Your tech is hunched over an IV pole, counting drips for the third time in an hour. Twenty drops per minute. Wait, was that 18? Better start over.
Meanwhile, the phone rings with a frantic pet owner asking if their dog's post-surgical swelling is normal.
What if those minutes spent babysitting gravity lines could become revenue-generating tele-triage calls instead?
Manual fluid monitoring is more expensive than you think
Our recent survey of 100+ veterinary clinics revealed that 60% strongly agree that patient volume spikes make managing fluid delivery difficult with current equipment. But the real cost isn't just the stress - it's the lost productivity.
Here's what manual fluid monitoring actually costs you.
Manual gravity setup vs. patient-ready pump workflow
Manual monitoring | Patient-ready (refurbished) pump | Time saved |
| 45 minutes total tech time per patient per day (setup, adjustments, monitoring). | 15 minutes total tech time per patient per day. | 30 minutes per fluid patient. |
With an average of 4 fluid patients daily, that's 2 hours of freed tech bandwidth. And manual roller clamps? They deliver accuracy of ±25% on a good day, compared to ±5-10% for properly calibrated pumps.
That 2-hour difference represents either overtime pay or missed opportunities. If you aren’t already offering paid tele-triage or more robust telemedicine (to patients you already have an established relationship with), you’re sitting on a significant revenue opportunity.
CRI pumps help you conjure more billable hours out of thin air
Automating more activities frees vet techs to take more valuable phone or video calls via tele-triage subscriptions. You’re automating one part of the job so those techs can use their more valuable skills to generate revenue for the business.
Building your tele-triage revenue stream
Automating more activities frees vet techs to take more valuable phone or video calls via tele-triage subscriptions. You’re automating one part of the job so those techs can use their more valuable skills to generate revenue for the business.
The simple look at your tele-triage subscription model
2 freed tech hours daily = capacity for 12-24 ten-minute tele-triage calls
Remote Reassurance Plan at $25/month per pet
150 enrolled pets = $3,750 monthly recurring revenue
Annual revenue potential - $45,000
Your experienced techs become remote nursing consultants for your existing client base. They're not providing medical advice - they're offering the same post-operative monitoring, medication guidance, and comfort care instructions they'd give in-clinic.
If the program takes off, you more than pay for your CRI pump investment in months (IF that long).
The tech stack that makes it work (there’s almost nothing to it)
You don't need a sudden windfall of budget to implement a tele-triage program. Start with these components…
The simple look at your tele-triage subscription model
Data-capable infusion pumps - Look for units with RS-232 ports or built-in Wi-Fi connectivity - a patient-ready Baxter 6301 is a preferred option for many practices.
Tele-triage platform - Services like Petriage handle video calls and automatically log interactions in your EMR.
Bandwidth management - Ensure your internet can handle simultaneous video calls and data streams.
The beauty of starting with patient-ready equipment? Your initial hardware investment stays manageable while you test the model. Your risk is very low and the potential new revenue stream is highly profitable.
Standard operating procedures for success
Successful tele-triage requires clear protocols. Here's simple call triage hierarchy…
Routine check-ins and medication questions - experienced techs handle independently.
Behavioral concerns or minor symptoms -
tech consults with vet during call.
Any clinical deterioration - immediate vet involvement.
In your tele-triage platform, every call gets automatically logged with duration, topics discussed, and any follow-up recommendations. This protects you legally and provides valuable data for optimizing your service.
There are times when the model doesn't work
Be honest about your practice limitations. This approach struggles to generate profits if the conditions in your practice aren’t appropriate.
Low CRI volume. If you're only doing 1-2 fluid patients weekly, the math doesn't pencil out.
Severe staffing shortages. Adding tele-triage when you can barely cover in-clinic needs is counterproductive.
Client expectations. Some clients expect to speak directly with the vet, not techs.
Your implementation can be done in 90 days
Ready to pilot this model? It doesn’t have to add a ton of work to your daily responsibilities.
Month 1 - Baseline audit
- Track current fluid therapy volume and tech time spent on manual monitoring.
- Research patient-ready pump options with data connectivity.
- Survey existing clients about interest in remote support.
Month 2 - Equipment acquisition and testing
- Acquire your patient-ready veterinary CRI pumps with data capability.
- Set up your tele-triage platform.
- Pilot with staff pets and volunteer client families (you can also run this for several months to gain more insights).
Month 3 - Service launch
- Train techs on tele-triage protocols and documentation.
- Market Remote Reassurance Plans to existing clients.
- Track key metrics - tech utilization, call volume, client satisfaction.
Hot tip - market the service this way. "The same experienced vet techs who cared for Fluffy during her surgery are now available for guidance at home."
Right-sized investments for right-sized revenue
The survey data tells us that 81% of practitioners acknowledge equipment malfunctions negatively impact client satisfaction. Meanwhile, 97% experience recurring issues with their current infusion pumps.
Your clients want reliability. Your staff wants to focus on clinical care, not equipment babysitting. And your practice needs recurring revenue streams that don't require additional vet time.
Patient-ready CRI pumps solve all three problems. They free up skilled tech time, create new service opportunities, and demonstrate your commitment to accessible patient care.
The question isn't whether this model works - it's whether you'll implement it before your competition does.
Want to explore patient-ready pump options for your practice?
AIV Vet maintains an inventory of expertly refurbished, data-capable veterinary infusion pumps with 1-year warranty coverage. We’ll help you identify the right equipment for your tele-triage goals.
Download our complete 2025 Veterinary IV Pump Survey for more insights into how practices are building their fluid delivery systems and overcoming equipment reliability challenges.