Patient Name: Include the full name of the patient.
Medical Record Number: Provide a unique identifier for the patient’s medical record.
Date of Admission: Indicate the date when the patient was admitted to the nursing home.
Date of Visit: Specify the date of the physician’s visit.
Assessment:
Chief Complaint: Briefly describe the patient’s primary reason for seeking medical attention.
History of Present Illness: Provide a detailed account of the patient’s symptoms, including onset, duration, severity, and any aggravating or alleviating factors.
Past Medical History: List any previous illnesses, surgeries, or hospitalizations.
Family History: Note any significant health conditions among the patient’s immediate family members.
Social History: Gather information about the patient’s lifestyle, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, drug use, and occupation.
Allergies: List any known allergies to medications, food, or other substances.
Medications: Record a complete list of all current medications, including dosage, frequency, and route of administration.
Physical Examination:
Vital Signs: Include blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, and oxygen saturation.
General Appearance: Describe the patient’s overall appearance, including level of consciousness, alertness, and any signs of distress.
Head and Neck: Examine the head, face, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and neck for any abnormalities.
Chest: Assess the lungs, heart, and breasts for any signs of disease or pathology.
Abdomen: Examine the abdomen for tenderness, masses, or other abnormalities.
Extremities: Assess the upper and lower extremities for range of motion, strength, and any signs of edema or circulatory problems.
Neurological Examination: Evaluate the patient’s cognitive function, motor function, and sensory function.
Primary Diagnosis: List the primary diagnosis or condition that is the primary focus of care.
Secondary Diagnoses: List any additional diagnoses that are contributing to the patient’s condition.
Plan of Care:
Treatment Plan: Outline the specific treatments or interventions that will be implemented to address the patient’s condition.
Follow-Up: Specify the frequency and type of follow-up appointments or evaluations that are planned.
Goals: Establish specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for the patient’s care.
Progress Notes:
Date: Record the date of the progress note.
Provider: Indicate the name of the healthcare provider who is writing the note.
Assessment: Summarize the patient’s current condition, including any changes or improvements since the last visit.
Plan: Outline any updates to the treatment plan or goals.
Follow-Up: Specify the next scheduled follow-up appointment or evaluation.
Design Elements for Professionalism and Trust
Clear and Consistent Formatting: Use a consistent font, font size, and spacing throughout the template to enhance readability.
Headings and Subheadings: Use headings and subheadings to organize the information and make it easier to navigate.
White Space: Incorporate white space to improve readability and prevent the template from appearing cluttered.
Professional Language: Use clear and concise language that is easy to understand.
Avoid Abbreviations: Avoid using abbreviations that may not be familiar to all readers.
Legal Disclaimer: Include a legal disclaimer at the bottom of the template to protect the healthcare facility from liability.
By following these guidelines, you can create a professional and effective Nursing Home Physician Progress Note Template that meets the needs of your facility and ensures accurate and comprehensive documentation of patient care.