The Treatment Board Webinar can be viewed here.
Covetrus Treatment Board
Webinar Q&A
Availability & Setup
Q: Is the Treatment Board feature available now? Do we need to have Pulse open constantly to use it?
A: Yes! The Treatment Board is ready for you to use today as a fully embedded component of Pulse. Since the Treatment Board operates within Pulse, you'll need to have Pulse running to access it. We've designed it with practicality in mind – a convenient full-screen option allows you to hide the Pulse header for a cleaner view, and you can use browser shortcuts to eliminate the browser header as well, transforming any monitor into a dedicated treatment management display.
Q: Is there an additional cost or fee for the Treatment Board? Is it a separate purchase?
A: There is no cost to enable and use the Treatment Board, [DR1] [RC2] it is included with the Pulse workflow. We've developed this powerful feature as part of our commitment to enhancing the value of Pulse without increasing your expenses.
Q: Can we enable the feature gradually, perhaps just for testing or for specific users initially?
A: Definitely! We understand the importance of a smooth transition. The Treatment Board can be enabled at your preferred pace – whether you want to test it with a small team first or roll it out just to boarding pets. The feature is designed to complement your current workflow without disrupting established processes unless you choose to adopt the new capabilities.
Q: How do we get information about staff training and setup?
A: We're ready to support your success! Simply complete our enablement form (or scan the QR code), and a dedicated team member will contact you directly to arrange personalized training and setup assistance tailored to your practice's unique needs.
Core Functionality & Workflow
Q: How are treatment items added? Do they transfer automatically from the estimate or treatment plan?
A: Adding items is seamless and intuitive! Services, Labs, Medications, and Treatment Bundles can be added directly in the Patient Plan and Patient Sheet for immediate implementation. We're excited to share that Estimate Conversion functionality is in active development and will be available mid-summer, creating an even more streamlined workflow for your team.
Q: Can this Treatment Board replace our physical whiteboard?
A: Absolutely! The Treatment Board has been specifically engineered to take the place of traditional whiteboards with digital precision and enhanced functionality. It provides comprehensive management of treatments, medications, and monitoring tasks for both inpatients and day-patients, while ensuring nothing falls through the cracks with advanced charge capture. The display is optimized for large screens in treatment areas, providing superior team communication and visibility compared to traditional whiteboards.
Q: How does the board handle treatments that occur at intervals (e.g., every 2 hours) or have a time range for completion?
A: The Treatment Board offers exceptional scheduling flexibility! You can schedule activities, assessments, and medications on either a recurring basis or as one-time events with precision timing. Services can be scheduled for specific times, and by mid-April, Labs will also feature this convenient scheduling capability – giving you complete control over your patient care timing.
Q: Can we see which Doctor or Technician is assigned to a task? Can we look back historically to see who was assigned?
A: Absolutely! The Treatment Board enhances accountability by allowing assignment of up to two veterinarians and two vet techs per patient. These team members are automatically assigned to services and can be updated as needed as shifts change. For quality control and training purposes, our comprehensive audit report provides a complete historical record of each patient's care, including any changes in staff assignments.
Q: Does the board update automatically (auto-refresh)?
A: Yes! We've eliminated the need for manual refreshing. The Treatment Board automatically updates every 30 seconds, ensuring your entire team always has the most current information without any extra steps.
Q: Can we track patient status, like check-in time or 'ready for doctor'?
A: Definitely! For inpatients, the system distinguishes between "Arrived" (when the patient entered your facility) and "Admitted" (when the patient was taken to treatment areas). This dual-timing approach gives you flexibility to use the Admitted timestamp to indicate "ready for doctor" or other status changes as needed for your workflow.
Q: How does patient checkout affect their status or location on the board? Do we need to manually change location to remove them?
A: We've created a smart, automated process for patient transitions. When a patient is checked out in Pulse, their Treatment Board status automatically updates to 'Gone' – no manual location change needed! They remain visible for the remainder of the day for reference but won't appear on the following day's schedule. For a cleaner view, you can easily filter out 'Going' and 'Gone' statuses when preferred.
Customization & Templates
Q: Can we customize the information fields shown, such as location or resuscitation status? Do we have to use all fields?
A: The Treatment Board adapts to your practice's needs! You can focus on the fields that matter to your workflow without being required to complete all fields. While the Patient Information section currently maintains a standard layout, many other elements are customizable. Locations pull directly from your Pulse Location settings, Cages integrate with the Boarding module, and Departments can be configured directly within the Treatment Board. We're actively reviewing user feedback to evaluate additional customization options for future updates.
Q: Can we create templates for common treatment sets (e.g., Kidney Care sheet, Pancreatitis sheet)?
A: Yes! Our Treatment Bundles feature allows you to create standardized groups of treatment items for common conditions. These bundles can be added to a Patient Plan with a single click, ensuring consistent care protocols while saving valuable time. Based on user interest, we're also exploring expanded Patient Sheet customization options for release later this year.
Q: Can we add notes directly onto the treatment board items?
A: Absolutely! Each patient has a convenient running Notes feature that captures important observations and updates. These notes are automatically sent to the patient's Medical Record, ensuring complete documentation without requiring duplicate entry.
Q: Can we add custom "write-in" activities or tasks?
A: Based on user feedback, we're actively reviewing enhanced customization options for the Patient Sheet. These improvements will provide greater flexibility in managing patient-specific activities.
Billing & Related Features
Q: How does the board handle billing for items used, especially if they were already dispensed or if it involves calculations (like fluid rates/usage)?
A: The Treatment Board ensures accurate charge capture with automated efficiency. Services, Labs, and Medications flow directly to the Treatment area in the Medical Record and to the invoice when marked complete in the Treatment Board. For fluid therapy, our current best practice is to input the bag, calculate the rate, and schedule appropriate intervals. We're actively reviewing enhanced features for Sedation and General Anesthesia management for possible release this year.
Q: Will Pulse add drug calculation features in the future?
A: The Treatment Board already leverages dose rates mapped from your practice's catalog for accurate medication management. For optimal results, we recommend entering dosage information in your Inventory list, which then populates automatically when filling medications in the Treatment Board. We continue to evaluate user feedback on calculation features for potential enhancements.
Q: Is there alarm functionality for reminders?
A: The Treatment Board features an intuitive color-coded visual system that highlights overdue items in red and upcoming treatments in amber, ensuring critical tasks are immediately identifiable. Based on user interest, we're actively exploring additional physical and audio notification options for future updates.
Comparison & Data Integration
Q: How does this compare to Smartflow? Can it handle boarding tasks like marking off feeding, water, walks?
A: The Treatment Board offers comprehensive boarding task management through the Activities section on the Patient Sheet. This versatile feature tracks all typical care elements for boarded pets, including feeding, water, walks, and medications. We encourage you to experience how the Treatment Board compares to your current system based on your specific practice needs!
Q: Can we import data or calculations from external sources like Excel spreadsheets?
A: Currently, direct import from external sources isn't available. However, we're continuously evaluating user needs and workflow enhancements for future development.
Webinar Follow-Up
Q: How should we follow up with questions or requests after the webinar?
A: We're here to support your success! Please reach out to Covetrus Pulse Support for assistance or provide feedback through our Resource Center. We value your feedback as we continue enhancing this powerful feature.
Q: Can we see the results of the polls conducted during the webinar?
A: Absolutely! We're delighted to share that the poll results reflected tremendous interest in the Treatment Board features. Thank you to everyone who participated in the webinar and provided this valuable feedback that helps guide our future development priorities.