NEW IN THE CONSULT ROOM… vet consult AI transcriptions

Artificial Intelligence to be tested in CVS clinical note taking trial 

Any vet who has spent hours consulting knows the challenge of writing clinical notes. It is essential to document your findings and discussions accurately to allow appropriate follow-up. However, when working through a busy list, it is hard to prioritise meticulous note making over calling in the next client promptly. Many vets find themselves catching up at the end of the list, and struggling to remember which leg was lame, which dog was drinking more than normal, and who declined work-up on financial grounds.

But new AI technology aims to resolve this problem, by transcribing consultations as they take place. 

CVS is beginning a trial which will test how far Artificial Intelligence (AI) can support clinical note taking in the live consultation environment. 

At the company conference in November last year, Innovation Director Graham Dodds demonstrated an AI application called Lupa, which efficiently transcribed the conversations and subsequently generated concise clinical notes of a mocked-up consultation. 

Now starting this month, CVS will be trialling Lupa and another AI provider Co.Vet, to see how they perform in a real clinical environment.  

The pilot focuses on referral hospitals; Lumbry Park, Chestergates, Grove Referrals and Bristol Vet Specialists and first opinion practices Cranmore in Chester and Grove in Norfolk. Our telehealth service, Vet Oracle, are also taking part in the trial.  

Not only does this mean that vets and nurses are more likely to get their lunch break and finish on time, but the chance of accidentally making inaccurate notes is significantly reduced. CVS plans on trialling the technology thoroughly to make sure it's as accurate as reported, and has high hopes that this will improve the day-to-day lives of colleagues across the business.

“Veterinary professionals spend significant time on clinical documentation and AI-powered scribe solutions have the potential to streamline this work, allowing colleagues to focus more on patient care while helping generate high-quality medical records,” said Graham Dodds, CVS Director of Innovation and Transformation. 

“The pilot will evaluate whether we can reduce the time spent on note-taking, predominantly in the consult room, but also during ward rounds and other points throughout the patient journey. Although the main focus for the pilot will be on clinical notes, we are also closely evaluating other use-cases including; generation of owner-friendly patient summaries, referral letters back to primary care clinicians and the ability of the technology to support with accessibility.   

“I am grateful to all the clinicians and support teams who have agreed to participate in this trial so that we can embrace AI safely and work together to forge the correct way forward with this exciting emerging technology.” 

Each hospital/practice will be testing both Lupa and Co.Vet over the next couple of months before decisions are made on whether to roll out more widely. CVS will be working closely with both providers throughout the process to maximise the benefit to all parties involved.  

IMAGE: The pilot will test whether AI can reduce time spent on clinical note-taking freeing up vets to focus on patient care.