Ask Dr. Pelton

    Practice questions about Bitcoin, clinic AI, and the messy middle. Not medical advice for a specific animal, and not a place to park coins.

    Write the question

    Opens an email to drpelton@gmail.com. Include practice size and what you have already tried. I answer when clinic days allow — often a couple of days, not an hour.

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    Answers already written down

    How do I start accepting Bitcoin without confusing older clients?

    Do not lead with Bitcoin. Lead with 'another way to pay, same dollar price on the invoice.' Keep cards as the default. Offer Lightning or an on-chain option the way you offer CareCredit: available, explained in one sentence, never required. Train one person on refunds and failed payments before you put a QR code on the counter.

    Related guide

    Which AI is worth using for discharges?

    Two different sheets. DischargePro is drop-off take-homes. The surgery site is post-op — incision, cone, pain meds. Start with your own templates. Let software fill names, meds, and recheck dates. Read every line before it prints. The method is in the smarter-discharges guide.

    Related guide

    Should a practice put reserves in Bitcoin?

    Only money you will not need for payroll, rent, or a bad quarter. Write the amount you could watch drop 50% without changing how you practice, then cut it in half. Recurring buys beat lumpy hero trades. Talk to your CPA.

    Related guide

    How do I talk about AI with worried owners?

    Name the job: 'It drafts the aftercare sheet; I still decide the plan.' Do not say the software 'looked at the x-ray and diagnosed.' If a radiology assist flagged something, say you used a second look and then say what you saw.

    Related guide

    What this inbox is for

    I can help with

    • Bitcoin payments and self-custody pitfalls
    • Discharge, notes, and triage workflows
    • Explaining tools to staff and clients
    • What we tried at a one-doctor GP clinic

    I will not do

    • Diagnose your pet over email
    • Tell you what to buy or when
    • Give legal or tax advice
    • Debug someone else's software license

    Sick pet? Call (281) 859-9244 or your own veterinarian.

    Educational only. Not medical, financial, or legal advice.