Digital Revival in Seven Days.

Posted by Computer Solutions on January 5, 2025

At nearly every independent veterinary clinic, there’s that one person (maybe the practice manager, the lead tech, or even the veterinarian-owner), who’s become the go-to for anything tech-related. Whether the label printer is jammed, the Wi-Fi is down, or the PIMS screen won’t load, everyone knows exactly who to call first.

And that person isn’t your IT provider. They’re a staff member whose actual job has nothing to do with technology.

That’s the heart of what we call DIY veterinary IT. It’s a workaround born out of necessity, especially in lean, fast-moving practices. But over time, it takes a real toll on your people, your patients, and your bottom line.

Let’s talk about what it really costs your clinic to keep patching tech problems in-house—and what a better setup looks like.

Why DIY Happens in the First Place

It’s easy to see how this starts. When your clinic is small or growing, there’s often no budget for a full-service IT partner. Maybe someone on the team is “good with computers,” or maybe you’ve just figured it out one step at a time.

But as your practice expands, more staff, more patients, more connected tools, the IT expectations grow, too. And that “good enough” approach starts falling apart.

Here’s how DIY veterinary IT often manifests:

• One team member installs software and configures devices with no documentation
• Important logins are saved on one person’s desktop or remembered only by memory
• Backups are running… but no one knows how to test them
• Printer issues, camera connectivity, or label syncing fall on non-technical staff to solve
• The team Googles troubleshooting steps mid-appointment

This is not a sustainable model.

The Hidden Costs You Might Be Missing

Even if it feels like you’re saving money by keeping IT internal, the actual costs of DIY can be significant. Here’s what we see in the field:

Lost time: Every minute a team member spends fixing a tech issue is time they’re not helping patients, checking out clients, or doing the job they were actually hired to do.

Inconsistent fixes: One person sets up a process. Then another tweaks it. Over time, this leads to a patchwork of shortcuts, undocumented settings, and things that “just work” but no one really understands.

Security risks: DIY setups often skip best practices like multi-factor authentication, proper access controls, and routine patching. That opens the door to data breaches, malware, or system downtime.

Burnout: Tech-savvy staff may initially feel helpful, but over time, the expectation that they’ll fix every printer and troubleshoot every freeze starts to wear them down, especially when it’s not part of their job description.

No support continuity: When your unofficial IT person leaves or takes a vacation, your systems go with them. There’s no backup, no plan, and no one else who knows how anything works.

This is where the true cost of DIY veterinary IT becomes clear. It’s not about dollars spent, it’s about time, morale, and risk.

What a Better Model Looks Like

You don’t need to go from zero to a full-time IT staff. For most independent veterinary clinics, the ideal solution is a managed IT partner who understands the tools and workflows unique to your industry.

Here’s what that shift can look like:

• A help desk that your staff can call instead of the practice manager
• Real-time monitoring of your network and backups, so issues get caught early
• Remote support to fix things quickly, even in off-hours!
• Clear documentation, centralized logins, and secure access controls
• Preventive updates and system reviews, so problems are fixed before they affect patients

Most importantly, it gives your team their time back.

When the front desk isn’t responsible for fixing the Wi-Fi, and your techs aren’t the go-to for password resets, your clinic runs smoother. Staff can focus on what they do best: caring for animals and clients.

How to Start the Transition

If your clinic has been managing IT internally, shifting to outside support doesn’t have to be disruptive. In fact, the goal is to make things simpler, not more complicated.

Here’s how to ease the transition:

• Start with a basic audit of what systems you’re using and who “owns” them internally
• Document where your biggest friction points are (printer problems, login issues, PIMS speed)
• Talk with an IT provider who has experience in the veterinary space and can work alongside your existing tools and team

The right partner won’t try to overhaul your workflow. They’ll support it.

Let Your Team Focus on What Matters

There’s no shame in having done things yourself up until now. Most veterinary practices start that way. But if your clinic is ready to grow, or just tired of losing time to tech issues, it’s time to rethink the DIY veterinary IT model.

At Computer Solutions, we help veterinary clinics across the United States step away from do-it-yourself tech management and into secure, supported systems. Whether you need help with backups, remote support, or planning for the future, we’re here to lighten the load.

Call 609.514.0100 or visit welinku.com to schedule a no-pressure consultation.
Let’s give your staff one less thing to juggle, and your clinic one more reason to breathe easier in 2026.

Want to learn more about veterinary IT and cybersecurity? Check out last week’s blog post here! You can be notified of new articles through our LinkedIn account also by clicking here!