Professional Veterinary Service Workflows
Veterinary consultation workflows coordinate professional veterinary care. Pre-visit preparation compiling complete animal health histories, clinical examination documentation with diagnostic precision, treatment plan creation integrating medical best practices, and follow-up scheduling ensuring continuity of care. These workflows bridge animal owners and veterinary professionals through systematic information sharing and coordinated care.
Unlike owner-managed health workflows, veterinary consultation workflows involve licensed veterinarians providing professional diagnosis, treatment authorisation, and medical oversight within their scope of practice and regulatory authority.
Four veterinary consultation workflows:
- Pre-Visit Preparation - Compiling health history and preparing for consultation
- Clinical Examination Documentation - Recording professional veterinary findings
- Treatment Plan Creation - Systematic medical protocols and follow-up care
- Follow-Up Scheduling - Ensuring continuity and monitoring outcomes
Workflow 1: Pre-Visit Preparation
Overview
Pre-visit preparation ensures veterinarians have complete animal health information before consultation. Compiling observation history, treatment records, vaccination status, and diagnostic results enables efficient, informed clinical decision-making without time-consuming record review during the visit.
When to use:
- Scheduled veterinary visits (routine examinations, vaccination clinics, herd health assessments)
- Emergency consultations requiring rapid information access
- Specialist referrals (providing complete background to consulting specialist)
- Multi-property veterinary practice (veterinarian needs context for each property)
Timeline: 30-60 minutes preparation for comprehensive visit; 10-15 minutes for routine visit
Key stakeholders: Animal owner/manager (compiles information), veterinarian (uses information for clinical decisions)
Process
1. Identify Animals for Examination (3-5 days before):
- Which animals need veterinary attention?
- Routine examination (annual health checks, pre-breeding soundness)
- Concerning observations requiring follow-up (Workflow 28.1 identified issues)
- Treatment progress monitoring (animals under care)
2. Compile Health History (Desktop - 2-3 days before):
Generate comprehensive health summary for each animal in Kora:
- Recent Observations (last 30-90 days)
- Symptoms/Concerns (current issues requiring veterinary assessment)
- Treatment History (what has been tried? Response to previous treatments?)
- Vaccination Status (current on required vaccines? Boosters needed?)
- Diagnostic Test History (previous test results for baseline comparison)
- Reproductive History (breeding dates, pregnancy status, calving/birthing history)
- Body Condition Trend (weight changes over time)
- Behavioural Changes (unusual behaviour patterns)
3. Document Owner Concerns (Desktop/Notes):
- What specific questions for veterinarian?
- What outcomes desired from visit?
- Budget considerations (if multiple treatment options may exist)
- Owner priorities (animal welfare, productivity, economics)
4. Prepare Animals for Examination (Day of Visit):
- Yard animals into handling facilities (minimise veterinarian's time)
- Ensure animals clean and accessible
- Restraint equipment ready
- Quiet environment (reduce stress, facilitate examination)
5. Share Information with Veterinarian (Before or During Visit):
Option A: Veterinarian has Kora access (Chapter 20):
- Veterinarian logs into Kora before visit
- Reviews animal records remotely (pre-visit preparation on veterinarian's side)
- Arrives with informed understanding of animal health status
Option B: Veterinarian doesn't use Kora:
- Generate health summary report from Kora (PDF export)
- Print or email to veterinarian before visit
- Provide paper copy during visit for reference
6. During Visit - Facilitate Examination:
- Provide veterinarian with prepared animals
- Answer clarifying questions (owner knowledge supplements records)
- Assist with animal handling/restraint
- Note veterinarian's findings and recommendations
Example: Dairy farm preparing for annual herd health visit. 150 cows, veterinarian visiting for pregnancy checks and health assessments. Farm manager uses Kora to identify 12 cows with concerning observations in last 60 days (unexplained weight loss, reduced milk production, lameness). Generates health summaries for these 12 cows. Veterinarian reviews summaries before visit. Focuses examination on priority animals. Efficiently addresses health concerns in 3-hour visit.
Workflow 2: Clinical Examination Documentation
Overview
Clinical examination documentation records veterinarian findings systematically. Physical examination results, diagnostic assessments, differential diagnoses, and professional observations create permanent clinical records supporting treatment decisions, regulatory compliance, and continuity of care.
