The True Cost of DIY IT in Veterinary Practices

When tech issues arise in practice, it’s tempting to find a workaround – fast. Whether it’s calling in someone’s partner who’s “good with computers,” grabbing a personal laptop to keep things moving, or relying on patchy home-grade devices, many practices turn to do-it-yourself fixes out of necessity.

But what seems like a smart, low-cost solution in the moment can create longer-term issues that impact efficiency, security, and patient care.

Why DIY Happens (and Why It’s Risky)

Veterinary teams are resourceful by nature. You solve clinical problems daily with limited time and tools. So, it’s understandable that tech issues are often met with the same problem-solving energy.

However, unlike clinical challenges – where training, regulation, and oversight are standard – IT is often left to chance.

Here’s what we commonly see in practices:

• Personal devices accessing clinical systems
• Ad-hoc troubleshooting via Google or YouTube
• Consumer-grade hardware used in clinical environments
• One team member unofficially “in charge” of the IT

And while these solutions feel helpful, they often introduce risk without visibility – and the cost is rarely measured until something goes wrong.

What It’s Really Costing Veterinary Practices

Let’s look beyond the surface and consider the broader implications:

Data Security and Regulatory Compliance
Using unsecured or outdated devices can expose client and patient data. That’s not just a technical problem – it’s a breach of GDPR and a threat to your reputation.

Clinical Risk
If your practice management system is running on unstable tech, it affects more than admin. Missed reminders, lost records, or delayed diagnostics can compromise patient outcomes.

False Savings
What appears to save money often ends up costing more. Downtime, inefficiencies, and emergency fixes are expensive – and preventable.

Team Burnout and Distraction
When staff are forced to manage tech alongside clinical or admin duties, productivity drops. It’s an invisible drain on time and morale.

System Fragmentation
Mixing personal, consumer, and outdated tech creates an unstable environment. Integration fails, backups break, and support becomes reactive rather than proactive.

The Real Solution Isn’t Overkill – It’s Oversight

This isn’t about selling servers or suggesting every practice needs a full-time IT manager. It’s about recognising that your tech stack is clinical infrastructure – and should be treated with the same professionalism you bring to your medicine.

Smart IT isn’t just a budget line – it’s part of delivering care, retaining staff, and protecting your business.

What We Recommend

✔️ Audit your current systems
Identify what’s in use, where the risks lie, and where you’re relying on goodwill or guesswork.

✔️ Standardise equipment and access
Keep things clean, secure, and replicable. Remove personal devices from critical workflows.

✔️ Upgrade strategically
Focus on performance-critical areas first: your PMS, backups, connectivity, and clinical hardware.

✔️ Invest in support
Whether internal or outsourced, having experts on hand saves time, money, and stress when issues arise.

Final Thought

In a clinical setting, “just make it work” might keep the day moving – but it won’t keep your practice safe, scalable, or sustainable.

Tech should be a tool that empowers your team – not a puzzle they have to solve every day.

Need a second opinion on your setup?
We help veterinary practices build IT foundations that are robust, compliant, and fit for the future. No jargon. No patch jobs. Just good advice.

Let’s talk.