How 11 VMG Practices Reduced Documentation Time with CoVet

Across small animal, ER, specialty, and equine teams, participating veterinarians reported clearer records, lower mental load, and stronger client communication.

Documentation is one of the most persistent drains on veterinary teams. It follows doctors between appointments, delays callbacks and discharges, and often comes home at the end of the day.

In an eleven-practice VMG pilot, CoVet was evaluated as a new approach to addressing the everyday realities of veterinary documentation. The practices represented small animal, ER, specialty, and equine care across multiple states.

By the end of the pilot, veterinarians reported saving five to ten hours a week, creating clearer records, and choosing to keep CoVet in their workflows.

The Challenge

Prior to the pilot:

• 68% of participants spent between 1 to 2 hours on documentation daily

• Average mental load at the end of the day was reported as 3.5 out of 5, falling between moderate and heavy.

• 89% of participants reported feeling some level of burnout.

Participants were also frustrated by what their records missed.

On busy days, records often went unfinished or were completed at home after hours, increasing the chance that important details were missed.

The Solution

The VMG pilot was designed to evaluate CoVet under normal working conditions across small animal, ER/specialty, and equine practices. Users received extended trial access, but no discounts or special incentives.

Participant practices completed CoVet’s standard onboarding process, which includes trial access, tailored demos, customer success support, and access to a webinar library. This comprehensive onboarding approach is designed to support rapid adoption and ensure practices are well-equipped to integrate CoVet into their workflows.

79% of respondents had never used an AI-powered transcription or documentation tool before CoVet, making CoVet many practices’ first experience with AI-powered clinical documentation. Among those who had used other scribe tools before, feedback pointed to common issues such as missed details and documentation inaccuracies.

Although most participants were new to the technology, they rated ease of adoption 4.4 out of 5. Multiple respondents were surprised by how little friction there was getting started.

The Results

The pilot showed measurable gains in documentation time, record quality, mental load, client communication, and overall satisfaction.

Less Time Per Record

Before CoVet, the majority of participating practitioners spent between 1 and 2 hours per day on documentation.

By the end of the four-month pilot, CoVet had shifted documentation time from a major daily burden to a far more manageable part of the workday. Before CoVet, no participants completed documentation in under 30 minutes, while the vast majority spent one hour or more each day. After adoption, 45% were finishing in under 30 minutes, the number spending one to two hours per day fell sharply from 68% to 18%, and the share spending more than two hours was eliminated entirely.

Improved Record Quality

Veterinarians reported that CoVet made records better, not just faster.

Self-rated record quality rose from 3.4 to 4.5 out of 5. Colleague readability rose from 3.9 to 4.9 out of 5.

In multi-DVM practices, clearer records support better handoffs, easier follow-up, and stronger continuity of care.

Less End-of-Day Mental Load

Before CoVet, average mental load at the end of the day was 3.5 out of 5. After CoVet, it dropped to 2.1 out of 5.

The share of veterinarians who said they “never” felt admin-related burnout increased from 11% to 45%.

For teams trying to protect clinician capacity, that matters. Documentation time is not only a scheduling issue. It affects how much mental energy veterinarians have left at the end of the day.

Consistent Client Communication

Discharge summaries became more common after CoVet.

Before the pilot, 26% of respondents said discharge summaries were attached to more than half of appointments. After CoVet, that rose to 45%.

Client communication effectiveness also improved, rising from 3.7 to 4.5 out of 5. In addition, 36% of CoVet users reported seeing improved client follow-through on treatment recommendations.

When clients leave with clear, easy-to-follow instructions, they’re more likely to follow through at home.

Overall Satisfaction

Post-survey respondents rated their overall CoVet experience 4.7 out of 5.

They also gave CoVet an average recommendation score of 9.4 out of 10. 

After the pilot, one participating practice referred another practice to CoVet. In veterinary medicine, where peer trust matters, that kind of follow-on interest is a meaningful sign of confidence.

What’s Next for VMG Practices

CoVet helped VMG-affiliated practices spend less time catching up on records and more time staying present in the workday. 

For practices considering CoVet, the next step is simple: start with the workflows where documentation feels heaviest, measure the change, and let the team see what is possible in a normal week