SummarizeAI: Quick Patient Context Before the Appointment

Second-nature software works best before the visit starts.

If you’ve ever:

• scrolled through multiple previous SOAPs while the client waits
• missed a key detail from the last visit
• realized halfway through the exam that something important happened recently
• thought, “I swear we just talked about this”

You already know the problem. Getting oriented shouldn’t take longer than the appointment itself.

That’s why Shepherd built SummarizeAI: quick, structured context before the appointment, without digging, tab-hopping, or starting from scratch.

What SummarizeAI is

SummarizeAI is part of ShepherdAI, the optional AI tools within Shepherd designed to accelerate workflows, not replace clinical judgment.

It’s built to help teams:

• understand the patient’s story at a glance
• prep faster before appointments
• ask better questions during the visit
• document more efficiently afterward

It is not:

• a diagnostic engine making decisions for you
• a replacement for reading the record when nuance matters
• a tool that forces a new workflow

The workflow still leads. SummarizeAI removes friction.

The real problem it solves: context switching

In a clinic day, context is everywhere:

• prior SOAPs
• medications
• labs
• imaging
• messages
• reminders
• follow-ups

Finding the right context means jumping between screens, which breaks focus and slows everything down.

SummarizeAI is designed to surface the most relevant clinical context so you can quickly orient yourself and stay in flow.

Think of it like a clean handoff from a trusted colleague, not a wall of text.

What “quick context” actually looks like

Before an appointment, most teams are trying to answer:

• Why is this pet here today?
• What’s the relevant medical history?
• What meds are they on right now?
• What happened at the last visit?
• Are there recent labs or diagnostics that matter?
• What’s likely to come up during this appointment?

SummarizeAI pulls that story together so you can:

• walk into the room prepared
• avoid repeat questions
• steer the visit earlier
• document faster because the visit is more structured

How different roles use SummarizeAI

For Associate DVMs

• Faster chart review before the visit
• Cleaner histories without scrolling
• Fewer mid-exam surprises
• Easier notes that get finished during the visit

For Technicians and Assistants

• Better pre-appointment prep
• Clearer context for history-taking
• More confidence in supporting the doctor
• Fewer “wait, what are we doing today?” moments

For Practice Owners and Managers

• Smoother appointment flow
• More consistent documentation
• Less after-hours charting
• Fewer dropped details across the day

Why SummarizeAI fits Shepherd’s workflow-first design

Shepherd doesn’t ask teams to work through the software.

It’s built to run alongside them.

SummarizeAI follows that same principle:

• available when you need it
• out of the way when you don’t
• designed around real clinic moments (especially before the appointment)

The biggest win: fewer surprises mid-visit

When you walk into the room with context, you avoid:

• “Oh, by the way…” concerns at the end
• medication confusion
• repeated explanations to the client
• documentation gaps that show up later

Better prep leads to better conversations and cleaner records.

See the workflow

Want to see how SummarizeAI fits into a real clinic day, especially during your busiest hour?