Australian health tech startup Heidi Health has moved into the pet sector, rolling out its AI medical scribe across vet clinics as well as emergency animal hospitals.
The partnership with Greencross and the Animal Referral & Emergency Network (AREN) marks Heidi’s first large-scale deployment in veterinary clinics.
Related Article Block Placeholder
Article ID: 312912
Since launching in June, the tool has supported more than 5,000 consultations each week, with some vets saving up to a full working day normally lost to paperwork.
The expansion comes as the veterinary workforce struggles to meet demand, with just 15,000 registered vets for an estimated 28.7 million pets in Australia. That equates to roughly one vet for every 2,000 animals. According to the businesses, this drives longer wait times for pet owners and higher burnout rates for clinicians.
“We are constantly looking for ways to embrace innovation to enhance the client experience both in our GP clinics and our network of specialty and emergency hospitals,” Dr Magdoline Awad, chief veterinary officer at Greencross Pet Wellness Company, said.
Smarter business news. Straight to your inbox.
For startup founders, small businesses and leaders. Build sharper instincts and better strategy by learning from Australia’s smartest business minds. Sign up for free.
By continuing, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
“The implementation of Heidi Health for our teams has been revolutionary as it takes care of the behind-the-scenes tasks, refines the day-to-day work and gives our vets and specialists more time to do what they are trained for: providing quality care to pets and connecting with the families who trust us.”
For Heidi Health, the rollout represents an opportunity to apply its technology beyond human healthcare and directly address capacity pressures in the veterinary sector.
“With the sector under increasing strain, Heidi can play a crucial role in helping animal clinics and hospitals focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional care to animals and their owners,” Dr Thomas Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Heidi Health, said.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the leading veterinary businesses in Australia, Greencross Vets and the Animal Referral & Emergency Network to help their GPs and specialists free up their time with less admin and focus on what they’re trained for,” Kelly said.
Related Article Block Placeholder
Article ID: 321249
Kelly said that as a business created by clinicians for clinicians, Heidi Health has a unique understanding of the challenges vets are facing.
“By streamlining consultation transcription, we’re helping vets and specialists get back valuable time to support better work-life balance, and so they can do more of what they have been trained to do, which is to improve the health and wellbeing of their patients.”
Founded in 2019, Heidi Health has raised more than $36 million from investors, including Blackbird Ventures and US-based Headline. This included a $26.5 million raise earlier this year and a $10 million series A in 2023.
Its AI-powered scribe is already used in millions of human healthcare consultations worldwide.
Heidi Health has also taken an ethical stance on the use of AI in the doctor’s office and the importance of patient consent. The startup is aiming for full ISO/IEC 42001 certification by year’s end
Kelly spoke to SmartCompany about this recently, off the back of our investigation into a doctor refusing to see a patient after they refused the use of AI during a consultation.
“Healthcare is human… and the best clinician-patient relationships are built on a foundation of trust and transparency,” Kelly said at the time.
