When veterinary teams evaluate practice management systems, there’s one feature that consistently rises to the top: ease of use.
That might sound obvious. But for many hospitals, it’s not just a preference. It’s the difference between thriving and barely getting through the day.
In a recent survey of Instinct customers, ease of use was ranked as the single most important reason they chose our software. And after years of working side-by-side with teams during implementation, we’ve seen why.
Why Ease of Use Matters in Veterinary Software
Veterinary teams operate in high-pressure, time-sensitive environments. There’s no buffer for guesswork, sluggish interfaces, or time-consuming workarounds. Every click counts.
When software is difficult to navigate or slows the team down, it impacts everything: patient care, staff satisfaction, operational efficiency, bottom-line revenue, and more.
In a profession facing persistent staffing shortages and burnout, veterinary leaders can’t afford technology that makes the job harder.
That’s why ease of use isn’t a bonus feature—it’s a necessity.
When your software is intuitive and thoughtfully designed, your team can:
- Onboard faster and start contributing sooner
- Make confident decisions under pressure
- Avoid costly errors and rework
- Stay focused on patient care, not the interface
How Instinct EMR Makes It Easier (By Design)
Not only are we a team of veterinary professionals, but we’ve spent years working side-by-side with veterinary teams to create software that not only works for the realities of care but feels good to use.
Here's how our in-the-trenches experience shows up in our software (and what current customers say about it):
🔄 A modern, clean interface
With a thoughtful layout that puts the most important information front and center, there's less clutter and confusion. We obsess over typography, spacing, and color usage to ensure that Instinct is easy to use from day one.
"[Implementing Instinct] was like transitioning to an iPhone. Everything just seemed to be more intuitive. I could figure it out—and I’m not technologically savvy.”
— Erica Moore, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)
MarQueen Pet Emergency and Specialty
📄 Built-in digital treatment sheets
Our built-in treatment sheets (which you might know as Instinct Treatment Plan) mirror familiar formats but add automation, built-in safeguards, and seamless charge capture.
If you've ever written on a clipboard, you'll feel right at home.
“A huge thing that won my medical team over was the treatment sheets and the anesthesia module. It was crazy doing that stuff on paper for those really lengthy surgeries, like foreign bodies, exploratories, and enucleations."
— Sam Swails, Practice Manager
Happy Tails Veterinary Hospital
Jenny Dahl
🔗 Integrated clinical decision support
From integrated Plumb’s content to drug calculators, medication alerts, and task reminders, Instinct helps your team make smart, safe choices without digging through multiple tabs.
“Instinct’s patient safety features have had the biggest overall impact on our team. We all hate talking about it, but the last thing anyone wants is a medication issue. Drug calculators and accessing Plumb’s straight from Instinct are game-changing.”
— Carol Fitzpatrick, CVT, Practice Manager
Vet Vision Center
📱 Cloud-based for easy access anywhere
Log in from anywhere. No server crashes. No installs. Whether you’re reviewing charts from home or in the ICU mid-shift, Instinct gives you instant, reliable access.
"For me, being able to work from home is also hugely easier—I can access my work remotely AND reduce our working hours with our whole patient experience moving more quickly."
— Michelle Wright, Practice Manager
Pismo Beach Veterinary Clinic
⏳ Quick onboarding for new hires
We hear it all the time: "Instinct is the first system I didn’t need a manual for." That’s the power of software that just makes sense.
"We had minimal downtime during the transition [to Instinct] from our old PIMS. Training and implementation was fantastic across our hospital departments, and learning curves were quite short. In the week that Instinct trained us, we had enough knowledge to just get everyone going.
— Brett Levitzke, DVM, Chief Medical Officer
Veterinary Emergency and Referral Group
Caleb Frankel, VMD
What Happens When Software Gets Out of the Way
When your EMR is designed with real veterinary workflows in mind, your team can focus on what really matters.
- Faster onboarding = More hands on deck sooner
- Fewer errors = Better care + less time fixing mistakes
- More confidence = Happier teams + lower turnover
One hospital director told us, “I stopped having to explain where to click. It’s like Instinct trained our new hires for us.”
Betsy Reichenberg
Ease of Use Is Nonnegotiable
We created Instinct because we’ve been in your shoes. We know what it’s like to be short-staffed, under pressure, and trying to give patients your best.
That’s why we’re relentless about feedback, constant iteration, and designing every screen with your clinical reality in mind.
If you’re evaluating EMR software, and ease of use is high on your list (as it should be), let’s talk. Schedule a demo today →
For more insights into Instinct EMR, explore our blog at Pick the Brain.