Reducing Burnout in Veterinary Technicians: Where Technology Can Help
A recent Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association study found that two-thirds of veterinary technicians (VTs) experienced at least one dimension of burnout, while only a third remained fully engaged. Key workplace factors – Workload, Reward, and Values – accounted for a significant portion of this burnout, even when external stressors were considered.
What this really shows is not a lack of dedication: VTs are deeply committed to their work, but the systems and processes around them often limit their ability to perform at their best.
Workplace Systems as Contributors
The paper highlights how incomplete processes, missing information, inefficient workflows, and underutilisation of skills all contribute to workload strain.
In short: the problem is not passion – it’s friction.
Where Technology Can Help (Without Overpromising)
Technology isn’t a cure-all for burnout. But when implemented thoughtfully, it can reduce friction and support veterinary teams in meaningful ways.
1. Automate Repetitive Tasks
Many of the “extra” tasks that weigh on VTs – from filling forms to chasing missing data or entering the same record multiple times – are ripe for automation or smarter integration. Reducing the “busy work” lets teams refocus on patient care.
2. Improve Workflow Visibility & Alerts
When systems flag missing information early or highlight duplicate entries, they prevent downstream stress. Early clarity is far kinder to mental load than end-of-day firefighting.
3. Recognise Contributions via Dashboards
Since “Reward” emerged as a key factor, thoughtfully designed dashboards can surface meaningful metrics – such as nurse-led consults or client feedback – that make contribution visible. Visibility doesn’t replace recognition, but it helps enable it.
4. Build in Interrupt Protection
When systems fail – from data sync delays to printer errors – they create cognitive disruption. Investing in reliability (backup connections, error handling, stable infrastructure) reduces mental fatigue and supports calm, consistent workflows.
How to Weave This Into Your Practice
- Map bottlenecks: Identify where workflows stall – where people pause, re-check, or juggle multiple systems.
- Engage your team: Ask where they feel technology slows them down, not speeds them up.
- Prioritise improvements: Focus on areas most tightly linked to workload and reward, since these had the strongest burnout associations.
- Remember context: Technology should support leadership and culture – not replace them. Burnout is rarely about systems alone; it’s about meaning, values, and respect.
In Closing
This study underscores a difficult truth: veterinary technicians are stretched not because they lack passion, but because the systems around them are misaligned.
Technology isn’t a cure-all, but when implemented thoughtfully – to reduce friction, improve visibility, and strengthen workflow reliability – it can help teams reclaim time, focus, and fulfilment in their work.
