Tech Triage: How to Spot Urgent vs. Important IT Issues in Your Practice
In a busy veterinary practice, it’s tempting to treat every IT hiccup as a full-blown emergency. But not all tech issues are created equal – and learning to tell the difference between what’s urgent and what’s simply important can save you time, money, and a lot of stress.
Welcome to tech triage for veterinary teams.
Why It Matters
When tech problems hit, they create a ripple effect across the practice – delayed consults, frustrated clients, stressed-out teams. But not every issue needs instant intervention. Some are symptoms of bigger problems, others are just blips. Triage helps you:
- Prioritise what gets fixed first
- Avoid knee-jerk spending or poor decisions under pressure
- Spot patterns that need strategic attention
Urgent IT Issues: Deal With These Now
These problems directly affect patient care, client communication, or practice operations:
❗PMS (Practice Management System) outage
If you can’t access records, appointments or billing, you’re flying blind. Get support involved immediately.
❗Internet down completely
If cloud-based tools are offline, you’re stuck. Have a backup connection plan ready.
❗Cybersecurity breach or suspected hack
Unusual logins, ransomware messages, or compromised emails? Act fast – disconnect affected machines and contact IT support ASAP.
❗Failing backups or missing data
If backup systems aren’t working, or critical files are missing, you risk permanent data loss.
❗Hardware failure in critical areas
If your imaging PC or reception terminal goes down, productivity stalls immediately.
Important IT Issues: Monitor, Plan, and Improve
These issues might not grind everything to a halt – but they will erode efficiency and morale over time:
🧩 Slow logins or sluggish systems
Annoying? Yes. But often due to outdated devices or bloated software. Schedule a system review.
🧩 Wi-Fi dead spots in non-clinical areas
Not ideal, but not a crisis. Upgrade access points when budget allows.
🧩 Teams relying on workarounds
Staff emailing files to themselves or printing from phones? Not urgent – but a big red flag. Investigate the root cause.
🧩 Clunky processes or unclear workflows
If people are confused about how to use systems, that’s a training and documentation issue – fixable with time and structure.
🧩 Old tech still in use
If you’re using Windows 7, or a printer from 2009, it’s time to plan a refresh – not panic.
Create a Tech Triage Plan
🟢 Document what’s business-critical vs. ‘nice to have’
🟢 Know who to contact and how (IT support, vendors, in-house leads)
🟢 Train your team to recognise red flags and report issues consistently
🟢Schedule regular system reviews – not just reactive fixes
Final Thought
Not every IT issue is a fire – but left unchecked, even the small ones can spark chaos. Tech triage is about working smarter, not just reacting faster. Equip your team to stay calm, prioritise well, and fix what really matters.
Need help triaging your IT issues?
We help practices map out what’s urgent, what’s important, and what’s overdue for a rethink. Let’s talk.
