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What are Visit Note Formats?

In Elation, there are 6 different Visit Note Formats that provide you with different layouts for storing clinical information when documenting a clinical encounter. Each layout has its own characteristics that makes it suitable for different documentation workflows and preferences. You can find the different visit note formats under the Visit Note button in the gray navigation bar. Visit Note button dropdown menu expanded in the navigation bar, showing all 6 note format options: Simple Note, SOAP Note, Complete H&P Note (1 column), Complete H&P Note (2 column), Complete H&P Note (2 col-A/P), and Pre-Op Note.

Default Sections & Fields

Every Visit Note Format has the following default sections and fields:

Simple Note

The Simple Note contains a single blank text box that is ideal for customers who are free-texting a long narrative or for use with dictation softwares or external templating softwares. You can also
  • click + Add Vitals to separately record patient vitals
  • click + Add procedure button to separately record detailed procedure information
  • click + Add instr to separately note instructions to patients
Simple Note format showing a single HPI narrative text box, with Add Vitals, Add procedure, and Add instr links, and order shortcut tabs including Referral, Rx/OTC, Lab, and Imaging.

SOAP Note

The SOAP Note is broken down into 4 text boxes, Subjective (Prob), Objective, Assessment & Plan. This allows you add more granularity to your narrative than a Simple Note would while still allowing you to easily utilize dictation softwares or external templating softwares. You can also:
  • click Import Current Meds to easily reference patient medication information into the Problem box
  • click + ros to separately record Review of Systems information
  • click + Add Vitals to separately record patient vitals
  • click + pe to separately record Physical Exam information
  • click + Add procedure button to separately record detailed procedure information
  • click + Add instr to separately note instructions to patients
SOAP Note format showing four separate text boxes: Prob (subjective), O (objective), A (assessment), and Plan, with Import Current Meds, Add ROS, Add Vitals, Add PE, and Add procedure links visible.

Complete H&P Note (1 column)

The Complete H&P Note (1 column) allows you to store detailed history and physical examination information in a single column format and allows you to import data directly from the Clinical Profile into your visit note with the various Import buttons in each section of the note. You can also: Complete H&P Note (1 column) layout showing sections for HPI, Allergies (Penicillin = rash entered), PMH, PSH, FH, SH, Habits, Current Medications, ROS, PE, Data, Assessment/Plan, and Follow Up, each with Import buttons.

Complete H&P Note (2 column)

The Complete H&P Note (2 column) uses the traditional SOAP methodology but offers more structure for viewing everything on a single screen by placing the Subjective data on one side and Objective, Assessment and Plan on the other. Complete H&P Note (2 column) layout showing Subjective fields (Prob, Allergy, PMH, Meds, ROS) on the left and Objective, Assessment, and Plan sections on the right side. You can click the Import… buttons to import information from the Clinical Profile into the visit note and you can also export data from your visit note back to the Clinical Profile. This way you never have to double document! Click the add… button that appears next to the new data you enter into any of the fields available in the Clinical Profile to add the new data to your Clinical Profile. Complete H&P Note (2 column) Allergy section showing "Penicillin = rash" imported, with "peanuts" entered and "add Allgy" button highlighted to save it to the Clinical Profile.

Complete H&P Note (2 col-A/P)

The Complete H&P Note (2 col-A/P) is the same as the Complete H&P Note (2 column) except the Assessment and Plan sections are combined. Assessment/Plan section in the 2 col-A/P note format, showing combined assessment and plan fields with order shortcut links and a Care Plan field.

Pre-Op Note

The Pre-Op Note is the same as the Complete H&P Note (1 column) with the addition of the Date , Consultant and Attending fields to note additional details about the operation or procedure that the patient is scheduled for. Pre-Op Note format showing Date, Consultant, and Attending fields below the standard Exam Reason (CC) field, unique to this note type.

Setting Defaults

Each provider can set their default Visit Note format by going to Settings >> Preferences >> App Preferences. They can also associate default Visit Note formats by their Encounter Types (Appointment Types) in the same page or in the Calendar & Booking Settings page under each Appointment. App Preferences page with Preferences tab selected, showing Default Visit Note Format dropdowns: Default set to "Complete H&P Note (2 col-A/P)", Follow-Up to "SOAP Note", Telemedicine to "Complete H&P Note (2 col-A/P)" Next StepReview the different visit note formats and choose your default!