner of potential aggression, which may require the animal to be muzzled. Based on this, an estimated time of arrival should be generated and submitted.

Tele-triage Questions to help determine whether the pet needs urgent treatment

• Recent incidents of trauma? (Patients who have suffered recent trauma must be seen without delay)
• Is the breathing too labored or shallow – what color is the mucous membrane? (bluish color in the skin, lips, and nail beds must be addressed immediately)
• Any noticeable swelling or discharge?
• Any recent changes in weight or body condition score?
• Development of symptoms – slow progression or sudden decline? (Sudden decline signifies a more pressing issue and demands prompt attention)
• Have prescribed medications been taken? The owner should be advised to bring the medication.
• Has there been any known or suspected exposure to toxins? (In case of toxin ingestion, the patient must receive immediate attention)

WHY IMPLEMENT TELE-TRIAGE?

The benefit of the adopting appropriate tele-triaging is the structure and stability it creates in the emergency department.

It also means you can offer specific, professional advice and aid to patients, which builds your client’s confidence in your ability to serve.

With lower over-crowding, fewer vet techs, nurses, and surgeons would be required to remain on call. Studies have suggested that on-call shifts have a negative impact on veterinarian job satisfaction, well-being and personal relationships [1], especially among female associates. For this reason, veterinary hospitals could benefit from exploring alternative options to traditional on-call shifts.

TELE-TRIAGE SOFTWARE

For small veterinary clinics, this may mean making a choice to invest resources into building infrastructure around tele-triage. But in order to truly reap the benefits of tele-triage as more than just ancillary support, the right software must be adopted. Since animals are unable to communicate their experiences verbally, veterinarians often rely on visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile cues. These can include the visible breathing pattern, color of mucous membranes, alertness and response to stimuli, capillary refill, and heart rate, among others.

There are three major body systems that must be assessed, namely the neurological, respiratory, and circulatory systems. On the basis of these evaluations, the triage staff can determine whether immediate diagnostic and therapeutic intervention is needed. Thorough triage assessment can ensure the appropriate level of care is provided for the animal. Usually, tele-triage is used as a supplement to in-person triage. But during times of overcrowding or high density.

Neurological assessments

These involve determining mentation i.e., whether the animal is stuporous / obtunded / hyper / comatose. Patients having seizures should be admitted immediately for monitoring and diagnoses. Therefore, voice and video calls should certainly be considered. A tele-triage service would be crippled without the ability to send and receive messages, photos, and documents such as EMRs and lab reports.

Respiratory assessments

These include checking the airways for obstructions and trauma, checking the respiration rate and effort. Oxygen therapy should be commenced in the case of respiratory compromise  or anesthesia and intubation in the case of obstructions. 

Cardiovascular assessments

These include evaluation of pulse rate, peripheral pulse quality, mucous membrane (MM) color, capillary refill time (CRT) and auscultation. Some wearable sensors can measure heart rate, the regularity of pulses, blood pressure, galvanic skin responses, and even perform electrocardiograms (ECGs). Hence, having an app that is compatible with animal monitoring devices would be highly valuable. Having access to such data can really help a trained nurse determine whether the pet is in a critical state. When you are available for your client in a time of distress with accurate and reliable information and assurances, it builds further trust in your service.

A pilot study comparing the performance of real-time remote telescreening and in-person screening showed that properly implemented tele-screening could achieve the same level of efficiency as in-person screening [2].

Implement tele-triage to amplify the efficiency of your clinic with our V-Clinic App, to make yourself and your ER team available to your clients anytime, anywhere. Fast-track your clinic’s performance with an app that gives you the ability to reach your customers regardless of distance while lowering the workload on your veterinary teams. Email us now at sales@celeritasdigital.com or info@celeritasdigital.com to learn more.

REFEREINCES

[1] Kogan L, Schoenfeld-Tacher R, Carney P, Hellyer P, Rishniw M. On-Call Duties: The Perceived Impact on Veterinarians’ Job Satisfaction, Well-Being and Personal Relationships. Front Vet Sci. 2021;8:740852. Published 2021 Oct 27.

[2] Rademacher NJ, Cole G, Psoter KJ, et al. Use of Telemedicine to Screen Patients in the Emergency Department: Matched Cohort Study Evaluating Efficiency and Patient Safety of Telemedicine. JMIR Med Inform. 2019;7(2):e11233. Published 2019