When to use:
- All veterinary consultations (routine or emergency)
- Pre-purchase examinations (documenting animal health for buyer)
- Insurance examinations (health status for coverage)
- Expert witness documentation (legal cases requiring veterinary evidence)
Timeline: During and immediately after examination (15-30 minutes documentation per animal)
Key stakeholders: Veterinarian (documents findings), animal owner (receives clinical assessment), future care providers (rely on documented history)
Process
1. Veterinarian Conducts Physical Examination:
- Systematic examination (all body systems)
- Species-specific assessments
- Diagnostic techniques (palpation, auscultation, percussion)
- Clinical measurements (temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, body condition score)
2. Veterinarian Records Findings in Kora (if using Kora - Chapter 20):
Creates professional veterinary observation:
Clinical Findings by System:
- Integumentary (skin/coat): Condition, lesions, parasites
- Musculoskeletal: Lameness, joint swelling, mobility
- Cardiovascular: Heart rate, rhythm, murmurs
- Respiratory: Respiratory rate, effort, lung sounds
- Gastrointestinal: Appetite, faecal consistency, abdominal palpation
- Urogenital: Reproductive status, urination abnormalities
- Nervous: Mental status, gait, neurological deficits
- Eyes/Ears/Nose/Throat: Discharge, lesions, abnormalities
Diagnostic Assessment:
- Preliminary Diagnosis (based on clinical examination)
- Differential Diagnoses (other possibilities to consider)
- Diagnostic Confidence (definitive vs suspected vs uncertain)
Diagnostic Testing Recommendations:
- Which tests needed for confirmation? (blood work, imaging, biopsy)
- Urgency of testing (immediate, within 7 days, routine monitoring)
Professional Photos/Videos:
- Document abnormalities visually
- Baseline for comparison during follow-up
What happens automatically:
- Veterinary observation linked to animal record
- Clinical findings become part of permanent health history
- Owner notified of veterinarian's findings
- Traceability event created
3. Veterinarian Communicates Findings to Owner:
- Diagnosis Explanation (in language owner understands)
- Severity Assessment (immediate treatment needed or monitoring sufficient?)
- Prognosis (expected outcome with treatment vs without)
- Treatment Options (multiple approaches possible? Cost/benefit of each?)
- Owner Decision Support (what decision points require owner input?)
4. Veterinarian Recommends Diagnostic Testing (if needed):
- Which tests will provide diagnostic clarity?
- Cost estimates for testing
- Where tests conducted (on-site, laboratory submission, specialist referral)
- Expected turnaround time for results
- Owner approval required
5. Owner Authorises Diagnostic Testing:
- Understands rationale for testing
- Agrees to cost
- Provides consent for sample collection
- Veterinarian proceeds with testing
6. Diagnostic Results Integration:
When test results return:
- Veterinarian uploads results to Kora
- Results linked to original clinical examination
- Veterinarian interprets results (adds clinical commentary)
- Owner notified of results
- Treatment plan adjusted based on results (Workflow 3)
Example: Horse presenting with acute lameness. Veterinarian conducts physical examination, documents findings in Kora: "Right front limb lameness (grade 3/5), heat and swelling in fetlock joint, painful on palpation. Differential diagnoses: Soft tissue injury (sprain/strain), fracture, infection/cellulitis. Recommend radiographs to rule out fracture." Owner approves radiographs. Veterinarian performs radiography, uploads images to Kora. Interpretation: "No fracture visible. Consistent with soft tissue injury. Recommend anti-inflammatory treatment and rest."
Workflow 3: Treatment Plan Creation
Overview
Treatment plan creation transforms veterinary diagnosis into systematic medical protocols. Medication specifications, dosing schedules, treatment duration, monitoring requirements, and expected outcomes guide owner-administered care or veterinarian-supervised interventions.
