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🚀 New Features & Capabilities!
Reporting | New Referral Source Report
You can now analyze referral engagement with a new Referral Source Report under Reporting → Business Operations → Referral Source Report. This report gives you clear insight into where your new clients and patients are coming from, how referrals impact your revenue, and which sources are most effective.
What’s Included
Flexible Filters: Filter by referral source, time period, and whether the referral was assigned at the client or patient level.
Top Referral Sources: See an overview of which sources are driving the most growth.
Growth Metrics: View new and total clients/patients gained through referrals.
Revenue Insights: Track total revenue, top revenue-generating sources, and average revenue per referred client.
Referral Source Directory: Access contact details and information for your referral sources in one place.
Why It Matters
This report helps you measure the impact of your referral network, better understand client growth, and evaluate the effectiveness of marketing and outreach efforts. Learn more about the Referral Source Report.
🛠️ Existing Feature Updates!
Appointment Notifications | Automatic Confirmation Improvements
We’ve improved how automatic appointment confirmations work when multiple clients share the same phone number. These updates ensure confirmation texts are only sent when they match the correct client and appointment status.
If multiple clients share the same phone number, automatic appointment confirmations may not function properly. For best results, each client should have a unique phone number.
Bulk Edit | Preferred Provider & Referral Source Columns
We’ve expanded the Bulk Edit tool to make it easier to manage patient data across multiple records at once. Clinics can now update Preferred Provider and Referral Source fields in bulk, rather than editing them one profile at a time.
What’s New
Referral Source Column: Added to the Patients tab in Bulk Edit, positioned to the right of the Rabies Tag column. Users can select from existing referral sources just like on individual patient profiles.
Preferred Provider Column: Added next to the Referral Source column. Users can choose from existing providers in the same way they do on patient profiles.
Profile Sync: Updates made through Bulk Edit are saved directly to the patient profile.
Activity Log Tracking: All edits are recorded for clear visibility and accountability.
Why It Matters
This update saves time when managing large datasets, ensures consistency across patient records, and makes it easier to keep provider and referral details accurate. Learn more about Bulk Edit.
Global Search | Enhanced Experience
We’ve updated Global Search to make it more efficient, visually clear, and easier to refine results.
What’s New
Improved Visuals: Clearer verbiage when a search is empty or returns no results, so you always know where you stand.
Pinned Search Bar & Filters: The search bar and filters now stay visible at the top of your results, making it faster to adjust filters or start a new search without scrolling.
Smoother Workflow: These updates reduce friction and help your team find information more quickly.
Why It Matters
Searching is now simpler and more intuitive, giving you quicker access to the details you need to support patients and clients. Learn more about Global Search.
Signalment | Current vs. Last Weight Display Update
We’ve updated how patient weights are displayed in the SOAP signalment to reduce confusion and improve clinical safety.
What’s New
Current Weight First: The patient’s current weight now displays before the last recorded weight.
Visual Emphasis: The “Current Weight” label and value are bolded for clear visibility.
Last Weight: Still shown for reference, but displayed second and without bold styling.
Why It Matters
This change prioritizes the most important detail, the patient’s current weight, so your team can more quickly reference accurate information and avoid mistakes in dosing, treatment, or estimates.
SOAP | Vitals Enhancements
We’ve refined the SOAP Vitals section to improve clarity, accuracy, and alignment with real-world clinical workflows. These updates were made based on clinician feedback to make documentation smoother and more relevant.
What’s New
Mucous Membranes: Pale → Pale Pink (updated), new White option, “Other - See Notes” phrasing, and improved option order.
Attitude: Clearer phrasing (Happy → Friendly/Sociable, Anxious → Anxious/Nervous), plus new options: Excitable, Calm/Relaxed, Apprehensive/Timid, Fearful, Aloof, Dull, and Other – See Notes.
Mentation: Updated phrasing (See Mentation Notes → Other – See Notes), plus new Depressed option.
Temperature Location: New Microchip option added.
Why It Matters
These changes help teams document more accurate, clinically relevant patient details, while keeping SOAP note entry clear and efficient. Learn more about the Comprehensive SOAP Objective section and Quick SOAP.
User Production | Commission Percentage Entry Update
We’ve improved the validation rules for entering commission percentages in User Production to make them clearer and prevent formatting errors.
What’s New
Up to 4 digits allowed in total.
Decimals supported: up to 2 decimal places.
Valid Examples: 9.5, 27.25
Invalid Examples: 12345, 12.345
Why It Matters
This update ensures commission percentages are entered accurately, while still supporting the flexibility clinics need for common commission formats. Learn more about User Production and Commission.
✨Shepherd AI Updates
TranscribeAI | Accuracy & Workflow Improvements
This release makes TranscribeAI more accurate, reliable, and easier to use during SOAP documentation. Updates focus on ensuring clinical findings are recorded correctly, syncing is more dependable, and review tools are easier to work with.
Updates and Enhancements
Sync to Fields Reliability: Structured SOAP fields (like vitals and findings) are recognized more reliably to ensure consistent transcription, reducing manual rework.
Smarter Error Messages: Clear alerts replace silent or confusing failures, making it easier to understand and resolve issues.
Accurate Exam Findings: increased accuracy with abnormal exam results (such as ulcers, murmurs, or abnormal BCS) instead of defaulting to “all normal.”
Vitals Always Save: Weight and temperature values now reliably record every time, eliminating previous gaps.
Expandable Transcript Field: The transcript text field can now be expanded for easier review and editing, especially for longer notes.
Why It Matters
These improvements increase trust in TranscribeAI, reduce errors, and save time by ensuring SOAP records accurately reflect exam findings without unnecessary rework. Learn more about TranscribeAI.
🧩Integrations & Data Connection Updates
ReviewTree | Reputation & Feedback Integration
ReviewTree helps veterinary practices automatically collect client feedback, boost online reviews, and respond more efficiently with the help of AI. With sentiment analysis and simple workflows, you can strengthen client engagement and improve your practice’s online reputation—all directly through Shepherd.
Integration Overview
With ReviewTree connected to Shepherd, you can:
Automate Review Collection – Send review requests automatically after visits.
AI-Generated Replies – Respond quickly and consistently to client feedback.
Sentiment Analysis – Track satisfaction trends and identify areas for improvement.
Boost Reputation – Increase positive reviews and minimize negative posts.
Team Recognition – Share client praise with your staff and DVMs.
Shepherd practices can activate ReviewTree and try it free for 30 days.
Zoetis Labs | Add-On Test Support
You can now add additional Zoetis lab tests to an existing order directly within Shepherd, giving your team more flexibility when lab test requirements change after an order has already been placed.
Add-On Capability – Eligible orders now display an option to select and submit additional Zoetis tests.
Eligibility Rules – Add-ons are supported for orders that have been acknowledged by Zoetis and are less than 7 days old.
Clear Feedback – If an order is too old or not yet acknowledged, a validation message explains why add-ons aren’t available.