> ## 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- Visit Note Formats > This article describes the various visit note formats in Elation, what they offer and how to set your default visit note format. ## 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.png ## Default Sections & Fields Every Visit Note Format has the following default sections and fields: * Visit Note Date & Time * [Visit Note Category](/articles/visit-note-categories) * Assigned Provider * [Visit Note Templates](/articles/elation-visit-note-templates) shortcut button * [Clinical Reminders](/articles/clinical-reminders-for-clinical-quality-measures) section * Exam Reason (CC) field * Shortcuts to documenting vaccinations, creating referrals, orders and prescriptions and printing Handouts. * Follow Up field * [Billing Information](/articles/billing) section ## 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](/articles/documenting-procedures) * click **+ Add instr** to separately note instructions to patients Simple Note.png ## 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](#Simple) 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](/articles/physical-exam-pe-and-review-of-systems-ros-templates) information * click **+ Add Vitals** to separately record patient vitals * click **+ pe** to separately record [Physical Exam](/articles/physical-exam-pe-and-review-of-systems-ros-templates) information * click **+ Add procedure** button to separately record detailed [procedure information](/articles/documenting-procedures) * click **+ Add instr** to separately note instructions to patients SOAP Note.png ## 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: * separately [record assessments with diagnosis codes](/articles/visit-note-assessments) * click **+ Add Vitals** to separately record patient vitals * click **Enter Point-of-Care Lab Results** to [record results from in-house labs](/articles/point-of-care-labs) * click **+ Add procedure** button to separately record detailed [procedure information](/articles/documenting-procedures) * click **+ Add instr** to separately note instructions to patients One Column Note.png ## 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. Two Column.png 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. Add to Clinical Profile.png ## 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)](#TwoColumn) except the Assessment and Plan sections are combined. Assessment & Plan Combined.png ## Pre-Op Note The Pre-Op Note is the same as the [Complete H\&P Note (1 column)](#OneColumn) 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 Fields.png ## 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. Default Visit Note Format.png **Next StepReview the different visit note formats and choose your default!** ## Related Articles * [Visit Note Documentation Guide- Best practices for documenting a patient encounter](/articles/Best-practices-for-documenting-a-patient-encounter) * [Visit Note Documentation Guide- Procedures](/articles/documenting-procedures) * [Visit Note Documentation Guide- Assessments](/articles/visit-note-assessments) * [Visit Note Documentation Guide- Care Plans](/articles/Creating-and-Viewing-a-Care-Plan) * [Visit Note Documentation- Physical Exam (PE) & Review of Systems (ROS) Templates](/articles/physical-exam-pe-and-review-of-systems-ros-templates) * [Visit Note Templates Guide](/articles/elation-visit-note-templates) * [Visit Note Categories Guide](/articles/visit-note-categories) * [Visit Note Documentation Guide- Documenting amendment requests from patients](/articles/documenting-amendment-requests-from-patients)