Using Technology To Stay Safe as a Mobile Vet
Mobile veterinary practice comes with unique challenges and risks. Traveling to unfamiliar locations, handling unpredictable animals, and often working alone can make safety a top priority. Thankfully, technology can help you stay safe as a mobile vet while still delivering high-quality care.
The VetBadger team prioritizes your health and well-being in the design of our platform. Our features simplify every part of running a successful mobile vet practice so that you can enjoy a great work-life balance. Connect with us today for a free live demo of our veterinary practice management solution.
High-Tech Ways To Stay Safe as a Mobile Vet
As a mobile veterinary professional, your day can involve a lot of unknowns that carry potential risks. You are likely to be in new parts of town, going into people’s homes, and meeting unfamiliar pets. Here’s how you can leverage modern tools to enhance your safety on the road and in the field.
Navigation and Route Planning
One of the most basic yet essential tools for mobile veterinarians is a reliable GPS. Popular apps like Google Maps not only help you navigate unfamiliar territory but also provide real-time traffic updates and alternative routes to avoid delays.
To further streamline your mobile vet travel time, it’s important to utilize a geo zone scheduling tool. This practice management feature lets you quickly and easily schedule and route your appointments for optimal efficiency.
With GPS and an excellent route planning tool, you will spend less time hurrying and worrying about being late and more time focusing on a safe, careful drive.
For added personal security, consider apps that allow family members or colleagues to track your location during appointments. This is particularly useful for emergencies or when working in remote areas.
Communication Tools
Having a dependable communication device is non-negotiable for staying safe as a mobile vet. Beyond your smartphone, consider carrying a two-way radio for areas with limited cell service.
Additionally, apps like WhatsApp can be invaluable for quick communication with clients or your team in areas with unstable network connections. Be sure to have a car charger and an external battery pack to keep your devices charged while you’re on the go.
Telemedicine
A telemedicine platform can help guard your safety in a few ways. First, it allows you to have a brief video call with new clients to get a feel for where you’ll be going and who you’ll be meeting. It also lets you assess non-critical cases remotely, minimizing the need to be on the road as much.
Voice Transcription
Having the ability to use talk-to-text during exams is not only convenient, but it also helps keep you safe. The more you can be “hands-free” and unencumbered, the more you can focus on your surroundings and the people around you. Your eyes and ears are free to pay attention as you talk your way through an exam rather than needing to stop and write down chart notes.
Similarly, using a practice management platform with cloud-based recordkeeping allows you to avoid carrying files and documents with you from appointment to appointment. The fewer physical items you need to carry and manage, the safer you can keep yourself.
Remember Some Old School Safety, Too
While modern technology is great at helping you stay safe, don’t forget about “analog” options as well. As a mobile vet, it’s crucial to have items like jumper cables and a first aid kit with you while you’re out seeing patients.
Being a mobile veterinarian offers incredible flexibility and the chance to provide much-needed care directly to animals in their environments. But staying safe must come first! Incorporate technology into your daily routine to boost your safety, streamline your workflow, and focus on your important work.
VetBadger offers a robust practice management system with the tools and features you need to work safely and efficiently on the road. Claim your free demo with our team today to learn more.