Practice Pearls

Electronic health records have reduced the effectiveness of the SOAP (subjective, objective, assessment, and plan) note format, burying the most important information — the assessment and plan — at the end of a lengthy note. Physicians and care team members must scroll through extensive subjective and objective data before finding the clinician's diagnostic reasoning and treatment plan.

Using APSO, clinicians gather information during the patient encounter in the same way, but the note places the assessment and plan first, prioritizing the clinician's conclusions and management decisions. This organization better reflects how physicians read medical records. Displaying the note in an accordion-style collapsible format improves efficiency by minimizing unnecessary scrolling. Physicians can read APSO notes more quickly and accurately, and rate them more usable than traditional SOAP notes.¹

Practices often seek meaningful ways to celebrate clinicians during holidays, at the end of the year, or at special celebrations without creating additional financial burden. Thoughtful recognition of clinical work and contributions may decrease burnout, support retention, and foster a more positive workplace culture. Consider these simple ways to thank and recognize physicians:

• Engage nurses and support staff who work directly with the physician in providing positive feedback and personalized messages on a regular basis,
• Share positive patient feedback or comments in clinic-wide meetings, leadership emails, or monthly newsletters,
• Send a handwritten note, personalized message, or more formal letter expressing appreciation from a direct supervisor or clinic leader,
• Display recognition in shared clinic spaces to promote a culture of appreciation and allow all team members to participate in celebrating colleagues' contributions,
• Offer meaningful, no-cost forms of recognition, such as temporary in-basket coverage, weekend call coverage provided by medical leadership, or access to a preferred parking space.