The Problem
Calculations aren't the hard part. What's annoying is the workflow around it.
A V/D case comes in and you need a fluid rate, a Cerenia dose, gabapentin for three days. So you're pulling up a calculator, maybe checking a dosing chart, maybe opening a separate reference. Then you come back to your notes and type it all in. It works, but it's a lot of tab-switching for something you do all the time.
How I Addressed It
I wanted to see what would happen if I just stayed in Scribenote for the whole thing. So I asked Companion to do the math for me. That's the video above.
I gave it one line: “Colby, canine, 20 kg, LRS maintenance, Cerenia injectable, IVC, CBC/chem, 2-view rads.” Just the basics.
Companion came back with the full treatment plan. Doses calculated, volumes in mL, laid out in a table. I didn't leave Scribenote, didn't open a calculator, didn't look anything up.
Then I threw gabapentin at it: 10 mg/kg, twice daily, three days. It gave me capsule counts, liquid volumes, totals for the full course. All right there.
Why This Matters
The thing that stood out to me is that Companion shows its work. I could see how it got to the numbers, check the logic, and change something if it didn't fit my patient. A tool you can't verify is a tool you'll second-guess, and that defeats the purpose.
None of this replaces your judgment. You're still deciding what's right for your patient. Companion just keeps you from bouncing between apps to get the math done.
“More time on Colby, less time switching tabs. That's kind of the whole point.”
Try It Yourself
Next time you've got a workup with a few moving parts, try giving Companion the basics. Patient, weight, what you want to run. See what it gives you back.
If you end up finding a cool way to use it, send it over to submissions@scribenote.com or tag us on social. We love seeing how other vets put Companion to work.
