How to Prepare Your Team
Successful go-lives begin well before launch day.
Communicate Early
Keep your team informed by:
Sending regular announcements
Posting reminders throughout the practice
Building excitement about the upcoming transition
Learn with Instinct Academy
Instinct Academy is Instinct's online learning platform designed to help veterinary teams learn how to use Instinct effectively. It provides on-demand training courses for every role in the practice, including administrators, veterinarians, technicians, and front desk staff.
Assign Key Roles
Identify the following team members before launch:
Go-Live Captain
Your primary superuser who coordinates the transition and ensures staff is prepared.
Medical Lead
Typically, a Medical Director or Lead Veterinarian who oversees medical workflows and documentation during the transition.
Additional Superusers
Schedule experienced team members across all shifts to help answer questions and support coworkers.
Administrators
Designate users to manage system configuration and to attend advanced administrative training.
Technical Preparation
Before go-live:
Install Instinct on every workstation.
Test logins after your database becomes available.
Verify all label printers for Instinct EMR.
Set up TV Status Boards if your practice will use them.
Distribute secure sign-in credentials to every staff member.
If you work with an outside IT company, complete installation and testing at least two weeks before go-live.
The Day Before Go-Live
Complete these final preparations:
Review appointment workflows.
Verify your Status Boards are ready.
Move any test patients to the Boarding Board.
Confirm TV displays are functioning correctly.
Ensure all superusers know their responsibilities.
What to Expect During Go-Live
Most practices receive on-site support during the first 1 to 2 days of implementation.
Your Instinct team will:
Be available during key shift changes.
Answer workflow questions.
Help staff build confidence.
Troubleshoot issues in real time.
Guide your team through the transition.
Even after the on-site team leaves, live chat support remains available 24/7 to answer questions as your team continues learning.
Patient Safety During Go-Live
Patient safety always comes first.
Best practices include:
Transition patients at a comfortable pace.
Complete patient transfers before shift changes whenever possible.
Have your Medical Lead available to guide clinical workflows.
Ensure your medical team enters all patient orders.
Never maintain both a paper treatment sheet and an Instinct treatment sheet for the same patient.
Consider transitioning one department at a time in larger practices.
Support After Go-Live
Our partnership doesn't end after launch.
Following go-live, we can provide:
Workflow optimization
Additional staff training
Best practice recommendations
Ongoing Support Chat assistance
Many practices also establish an internal workflow committee to review feedback, improve processes, and continue optimizing their Instinct use over the first several months.
Frequently Asked Questions About Veterinary Software Go-Live
How long is a veterinary software go-live?
Most practices receive on-site implementation support during the first 1 to 2 days of go-live, with continued virtual support afterward.
What should staff complete before go-live?
Staff should finish assigned Instinct Academy training, install Instinct on their workstations, test their sign-in credentials, and attend any scheduled workflow training sessions.
What is the most important part of a successful veterinary software implementation?
Preparation, communication, strong practice superusers, and ongoing support are the biggest factors in a successful transition.