Overview:
Veterinarians face a growing challenge in maintaining accurate and comprehensive medical records, a legal responsibility that can be overwhelming with the high volume of daily appointments. Often, appointments are scheduled every 20-30 minutes, with some veterinarians seeing up to 30 patients daily. This tight scheduling leaves limited time for documentation between visits, pushing many vets to work overtime to complete records, frequently sacrificing lunch breaks or staying after hours.
Founded in 2019, Kitchener-Waterloo-based AI startup Scribenote aims to tackle this issue. The idea for Scribenote originated when CEO Ryan Gallagher, then a University of Waterloo engineering student, noticed his sister, small animal veterinarian Dr. Katie Gallagher, consistently working late to keep up with her documentation. Understanding the potential to alleviate this burden, Ryan began developing a solution to streamline the process, which ultimately led to the creation of Scribenote’s AI-powered medical scribe.Key Elements:
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Addressing Burnout in Veterinary Professionals:
- Burnout is a serious issue among veterinarians, with nearly 90 percent reporting significant stress levels due to heavy workloads, staffing shortages, and emotional stress. Additionally, the physical toll of veterinary work can be challenging, with some veterinarians facing mobility issues that make manual note-taking difficult. In response, Scribenote’s platform not only automates the creation of medical records but also facilitates smoother client communication, allowing veterinarians to concentrate on patient care instead of administrative tasks
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Scribenote’s Evolution and Capabilities:
Co-founded by Ryan Gallagher, veterinary lead Dr. Katie Gallagher, CPO Alina Pavel, and veterinary student Emily Merry, Scribenote records conversations between veterinarians and clients, using AI to generate accurate, detailed medical records efficiently. Its key features include:
- Cross-Device Access: Veterinarians can start notes on one device and continue from any other.
- Offline Recording: Syncs when connectivity is restored.
- Background Audio Capture: Ensures documentation is continuous and unobtrusive.
- Seamless Integration: A desktop widget called “Draggy-Droppy” integrates completed records into any Practice Information Management System (PIMS) within seconds.
In less than a year, Scribenote has automated over 1.5 million records across North America, saving veterinarians up to two hours daily and helping restore work-life balance. With users ranging from recent graduates to experienced professionals, the tool has improved productivity, enabling veterinarians to take breaks and dedicate more time to patients and families. Veterinarians with mobility impairments, for example, find Scribenote invaluable, as it allows them to continue working without the need to manually write notes.
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Backed by Leading Investors:
- To further its mission, Scribenote recently secured $11 million CAD ($8.2 million USD) in seed funding. The funding round was led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), with participation from Inovia Capital, the Velocity Fund, and undisclosed angel investors. According to a16z partner Olivia Moore, “Scribenote automates burdensome documentation requirements, so vets can focus on the parts of the job they love. The Scribenote team has deep empathy for the daily challenges veterinarians face and a hands-on understanding of their workflow.”
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Future Vision for AI in Veterinary Care:
- With this latest funding, Scribenote plans to enhance its AI capabilities, with a focus on personalized AI scribes for individual veterinarians and a streamlined editing platform. The team aims to further minimize administrative tasks for veterinarians, allowing them to devote more time to their core duties.
- Inspired by Ryan’s childhood pet, Cali, a Golden Retriever, the Scribenote team is committed to improving the quality of pet care by making veterinary work more manageable. “Scribenote is not just about saving time; it’s about improving the quality of veterinary care and the lives of those who provide it,” says Ryan Gallagher, Co-founder and CEO. “By automating the documentation process, we’re enabling veterinarians to focus more on their patients and less on paperwork.”
