From: Ruth Vale <rmvale@watnow.uwaterloo.ca>
Subject: Software for a vet (followup and summary)
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 19:43:33 GMT


Thank you to all of you who took the time to respond to my query.
I've culled a brief summary of the most useful parts of the comments
on the net on the thought that it might be helpful to someone else.

First of all, I want to make clear that I was looking for information
about a complete, integrated and user-friendly piece of software
which my vet could use to combine a calendar (time management) and
future appointment dates with an invoicing/billing/database system.  She
has neither the time nor the inclination to learn a bunch of
separate pieces of software, all of which would quickly overwhelm
her in the time she has available to learn how to use the system.
A typical medical/human doctor software package might be a suitable model.
As smart as she is, she admits to being computer illiterate, so
she'll be learning from the first touch of the keyboard.

I should also make clear that I am familiar with most standard software
packages - I teach them, in fact - and after discussion with her
the usual word processing and spreadsheet packages are just too 
complicated and too elaborate for her specific need.  For those
who sent contact names, this information is much appreciated as
she can follow up has her situation begins to force her to get
motivated on this point.

If anyone can, on further reconsideration, provide a pointer to
a developer of such a package, please (please, please) let
me know.

Thanks again.

*************************************************************
SUMMARY


From: Ruth Vale <rmvale@watnow.uwaterloo.ca>
Subject: Software for a horse vet
Date: Sun, 20 Sep 1992 13:01:52 GMT


Hello folks,

I'm asking on behalf of my vet who came out this week to see
Spring (and to continue dealing with the effect of previous
owners neglect of her teeth! - surgery to remove a tooth
is definitly in the cards. )-:).

My vet is looking for a computer software package to help her
in her practice.  She needs something to keep track of about
200 owners and 1000 horses.  It should provide invoices from
a data base and provide a calendar which will let her know
when her equine patients are due for revisits, shots, etc.

Carol (the vet) admits candidly to being computer illiterate
and with nearly non-existent keyboarding skills (hunt and peck
typist).  Currently she sees the patient, writes notes in her
log and then re-copies much of that information to an invoice
which is written out by hand.  Time consuming for her and she
has to rely on owners and handwritten calendars to schedule
return visits.  Her husband is in the business (computer sales)
and can get equipment and has access to software sources if
she knew what to ask him to get.

I suggested a laptop might be useful, since she spends most of
her time on the road, or perhaps a unit which can be handled
on the road and then plugged into a bigger database at home.
The software should be PC based and *very* user friendly.

Any ideas I can pass on to her?

Thanks,

Ruth


Article: 10621 of rec.equestrian
From: nagle@netcom.com (John Nagle)
Subject: Re: Software for a horse vet
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 92 04:11:37 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 

      Cynthia Standley of Equine Medical Associates (P.O. Box
7418, Menlo Park, CA 94026) has her own practice very much on-line.
The vets have Poquet PCs in their trucks, linked by cellular phones
and modems to a multi-user 386-based UNIX system running a software
package designed for large-animal vets.  She can call up a horse's
medical records remotely if necessary.   Most updating is done by
connecting the Poquet machines to the the big machine at the end of the
day.  She also has voice mail linked to pagers and cellular phones for 
messages from customers.  Hers is a small practice, and all the equipment 
allows her to dispense with office staff completely.  She set the whole
thing up herself using off-the-shelf hardware and software.

					John Nagle


From ROPBB@CUNYVM.BITNET Sun Sep 20 20:48:56 1992
Date: 	Sun, 20 Sep 1992 20:46:46 -0400
From: "Bliss B. Siman" <ropbb%cunyvm.bitnet@utcs.utoronto.ca>
Subject:      software
Message-Id: <92Sep20.204800edt.10010@ugw.utcs.utoronto.ca>

My vet is very computerized. She can call Furlong Associates in Oldwick, NJ.
908-439-2821 for help.

From: Cathy Cleverley <clever@sequent.com>
Message-Id: <9209221814.AA04908@cansqnt.tor.sequent.com>
Subject: Vet Software
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 92 14:14:33 EDT

RE: vet software~

My vet in Ottawa - Casey Ringleberg (Kanata Animal Hospital) uses
computers.  Perhaps your vet could give them a call, sorry I don't
have the number, but I'm sure she could get it from directory
assistance.

Cathy Cleverley                                 clever@sequent.com
Sequent Computer Systems (Canada) Ltd.          +1 416 733 9200
"An expert is anyone more than 100 miles
from home with a set of slides"



Newsgroups: rec.equestrian