Smarter Week

How to automate it

How to automate “write discharge and home-care instructions”

Here are 2 ways to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today and, for AI fixes, a prompt to copy.

20 min
typically, every day
60%
of the time can be automated
Easy
to set up

Fix 1 of 2

Software featureBest fix

Use a veterinary AI scribe to draft the SOAP note

Vet AI scribes listen to the exam (or your recap) and draft the SOAP note, discharge instructions, client email and referral letter in your format. Many vets finish records before going home for the first time in years.

Typically saves about 45% of the time45 min to set up
  1. 1Check whether your PIMS includes a scribe (for example the AI scribe in Covetrus Pulse, Digitail, or ScribbleVet with Instinct), or trial a stand-alone one such as ScribbleVet, Scribenote, VetRec or Talkatoo.
  2. 2Set up your SOAP template, abbreviations and the way you like plans written.
  3. 3Record the exam or speak a 60-second recap straight after.
  4. 4Review and correct the note before saving; it is your medical record.
  5. 5Use the same recording to generate the discharge sheet and client email. Use the tools your clinic has approved; keep client contact and payment details out of general AI tools.

Tools: ScribbleVet · Scribenote · VetRec · Talkatoo · Covetrus Pulse AI scribe · Digitail

Fix 2 of 2

AI

Have AI write home-care instructions and owner updates in plain language

AI turns your clinical notes into clear instructions or a friendly update for the owner, with the medicine schedule and warning signs laid out. Save good ones as templates.

Typically saves about 50% of the time10 min to set up
  1. 1Gather the diagnosis, medications and doses, and what the owner must watch for.
  2. 2Use the prompt below in an approved AI tool; leave out the owner's name and contact details.
  3. 3Check every dose and instruction against your notes.
  4. 4Save the best versions as PIMS templates so you only do it once per condition.
Prompt to copy
Write home-care instructions for the owner of a [SPECIES, AGE] diagnosed with [DIAGNOSIS]. Medicines exactly as I prescribed: [MEDICINE, DOSE, HOW OFTEN, HOW LONG]. Include: what is going on in one or two sentences, a simple medicine schedule, feeding and activity advice I gave [ADVICE], warning signs that mean they should call or come in, and the recheck date [DATE]. Reading level: 6th grade, warm and clear. Do not add advice I did not give; mark anything to check as [CHECK].

Tools: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Microsoft Copilot · Your PIMS or AI scribe templates

Quick wins

Have you tried…

Have you tried a veterinary AI scribe that drafts your SOAP notes?
Tools like ScribbleVet, Scribenote, VetRec or the scribe built into your PIMS listen to the exam or your recap and write the SOAP note, discharge sheet and client email for you to check.
Have you had AI turn your notes into clear home-care instructions for the owner?
AI writes the medicine schedule, care advice and warning signs in plain language. You check every dose and save the good ones as templates.

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

HourLeak · the 8-minute work audit

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Answers are anonymous. Leaders only see team totals.

Other common tasks for Veterinarian teams