No two days are alike when you’re a relief veterinarian. Each shift brings new faces, unfamiliar setups, and unexpected challenges. Yet pet owners still look to you for clear answers.
Dr. Michelle Haynes knows this world inside and out. She’s a small animal veterinarian with nearly 20 years of experience now working across metro Atlanta and beyond, moving between general practices with unique needs.
“Relief work is like cooking in someone else’s kitchen,” Dr. Haynes said. “I know the recipe and what I need to do, but I don’t always know where to find the cups and spoons—or even if they have the same ingredients on the shelf.”
That’s why Dr. Haynes relies on Standards of Care to stay organized and confident, no matter where she’s working.
Why Standards of Care Is Dr. Haynes’ Go-To Resource
Standards of Care is a clinical decision support tool created by veterinary professionals to help you make quick, confident diagnostic and treatment decisions. It combines up-to-date diagnostic and treatment guidance, trusted prescribing support from Plumb’s, and ready-to-share handouts in one easy-to-use platform.
For Dr. Haynes, Standards quickly became the tool she didn’t know she needed.
She had spent years piecing together answers from books, notes, and online forums, but this single resource brought everything together and made her day flow with far less stress.
“I don’t have to carry a formulary or a shelf of reference books,” she said. “It’s just a comprehensive, concise place for all the things I need during a busy day. [Standards of Care] is a comprehensive all-in-one. I call it my external brain.”
From Differential Lists to Confident Diagnoses
When a puzzling case walks into the clinic, Dr. Haynes first turns to DDx, the trusty differential diagnosis lists.
“The DDx list is my bestie,” she said. “If I don’t think of something, I can’t diagnose it. I love being able to plug in clinical findings—like hypocalcemia—and see all the possible causes. It helps me connect the dots faster and build a stronger working diagnosis.”
She also relies on Standards to double-check evolving diagnostic and treatment recommendations and ensure nothing is missed. “Medicine is constantly changing. Standards helps me confirm that I’ve covered all the current best practices, even for conditions I see all the time,” she explained.
Client Handouts That Speak for Themselves
In addition to supporting her diagnostic and treatment decisions, Dr. Haynes loves the clinical and drug handouts built into Standards.
“I’m the queen of handouts,” she laughed. “I want to put something in the client’s hands—either physically or in their inbox—that backs up what we’ve talked about in the room. It’s hard to cover every detail during a busy appointment. Having a handout ensures they leave with clear information they can refer to later.”
Recently, Dr. Haynes cared for a Chihuahua named Rosita, who was showing signs of heart failure. She shared handouts from Standards with Rosita’s owner, who told her, “I’ve learned more in the last 10 minutes than I have in the past five months.”
These tools don’t just help with education—they also make follow-ups easier. “It can be overwhelming for pet owners to absorb everything during a visit,” Dr. Haynes said. “Handouts give them time to process and come back with better questions, which makes the whole conversation smoother.”
Practical Support for Any Case You Face
As a relief vet, Dr. Haynes often faces varying budgets and resource limitations. That’s where Standards’ clinical monographs, built around a spectrum of care approach, truly shine.
“I love the spectrum of care concept,” she said. “Whether I have $500 or $5,000 to work with, I can find practical, real-world recommendations that fit the situation. It’s not just an idealized version of care—it meets you where you are.”
She also appreciates the time-saving cross-references and algorithms. “Sometimes I only have five minutes to look up a condition,” she said. “I can quickly jump to the section that’s most relevant instead of having to read through everything.”
With Standards, she can find the information she needs without wading through message boards or outdated references.
Why Dr. Haynes Recommends Standards of Care
For Dr. Haynes, Standards of Care isn’t just a reference tool. It’s a confidence booster.
“It helps me make sure I’m not missing something, and it keeps me organized so I can focus on patient care instead of second-guessing myself.”
She often recommends it to colleagues, especially newer veterinarians. “It’s the kind of resource that makes you feel supported in real time. I can’t imagine practicing without it now,” she said.
Dr. Haynes’ experience highlights what Standards is designed to do: give every veterinarian the confidence and clarity to tackle any case.
Thank you to Dr. Haynes for sharing her experience. We hope her story gives you a glimpse of how Standards of Care can make your clinical day simpler and more confident.
Curious if Standards is the right fit for your practice? Watch a free demo or subscribe today to see how it can support you and your team.