> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.elationhealth.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Visit Note Documentation Guide- Pain Scale ## What is the pain scale? The pain scale is a field within the Vitals section of any note type in Elation. You can document a patient’s present perception of pain intensity on a scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (highest pain) in the **Pain** field. You can also document a brief note next to the score, if needed. ## Why is the pain scale useful? The pain scale is useful because it allows you to document a patient’s perception of pain intensity as structured data in Elation. When these scores are documented as structured data, you can [trend the scores](#trending_scores) over time to compare and track the progression. ## Using the pain scale field The pain scale is available in the Vitals section of any note type in Elation. You can record the score in the **Pain:** field, and if needed, add additional detail for the pain score by clicking **+Note**. Screenshot 2023-02-24 at 12.15.36 PM.png ### Trending pain scores You can trend the pain scale scores over time to compare and track a patient’s progression. Please reference the [Chronological Record Guide- Searching for records in the patient's chart](/articles/using-the-search-tool-in-your-patient-chart) for more information on how to trend structured data in Elation. ## Using the Pain assessment coding automation Premium EHR users can use the *Pain* assessment coding automation to automatically input the appropriate result related CPT® Category II Code in the billing section of the visit note. [Click here to learn more about the Pain assessment coding automation feature](/articles/Automatic-Coding-Guide-Advanced-Coding-Automations#pain) . ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is the pain scale also available in non-visit notes? Yes. You can document the pain scale in phone notes, non-visit notes, and email notes. ## Related Articles * [Visit Note Documentation Introduction](/articles/Visit-Note-Documentation-Introduction) * [Visit Note Documentation Guide- Best practices for documenting a patient encounter](/articles/Best-practices-for-documenting-a-patient-encounter) * [Automatic Coding Guide- Advanced coding automations (Premium)](/articles/Automatic-Coding-Guide-Advanced-Coding-Automations)