Case Study: How VetNotes and OpenVPMS Integration Eliminated the "Sword of Damocles" at Angourie Road Vet Surgery

How Dr Karen Teasdale transformed chronic stress into family time and improved patient care

The Challenge: Medical Records as a "Sword of Damocles"

Dr Karen Teasdale works at Angourie Road Vet Surgery in northern New South Wales, where she's dedicated to providing excellent veterinary care. However, before implementing VetNotes, Karen faced a challenge that many veterinarians will recognise all too well—the constant burden of unfinished medical records.

"I genuinely struggled to know when my close of day was," Karen explains. "I always felt like I had my medical records hanging over my head like a sword of Damocles. I could never escape them and I never had them finished."

This wasn't just a professional inconvenience—it was a source of chronic stress that affected every aspect of her life. "It was a constant source of stress and of worry and I know that that stress and that worry tipped over into my family life as well. Every time my kids wanted to do something, I always seemed like I had histories to finish."

For a dedicated veterinarian and mother, finding a solution that could address both professional efficiency and family well-being became essential.

The Solution: VetNotes Integration with OpenVPMS

The transformation began when Angourie Road Vet Surgery implemented VetNotes, which integrates seamlessly with their OpenVPMS practice management system via a Chrome extension. This integration proved to be the key to solving Karen's documentation challenges.

VetNotes integrates directly into the OpenVPMS workflow through the Chrome extension, meaning Karen and her team can access all the AI documentation features without ever leaving their familiar OpenVPMS interface. The integration is so seamless that users can harness the power of AI-assisted clinical notes whilst remaining completely within their established OpenVPMS workflow.

Working with Mitch from the VetNotes team, Karen found that the technology integrated smoothly into their existing OpenVPMS operations, requiring minimal training whilst delivering maximum impact.

The Results: Life-Changing Transformation

The integration of VetNotes into their OpenVPMS workflow has delivered profound changes for Dr Teasdale, both professionally and personally:

Complete Work-Life Separation

"Now that we have VetNotes and Mitch has changed my life for the better, my day is finished when I finish," Karen reports. The AI documentation integrated into her OpenVPMS workflow has eliminated the evening burden of incomplete medical records.

Reliable Backup System

For those rare occasions when everything isn't completed during the consultation, Karen has peace of mind: "I know that it's saved their own VetNotes for me. I can come back to it at any time." The integration ensures that nothing is lost and everything is accessible within the OpenVPMS system.

Enhanced Patient Care and Flow

The benefits extended far beyond documentation. "It's improved my patient flow, it's improved my patient care, and we're just having so much better interactions with all of our clients as they come through," Karen explains. The integration allows her to focus completely on patients whilst knowing comprehensive records are being created automatically.

Family Time Restored

Perhaps most importantly, Karen has reclaimed her personal time. No more telling her children she has "histories to finish"—the integrated system ensures work stays at work.

The OpenVPMS Integration Advantage

The seamless integration between VetNotes and OpenVPMS has been crucial to the success at Angourie Road Vet Surgery. Key advantages include:

• No system switching: All VetNotes functionality appears directly within the familiar OpenVPMS interface

• Integrated workflow: AI documentation integrates naturally into established OpenVPMS routines

• Easy adoption: Staff continue using OpenVPMS exactly as before, with enhanced AI capabilities integrated throughout

• Reliable data flow: Information integrates smoothly between the AI documentation and practice management functions

This integration approach means practices can adopt cutting-edge AI technology without abandoning the OpenVPMS workflow they know and trust.

A Veterinarian's Honest Recommendation

Karen's endorsement is both heartfelt and unequivocal: "There is absolutely nothing I regret about getting VetNotes, other than the fact that I should have got it 20 years ago."

Her advice to other veterinarians considering the integration is simple and direct: "If you're thinking about getting VetNotes, just do it. It is so worth it."

She also acknowledges the personal touch that made the integration successful: "Thank you to Mitch and Mitch's mum for being the inspiration for it all."

Key Takeaways for OpenVPMS Practices

Dr Teasdale's experience demonstrates several crucial principles for successful practice transformation:

Seamless Integration Is Essential: Technology that integrates directly into existing OpenVPMS workflows eliminates adoption barriers and maximises benefits.

Work-Life Balance Is Achievable: When AI documentation integrates properly into practice management systems, veterinarians can truly finish their day when they finish seeing patients.

Family Life Matters: Professional tools that integrate well into daily workflow can have profound positive impacts on personal relationships and family time.

Patient Care Improves: When documentation stress is eliminated through proper system integration, veterinarians can focus more attention on patient care and client interactions.

Backup and Reliability: Integrated systems provide confidence that nothing is lost and everything remains accessible within familiar interfaces.

The Bottom Line

Dr. Karen Teasdale's transformation at Angaurie Road Vet Surgery demonstrates the profound impact that proper technology integration can have on a veterinarian's professional and personal life. The seamless integration between VetNotes and OpenVPMS has eliminated chronic stress, restored family time, and improved patient care—all whilst working within the familiar OpenVPMS system.

For OpenVPMS users considering AI documentation, Karen's experience proves that the right integration can deliver life-changing benefits without workflow disruption. The Chrome extension approach ensures that advanced AI capabilities integrate naturally into established OpenVPMS operations, providing immediate relief from documentation burdens whilst enhancing overall practice efficiency.

The success at Angourie Road Vet Surgery shows that when AI technology integrates thoughtfully into trusted practice management systems like OpenVPMS, it can transform not just how veterinarians work, but how they live—turning the "sword of Damocles" into a tool for professional excellence and personal well-being.

Ready to eliminate your documentation stress and reclaim your family time? Discover how VetNotes integrates seamlessly with OpenVPMS to transform your practice workflow.