Your Time, Your Workflow: Introducing Shepherd’s Quick SOAP

As a veterinary professional, your days are defined by a rhythm of constant motion. From the first patient of the day to the last, you’re triaging, diagnosing, treating, and caring for a variety of animals, each with their own unique needs. Amidst this whirlwind, every minute counts. The tools you use should adapt to the speed of your practice, not slow it down.

At Shepherd, we believe your software should be a seamless extension of your workflow, not a source of friction. We’ve heard your feedback loud and clear: you need a better way to handle those quick appointments—the nail trims, the rechecks, the tech appointments—that doesn’t feel like a full-blown medical exam. Using a comprehensive SOAP for these fast, minimal appointments is like using a sledgehammer to hang a picture. It gets the job done, but it’s inefficient, cumbersome, and frankly, can be frustrating.

That’s why we’re so excited to introduce Quick SOAP, a streamlined, single-page workflow designed for speed and simplicity. It’s built for those everyday tasks that require minimal documentation, helping your team save time, reduce stress, and keep records cleaner.

The Problem with “One Size Fits All” SOAPs

When every minute is precious, the last thing you want is to waste time on unnecessary steps. Yet, a lot of software forces you to use the same detailed charting process for every single visit. Consider the typical “one-size-fits-all” approach for a simple recheck. You open the patient record and are immediately faced with a screen full of fields for physical exams, histories, and comprehensive exam notes—most of which you don’t need.

You find yourself navigating through multiple tabs, clicking through a dozen empty fields, and constantly scrolling to find the one section you need to document. Over a busy week, these small, repetitive actions add up to hours of wasted time and mental fatigue. This isn’t just inefficient; it’s a barrier to providing focused care. Your team’s time is valuable, and it should be spent with patients and clients, not on excessive data entry.

Introducing the Fast Lane: What is Quick SOAP?

Think of Quick SOAP as the express lane for low-complexity visits. While our Comprehensive SOAP is the go-to for detailed exams, diagnostics, and extensive treatment planning, Quick SOAP is designed to handle the 80% of quick encounters that don’t require extensive documentation.

Quick SOAP helps you:

• Reduce Friction: A simplified workflow with fewer fields means less clicking, less scrolling, and a much smoother user experience. It gets rid of the clutter so you can focus on the task at hand.
• Keep Records Clean: By using a targeted SOAP for a specific task, your patient’s history stays focused and easy to navigate. A quick glance at the record shows a concise, easy-to-read summary of the visit without unnecessary details.
• Move Faster: A vertical, single-page layout lets you quickly enter notes and complete the record without having to switch tabs. With everything you need right in front of you, you can enter vitals, add a quick note, order treatments, and handle invoicing all from one simple screen.

How it Works: Setting Up Your Quick SOAP Workflow

The best part about Quick SOAP is its flexibility. You can set up your system to work for you by assigning a default SOAP type to each appointment type. This ensures that the right workflow opens automatically, saving your team from extra clicks and frustration.

Here’s how you can use it:

• Comprehensive SOAP: This is your best option for full exams, diagnostics, and complex treatment plans. It’s the default for all new appointment types and is perfect for wellness exams, sick pet visits, and pre-surgical work-ups.
• Quick SOAP: This is ideal for technician appointments or simple follow-ups. Whether it’s a blood draw, an anal sac expression, or a suture removal, Quick SOAP ensures the process is as fast and efficient as the appointment itself.

Want the flexibility to choose every time? You can also set a default that prompts users to select between Quick or Comprehensive SOAP at check-in. This puts the power in your hands and ensures your team always has the right tool for the job.

What if a “Quick” Visit Turns into a Comprehensive Exam?

We get it—in veterinary medicine, a simple recheck can sometimes reveal a more complex issue. A simple blood glucose check might turn into a full diagnostic workup, or a quick nail trim could reveal a more complicated underlying condition. This is not a problem with Quick SOAP.

You can easily convert your Quick SOAP to a Comprehensive SOAP with just a few clicks. All of your existing notes and entries will seamlessly transfer into the new, detailed format. This action is logged for full transparency, ensuring your patient’s record is always complete and accurate, no matter how the visit evolves. You never have to worry about losing your work or starting over from scratch.

Ready to Simplify Short Visits with Shepherd?

At Shepherd, our mission is to build software that truly supports the demanding work you do. The Quick SOAP is a direct result of that commitment—a solution designed to give you back valuable time in your day and let your team focus on what truly matters. It’s a testament to the idea that the right tools should empower you, not complicate your workflow.

Ready to make your short visits smarter? Chat with a member of our team or schedule a personalized demo today.