When to use:
- Following veterinary diagnosis requiring medical intervention
- Chronic disease management (ongoing treatment protocols)
- Post-surgical care (recovery protocols)
- Preventive medicine (vaccination schedules, parasite control programmes)
Timeline: Created during or immediately after consultation; ongoing implementation days to months
Key stakeholders: Veterinarian (prescribes treatment), owner (administers treatment), animal (receives care)
Process
1. Veterinarian Creates Treatment Plan in Kora:
Based on diagnosis (Workflow 2), veterinarian prescribes treatment:
For Individual Animal:
- Medication(s): Product name, dosage, route of administration
- Frequency: Once daily, twice daily, every 8 hours, etc.
- Duration: 5 days, 10 days, until symptoms resolve, ongoing
- Administration Instructions: With food, specific timing, special handling
- Withdrawal Period: Food safety compliance for food-producing animals
- Monitoring Requirements: What to observe (symptom improvement, adverse reactions)
- Follow-Up Schedule: When to reassess
For Mob/Group:
- Mass Medication: Mob-level treatment (water medication, feed additives, in-feed parasiticides)
- Coverage Assessment: Ensure all animals receive treatment
- Monitoring: Population-level response (% showing improvement)
2. Kora Generates Treatment Schedule:
Automatic task generation:
- Daily Treatment Tasks: Created for each day of treatment plan
- Assigned to Responsible Person: Owner or designated staff member
- Reminders: Notifications before each dose
- Documentation Prompts: Record when each dose administered
3. Veterinarian Explains Treatment Plan to Owner:
- Rationale for treatment (why this medication/protocol?)
- Expected outcomes (what improvement expected? Timeframe?)
- Potential side effects (adverse reactions to watch for)
- What to do if problems arise (when to call veterinarian)
- Cost estimates (medication costs, follow-up visit costs)
4. Owner Administers Treatment:
- Follows treatment plan systematically (Workflow 28.1 for execution details)
- Records each dose in Kora (documents compliance)
- Monitors animal response (improvement? Stable? Declining?)
- Reports issues to veterinarian promptly
5. Veterinarian Monitors Treatment Progress:
If owner using Kora:
- Veterinarian remotely monitors treatment administration (doses given on schedule?)
- Reviews owner's observations (animal responding to treatment?)
- Provides remote guidance if needed (adjust dosage, extend duration, change medication)
If owner not using Kora:
- Owner provides verbal/written updates
- Veterinarian documents updates in own records
- Coordination via phone calls/messages
6. Treatment Plan Modifications (if needed):
- Animal not responding → Veterinarian adjusts plan (different medication, additional diagnostics, specialist referral)
- Adverse reactions → Veterinarian changes medication or reduces dosage
- Rapid improvement → May shorten treatment duration
7. Treatment Completion and Outcome Documentation:
- Treatment course completed as prescribed
- Veterinarian documents outcome:
- Successful (animal recovered fully)
- Partial success (improvement but not complete resolution)
- Failure (no improvement or deterioration)
- Follow-up recommendations (monitor for recurrence, preventive measures, further investigation if treatment failed)
Example: Cattle diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia (Workflow 28.2). Veterinarian creates treatment plan: Oxytetracycline 10 mg/kg IM once daily for 5 days, Flunixin meglumine (anti-inflammatory) 2.2 mg/kg IV once daily for 3 days. Withdrawal periods: Meat 28 days, Milk 96 hours. Kora creates 5 treatment tasks for antibiotic, 3 tasks for anti-inflammatory. Farm manager administers treatments daily, records each dose. Monitors cow (fever resolving, appetite improving, respiratory rate normalising). Day 6: Veterinarian follow-up examination (pneumonia resolved). Treatment successful, cow returned to normal production.
Workflow 4: Follow-Up Scheduling and Continuity of Care
Overview
Follow-up scheduling ensures continuity of care through systematic reassessment. Scheduling post-treatment examinations, monitoring chronic disease progression, verifying treatment efficacy, and adjusting management plans based on patient response maintains long-term animal health.
