Building a Healthier Veterinary Workplace: Why the Right Platform Matters

By Joanna Chung, CEO of NectarVet & Gigi Tsontos, CEO of Not One More Vet (NOMV)

Veterinary medicine is built on compassion—but the systems around it don’t always reflect that.

Teams enter this field to care for animals and support their humans, yet too much of the day gets pulled into admin work, inefficiencies, and stress. Research from the American Veterinary Medical Association and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to highlight the toll these systemic pressures take on veterinary professionals. A healthy culture is built on having the right structures, resources, and foundation in place.

That’s where the right platform can make a meaningful difference.

Small Moments Matter

Culture shows up in everyday interactions—including the tools your team uses all day.

A cat typing across a loading screen.
A hummingbird logo gently flapping its wings.
The ability to drop a GIF into a patient’s care notes.

These details aren’t just playful—they signal that the software was built with real people in mind. And in a demanding environment, even small moments of lightness can shift the tone of a day—something supported by workplace engagement research from Gallup and behavioral insights from James Clear.

Better Client Experiences Change Team Dynamics

When clients feel confused or caught off guard, that stress often lands back on the team.

Clear communication helps prevent that:

• AI-generated report cards explain the visit in a simple, structured way
• Automatic discharge instructions & patient reminders reduce follow-up confusion
• Flexible payment options—like remote links and plans—help clients navigate costs

Research from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement shows that clearer communication improves outcomes and reduces friction in care interactions. When clients feel informed and supported, interactions become smoother and more appreciative—and teams feel it immediately.

Efficiency Should Give Time Back

When documentation, callbacks, and admin tasks stretch late into the evening, the day doesn’t really end when the last appointment does. Studies from the Mayo Clinic and the American Medical Association link administrative burden directly to burnout and after-hours work.

With more streamlined workflows:

• Vets can save 1–2 hours daily on SOAP notes
• Front desk teams often gain back 2–3 hours through client portals and AI call summaries
• Less work spills over into the end of the day

Advancements in AI, highlighted by McKinsey & Company, show strong potential to reduce documentation burden and return meaningful time to care teams.

What that looks like in practice is simple: fewer late nights, fewer unfinished tasks, and a more predictable end to the day.

Focus on Presence and What You Love

Paper-based workflows still add undue administrative burden and stress—forms, charts, and notes that need to be scanned, uploaded, and tracked. Research published in Health Affairs shows that digitized systems improve coordination and reduce redundancy.

When those are built directly into the medical record, things flow more naturally. Information is already in place, and teams can focus on why they got into veterinary medicine in the first place—the patients.

More time doing what you love = more joy.

 

Supporting People, Together

NOMV and NectarVet are partnering because we share a belief: supporting veterinary teams requires a more holistic approach to wellbeing.

No single organization can do that alone. It takes mission-aligned partners across the ecosystem—technology, community, and mental health resources working together—to create meaningful, lasting change. Insights from NOMV and the American Veterinary Medical Association reinforce that systemic change—not just individual resilience—is key to improving outcomes across the profession.

Our partnership brings that to life in a few concrete ways:

• • Donations for every clinic that signs up with NectarVet through NOMV’s referral link:
    https://meetings.hubspot.com/nectarvet/nomv-referral?uuid=00812f7b-40e7-429f-8962-d3879cb593e7
  • Embedding NOMV’s public resources directly within NectarVet, making support easier to access in the flow of work

• Co-designing product features that support mental wellbeing, staff appreciation, and a stronger day-to-day culture

• Sponsorship of NOMV’s “Race Around the World” each May, helping build awareness and connection across the profession

This article draws on research and insights from the American Veterinary Medical Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Not One More Vet, Mayo Clinic, American Medical Association, McKinsey & Company, and Gallup.