47 Q2 2022 | Animal Health Solutions
Practice Overview
Deerwood Animal Hospital is a single-doctor, family-
run practice based in Hamilton Township, New Jersey,
specializing in companion animals. Opened in 2017 by
owner and veterinarian Dr. Mahesh Patel, and managed by
his son Shailin Patel, the practice is focused on delivering
the highest quality of care to clients while ensuring options
for care remain affordable.
The hidden costs of lackluster software
When the team at Deerwood Animal Hospital first opened their doors, the basic, low-cost
practice management software (PIMS) they were using already felt dated. According to
practice manager Shailin Patel, the platform, although a digital solution, lacked the integration
and automation capabilities that would reduce workload and save time. And soon enough,
that meant having to work after-hours to update notes, evaluate cases, and process
prescription requests.
While practice performance was "good enough" from a business standpoint, says Shailin, the
toll on work-life balance seemed to be heading toward burnout. Finally, it was Dr. Patel's wife
who compassionately commissioned her husband to find something that would allow him to
be home for dinner each night.
Switching PIMS mid-stream
When it comes to changing PIMS, most practices are reluctant. According to an April
2021 survey by research firm KS&R, in collaboration with Covetrus
®
, among 497 practice
respondents, 47% reported having the same PIMS solution for 10 years or more. Another
20% clocked in at 6-10 years with the same PIMS.
In the case of Deerwood Animal Hospital, however, the merits of making a change to the
cloud-based solution, eVetPractice
®
, were almost immediate. Shailin noted that after just two
weeks, Dr. Patel was raving about the new PIMS: "I love this! Why didn't we do this sooner?"