When to use:
- After treatment plan completion (verify success)
- Chronic disease management (regular monitoring)
- Post-surgical recovery (healing assessment)
- Preventive medicine (vaccination schedules, routine health checks)
- Treatment failures requiring investigation
Timeline: Scheduled per veterinarian recommendation (days to months post-treatment)
Key stakeholders: Veterinarian (schedules and conducts follow-up), owner (brings animal for reassessment), animal (benefits from continuity)
Process
1. Veterinarian Schedules Follow-Up (During Treatment Plan Creation - Workflow 3):
- When should animal be reassessed? (3 days post-treatment, 2 weeks, 6 months)
- What will be assessed? (symptom resolution, treatment success, disease recurrence, chronic disease progression)
- Kora creates follow-up task with due date
2. Owner Receives Follow-Up Reminder:
- Automated reminder before due date
- Owner schedules appointment with veterinarian
- Prepares animal for follow-up examination (same process as Workflow 1 - Pre-Visit Preparation)
3. Follow-Up Examination Conducted:
- Veterinarian re-examines animal (Workflow 2 - Clinical Examination)
- Compares current status to previous examination (improvement? Stable? Declined?)
- Reviews treatment compliance (were all doses administered as prescribed?)
- Assesses treatment outcomes
4. Follow-Up Documentation:
Veterinarian records follow-up findings in Kora:
Comparison to Previous Visit:
- Symptoms resolved? (Fully / Partially / Not at all)
- Clinical findings improved? (Objective measurements)
- Owner's subjective assessment (animal behaviour, productivity)
Treatment Efficacy Assessment:
- Treatment successful (achieved desired outcome)
- Partial success (improvement but not complete)
- Treatment failure (no improvement or worsening)
Next Steps Based on Outcome:
- Success: Discharge from care, preventive recommendations
- Partial Success: Continue treatment longer, adjust dosage, add additional therapies
- Failure: Investigate further (additional diagnostics), change treatment approach, consider specialist referral
5. Long-Term Management Plans (for Chronic Conditions):
- Some conditions require ongoing management (arthritis, allergies, diabetes, chronic infections)
- Veterinarian creates long-term management protocol:
- Regular monitoring schedule (monthly, quarterly, annually)
- Ongoing treatment protocols
- Quality of life assessments
- Triggers for treatment adjustments
6. Kora Continuity Features:
- Complete Clinical Timeline: All veterinary visits, examinations, treatments, outcomes visible chronologically
- Treatment Response Patterns: Kora identifies which treatments work for which conditions in this animal
- Longitudinal Trends: Body weight trends, chronic disease progression, recurrence patterns
- Predictive Insights: "This animal has had 3 episodes of lameness in last 12 months - may indicate chronic issue requiring investigation"
Example: Dog with chronic allergic dermatitis. Veterinarian prescribes hypoallergenic diet trial (8 weeks). Follow-up scheduled at 8 weeks. Owner feeds prescribed diet consistently, documents skin condition weekly in Kora (photos showing improvement). Week 8 follow-up: Veterinarian examines dog, reviews photo timeline, confirms significant improvement. Diagnosis: Food allergy confirmed. Long-term plan: Continue hypoallergenic diet indefinitely, monitor for flare-ups, follow-up annually.
Chapter 28.5 Summary
Veterinary consultation workflows coordinate professional veterinary care through systematic information sharing and clinical documentation:
Workflow 1: Pre-Visit Preparation - Compiling complete animal health histories from Kora's accumulated observations, treatments, and diagnostic results enables efficient, informed veterinary consultations maximising professional time.
Workflow 2: Clinical Examination Documentation - Veterinarians record systematic physical findings, diagnostic assessments, and differential diagnoses creating permanent clinical records supporting treatment decisions and continuity of care.
Workflow 3: Treatment Plan Creation - Veterinary diagnoses transform into systematic medical protocols with automatic task generation, compliance monitoring, and treatment response tracking guiding owner-administered care.
Workflow 4: Follow-Up Scheduling - Systematic reassessment ensures treatment efficacy, chronic disease monitoring, and long-term patient outcomes through scheduled follow-ups and longitudinal trend analysis.
These workflows demonstrate Kora's clinical intelligence. Owner-recorded observations accumulate into health histories that veterinarians rely on for diagnosis, veterinary treatment plans transform into owner tasks with compliance tracking, and follow-up scheduling maintains continuity across extended care relationships. The clinical record is shared, continuously updated, and accessible to both owner and veterinarian (if both use Kora), eliminating information gaps and supporting collaborative animal care.