Veterinary AI Scribes (2of2): Thinking time matters (#249)

What happens when efficiency is prioritized over depth of thought?

The push for higher throughput in veterinary clinics, driven by financial pressures, client expectations, and staff shortages, can lead to a significant reduction in thinking time.

Thinking time is a reflective period where clinicians process information, consider differential diagnoses, and anticipate complications.

Thinking time allows for:

• Pattern Recognition & Experience Application: A clinician’s ability to recognize subtleties in a case often comes from years of experience. Without time to reflect, these insights can be lost.

• Critical Analysis: Rapid decisions might lead to unnecessary tests, overlooked conditions, or reliance on protocols that don’t fit the unique case.

• Creativity in Problem-Solving: Some of the best solutions emerge not from rushing through cases but from stepping back to assess the bigger picture.

Role of AI in Veterinary Medicine

AI can be an incredibly useful tool for:

• Speeding Up Routine Tasks: AI can quickly analyze lab results, suggest differential diagnoses, and even streamline client communication.

• Decision Support: AI-driven diagnostic tools can catch patterns that a clinician might miss, especially in radiology, pathology, and complex case workups.

• Reducing Cognitive Load: When used appropriately, AI can help free up mental energy for deeper thinking rather than replacing it.

Risks of Over-Reliance on AI

While AI is a powerful assistant, it should not replace the human element of veterinary practice:

• Loss of Clinical Intuition: AI works based on probabilities and data, but it lacks the gut feeling that a seasoned veterinarian develops over time.

• Blind Trust in Algorithms: Algorithms can introduce bias, and if clinicians accept AI outputs without questioning them, errors can be propagated.

• Dehumanization of Veterinary Care: The personal touch, empathy, and ability to tailor treatment based on a deeper understanding of both the patient and the client could be lost if AI-driven efficiency becomes the primary focus.

  
  

Rick’s Commentary

• Build in short pause points during workups to allow for reflection before jumping to conclusions.

• Use AI as a tool, not as a crutch, to complement human expertise, not replace it.

• Always verify AI-generated recommendations with clinical judgment.

• Encourage discussion & second opinions because collaborative thinking can counteract the pressure to rush cases through the system.

• Maintain the integrity of veterinary decision-making, which is crucial for long-term patient care and professional satisfaction, by pushing back against an “efficiency-at-all-costs” culture.

In a profession built on experience, observation, and problem-solving,

thinking time is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.

The challenge is to ensure that thinking time doesn’t become a casualty

of increased clinic throughput and AI dependence.

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