Westshore Animal Hospital opened in Tampa in January 2023. Owner and practice manager Alex de Gale wanted to launch the business with a cloud-based veterinary practice management system. He knew from previous experience with on-premises solutions that a cloud-based solution was essential for meeting Westshore’s goals.
De Gale was already familiar with Covetrus and the company’s chief veterinary officer, Link Welborn, DVM, DABVP. He had worked with Welborn at different animal hospitals for eight years. During this time, Welborn switched all of his practices to Pulse. De Gale’s trust in his former colleague was integral to his final decision to choose Pulse as Westshore’s practice management solution.
Another deciding factor was that Pulse works on many devices, which was key for de Gale. He wanted a system that worked across all of Westshore’s devices to ensure a fully integrated clinic.
As a brand new practice, all of Westshore’s employees had to learn how to use Pulse before opening day. Thanks to Pulse’s intuitive and easy-to-navigate user interface, the staff was able to use the system with ease, leading to a seamless and stress-free opening day.
Now, when onboarding new hires, de Gale says, “Within a day or two, new employees can record medical history, enter charges and process transactions. Once they start clicking around in the system, which feels like a website, it all makes sense — unlike other practice management systems that take months to learn.”
“With Pulse, you have a hub connected to all your tools, dashboards and apps. Everything works together.”
Alex de Gale, Owner and Practice Manager, Westshore Animal Hospital
De Gale looks to tech-enabled human health care interactions to make the most of Pulse’s interoperability. He shares the example of a visit to his son’s pediatrician who uses laptops in the practice. Westshore uses desktop computers, laptops, tablets and mobile phones throughout the practice. Pulse is accessible on all these devices.
“All of our vets have a device they bring to every appointment, just like a human doctor,” he says. “They have the data they need right there via Pulse. They can also use their mobile phones to take pictures before, during and after a procedure.”
Covetrus Payments also integrates with Pulse, allowing for patient check-out in the exam room. There is little to no manual data entry required, which helps save time and eliminate human error in billing and payments.
Clients can visit the practice-branded online storefront after their appointment, at their convenience, to order recommended pet medications or foods. “Digital scripting via Covetrus vRxPro is easy to use,” says de Gale. “Plus, it breaks up food and medication spending for our clients, creating a better, more affordable veterinary experience.”
Right now, about 10% of Westshore’s 300 monthly clients purchase from their online storefront with Covetrus vRxPro. De Gale expects that number will grow over time. Meanwhile, he doesn’t see any downside to integrating an online storefront into his practice. “The effort to earn profit is minimal,” he explains. “Plus, with the Pulse integration, every purchase gets automatically reflected in the patient’s medical record.”
Westshore uses Rapport to automate appointment reminders and other communications. Covetrus Rapport integrates with Pulse and offers text, email and phone call capabilities, along with telemedicine visits. “I can simply press an icon to send a quick text that gets recorded in the medical record,” says de Gale.
Rapport also offers online self-scheduling for clients. Clients are able to book a time that fits their schedule, with no back-and-forth communication. “It saves so much phone time for us and our clients,” de Gale states. “They know what their pet needs and when they can come see us.”
The full scope of Pulse integration at Westshore has created a tech-enabled experience that makes veterinary care easier for everyone.