Overview:
In SOAP notes, you may encounter a red box with dashes or a blue empty box. These indicators are used to highlight when a part of the SOAP note has been left incomplete or intentionally skipped. Understanding the meaning of these indicators can help ensure that your notes are properly filled out before saving or printing.
Red Box With Dashes:
A red box with dashes indicate that a section of the SOAP note was not completed. This typically means that an option for a specific question was not selected, or the "skip" button was not clicked. If a SOAP note is printed with incomplete sections, the red dashes will appear in the printed version, signaling missing information.
Example Scenario:
While filling out a SOAP note, you select an answer for a question (e.g., "they feel the same") and choose a pain scale.
However, if you forget to make a selection for another question or skip the question entirely without clicking the "skip" button, red dashes will appear on the screen.
These red dashes serve as a reminder that something was not completed on that part of the note, prompting you to either select an option or intentionally skip the question.
An Empty Blue Box:
An empty blue box functions differently from red dashes. They appear when a question is intentionally skipped using the "skip" button. The empty blue box indicates that the section was deliberately skipped and not simply left incomplete.
Example Scenario:
If you decide to skip the "Chief Complaints" section, a blue dash and space will appear to show that the section was intentionally bypassed.
Summary of Indicators:
Red Box With Dashes: Indicate that a section of the SOAP note was left incomplete, requiring you to either select an option or skip the question.
Empty Blue Box: Indicate that a section was intentionally skipped by clicking the "skip" button.
Future Updates:
We are exploring additional behaviors and indicators for these situations in future updates. However, at present, these dashes serve to clarify the difference between unintentional omissions and deliberate skips in the SOAP note.
Action Required:
If you see a red box with dashes in your SOAP note, review the section to ensure you either:
Select an appropriate option for the question, or
Intentionally skip the section if it’s not applicable.
This will help maintain accuracy and completeness in your SOAP notes.