Skip to main content

Overview

Clinical Notes provides access to all documented patient encounters, including visit notes, progress notes, assessments, and other clinical documentation. This comprehensive view helps providers understand the patient’s care history and make informed clinical decisions.
Note Types: Clinical notes include provider visit notes, nursing notes, progress notes, assessment findings, and care coordination documentation.

Accessing Clinical Notes

From Patient Chart

1

Open Patient Chart

Navigate to the patient’s profile
2

Select Notes Tab

Click on the Notes or Clinical Notes tab
3

View Notes List

See all clinical notes in reverse chronological order

Quick Access from Schedule

1

Open Visit

Click on a scheduled visit in your calendar
2

View Previous Notes

Click Previous Notes or Note History

Types of Clinical Notes

Provider Visit Notes

Documentation from provider encounters:
ComponentDescription
Visit DateWhen the visit occurred
ProviderWho conducted the visit
Visit TypeRoutine, follow-up, urgent, etc.
Chief ComplaintReason for visit
AssessmentClinical findings and diagnoses
PlanTreatment plan and orders
SignatureProvider signature and timestamp

Progress Notes

Ongoing observations and updates:

Daily Progress

Day-to-day patient observations

Nursing Notes

Nursing staff documentation

Medication Notes

Medication-related observations

Care Coordination

Communication and coordination notes

Assessments

Formal clinical assessments:
Assessment TypeDescription
Initial AssessmentComprehensive intake evaluation
Annual AssessmentYearly comprehensive review
Skin AssessmentSkin integrity and wound evaluation
Fall Risk AssessmentFall risk evaluation
Pain AssessmentPain level and management
Cognitive AssessmentMental status evaluation
Nutritional AssessmentDietary and nutrition status

Incident Documentation

Reports of incidents and follow-up:
DocumentDescription
Incident ReportInitial incident documentation
Follow-up NotesPost-incident monitoring
Investigation NotesIncident investigation details
ResolutionHow incident was resolved

Viewing Notes

Note List View

The notes list displays:
ColumnDescription
DateWhen the note was created
TypeCategory of note
AuthorWho wrote the note
SummaryBrief preview of content
StatusDraft, Signed, Amended

Opening a Note

Click on any note to view the full content:
1

Select Note

Click on the note row in the list
2

View Full Content

Note opens in a modal or detail view
3

Review Details

See complete note with all sections

Filtering and Searching Notes

Filter Options

FilterOptions
Date RangeLast 7 days, 30 days, 90 days, 1 year, custom
Note TypeVisit notes, progress notes, assessments
AuthorFilter by specific provider or staff
StatusSigned, draft, amended

Search Notes

Use the search bar to find notes containing:
  • Specific diagnoses
  • Medications
  • Keywords
  • Provider names
Use specific medical terms when searching to find relevant notes quickly.

Understanding Note Status

StatusMeaningActions Available
📝 DraftNote not yet signedView, edit (by author)
SignedNote completed and signedView, print, add addendum
📎 AmendedAddendum added to signed noteView full history
🔒 LockedNote locked per retention policyView only

Note Details

Note Header

Each note displays:
FieldDescription
Patient NamePatient the note is for
Date/TimeWhen note was created
AuthorWho created the note
Note TypeCategory of documentation
FacilityWhere care was provided
StatusCurrent note status

Note Body

The content section includes:

Subjective

Patient-reported information (chief complaint, symptoms)

Objective

Provider observations (exam findings, vitals)

Assessment

Clinical assessment and diagnoses

Plan

Treatment plan and follow-up
FieldDescription
SignatureElectronic signature of author
Sign DateWhen note was signed
AddendumsLink to any addendums
Print/ExportOptions to print or export

Actions on Notes

View Note

Click to open and read the full note content.
1

Open Note

Click on the note to open it
2

Click Print

Click the Print button or icon
3

Select Options

Choose print options (include headers, date range)
4

Print

Send to printer or save as PDF

Add Addendum

For signed notes, add additional information:
1

Open Signed Note

Navigate to the completed note
2

Click Add Addendum

Click Add Addendum
3

Enter Content

Document additional or corrected information
4

Sign Addendum

Sign with timestamp

Note History

Viewing Note History

For amended notes, view the complete history:
1

Open Note

Click on the note with addendums
2

Click History

Click View History or Show Amendments
3

Review Timeline

See original note plus all addendums in order

History Display

ElementDescription
Original NoteFirst version of the note
Addendum 1, 2…Subsequent additions
TimestampsWhen each entry was made
AuthorsWho made each entry

Using Notes for Clinical Decisions

Before a Visit

Key Information to Look For

CategoryLook For
Recent ChangesNew diagnoses, medication changes
HospitalizationsRecent admits/discharges
Lab ResultsRecent test results and trends
Specialist NotesConsult recommendations
Care Plan UpdatesChanges to care plan
Patient ConcernsDocumented patient issues

Troubleshooting

Possible causes:
  • Note is outside the date filter
  • Note type filter is excluding it
  • Note is in draft status
Solution: Clear all filters and expand the date range. Check with the author if the note exists.
Possible causes:
  • Note is still a draft
  • Display is collapsed
  • Loading issue
Solution: Check note status. Click to expand all sections. Refresh if content seems missing.
Possible causes:
  • Browser popup blocker
  • Print permission issue
Solution: Allow popups for AllCare. Try a different browser or use the PDF export option.
Possible causes:
  • Notes not yet synced
  • Access permissions
  • Notes in different system
Solution: Some notes may be in the EMR (eClinicalWorks). Check both systems for complete history.

Best Practices