When running a business, the team will inevitably have to manage many day-to-day office tasks. While necessary for operations, it can also be tedious and take up a lot of time in an already very busy workday – especially when the team is hard at work keeping animals healthy throughout the Region like McAfee Animal Hospital. However, the staff has found a way to help smooth out these troubles with a digital jump to its new paperless system. With the system in place, both staff and patients have access to more resources than ever, making it possible for the Region’s furry friends to quickly get the treatment they need to keep those tails wagging all day long.
“We decided to implement it to replace our many paper files,” said Office Manager Amy Beckman. “We're also using it for easier prescription management, better communication, and all around efficiency for the office. Overall for us, we are going to have a more effective and productive staff, ultimately leading to a more pleasant client experience and better care for their patients. That is what the doctors and the staff have in mind in the long run, but I think this helps everything come together. I think this will help a lot.”
Igniting the transition was about a three-month process when Beckman began personalizing a new software with protocols and changes needed for all clients and patients. She worked hard during the fall and winter months to make sure everything was in check before the system was fully implemented in February.
“We did a completely different software than what we were using,” Beckman said. “I started in October – I personalized it with our protocols and made the changes needed for our clients and patients’ needs. I worked on that from October through January, and then we launched at the beginning of February.”
Almost five short months later, the system is already making a tremendous impact on all aspects of the animal hospital. The office is no longer occupied with bulky filing cabinets meant for housing patient files. Instead, they are now stored digitally and can be quickly accessed with just a few clicks. New equipment can now fill those previously occupied spaces, making it possible for each pet to have top-tier treatment during any visit.
“We're not looking around trying to find the file charts – all our information is at our fingertips, which is nice,” Beckman said. “It's a better use of employee time; we can focus on patients and clients and be more accurate with our work.”
Storing files digitally also means they can be viewed with ease, so there’s no questioning a doctor’s handwriting when the doctor gives specific notes or prescribes medication. Everything can be accessed at any time, anywhere. Whether a staff member is at the hospital or out and about, they can view the files at their convenience, making it more than convenient if a situation comes about that prompts a quick response.
Patients can also take advantage of this new system and other digital resources McAfee offers – the patients have many options to help their four-legged friends right in the palm of their hands.
“It’s right at our fingertips, and it's very nice to be able to do that for our patients,” Beckman said. “We streamline our online communications for reminders, they can go online to schedule appointments. We have online chat features, and they can refill prescriptions online. I hope that, overall, it makes a more pleasant experience for that, too.”
While many of these features are available through the website, they can also be accessed through McAfee’s app, which has an additional set of features users can use.
“We have an app for their phone to email reminders, text reminders, and chat with them through the app,” said Beckman. “They can look up their own records, see what their results are, see what their patient faculties are. They have a lot of information at their fingertips.”
With the multitude of digital resources, including the new paperless system, only great things lie ahead for McAfee as it works to keep pets happy and healthy throughout Northwest Indiana.
For more information on McAfee Animal Hospital, please visit mcafeeah.com.