Beth Davidow spotlights patient safety in private practice

Making patient safety a priority in private practice is the focus of a new episode of Instinct’s Pick the Brain Podcast, a weekly short-form show launched on April 2, 2026, in which founder Dr. Caleb Frankel interviews veterinary leaders on practice operations, ownership, and technology. In the episode highlighted by Instinct’s blog, Frankel speaks with Beth Davidow, DVM, DACVECC, co-founder and CEO of Timberline Veterinary Emergency & Specialty in Seattle, about how private practices can strengthen patient safety protocols. Davidow brings both clinical and operational credibility to the topic: she is a board-certified emergency and critical care specialist, current president of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, and has a long-standing professional focus on safety culture and medical quality. (instinct.vet)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the topic goes beyond anesthesia checklists or isolated protocol updates. Davidow’s published work argues that safety starts with culture, communication, open discussion, and continuous improvement, and that leadership and structured team processes directly affect patient outcomes and medical error rates. That framing is especially relevant in private practice, where formal reporting systems and quality infrastructure are often less developed than in referral or academic settings. Existing guidance from AAHA also reinforces that preanesthetic evaluation, checklists, and continuous monitoring are core tools for reducing preventable risk in day-to-day care. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

What to watch: Expect more attention on practical, low-friction safety systems in private practice, including checklists, incident reporting, and team communication workflows that can be implemented without adding major administrative burden. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)