A business owner of a therapy company wanted me to redesign some of the forms their therapists use during client sessions. The owner wanted the forms to be easier for the therapists to fill out, and easier for the secretaries gather information from during processing.
I used Microsoft PowerPoint to design his form because that would enable company employees to tweak it later as needed. Adobe InDesign would have given me more control, but few people own it; Microsoft Word is just as widespread as PowerPoint, but it can have some annoying tendencies to move things around the page when someone edits it later.
Looking at the original (see below), it was difficult to tell at first glace how each day’s “SOAP note” section was organized (SOAP is a common acronym in therapy notes, standing for Subjective data, Objective data, Assessment of current abilities, and Plan for the next session). Each letter in SOAP denotes a main section of the note, but they were printed in-line at the same size as the rest of the text, so it was barely noticeable that the notes were even subdivided at all, much less where one section ended and another began.
I solved this by creating “watermark” letters for SOAP—putting them in light grey in the background. That way I could make them as large as I wanted, I didn’t have to clutter the form with more lines or boxes, and I didn’t have to use more precious space by giving each letter its own line, like a heading. An added bonus was that it resulted in more space for lines to write on, which also makes it easier for the therapist to create impromptu charts.
The other big problem, which I noticed immediately, was that the original laid out the checklists horizontally. This is problematic for a few reasons. First, it’s hard to see at a glance how many items are on a given list. It can also be confusing, when checking an option in the middle of the list, to know whether you should check the box to the right or the left of the item you want to select. Guessing wrong can result in inaccurate information. Finally, it’s difficult with horizontal/in-line lists to tell how many lists there are.
I solved all this by aligning the checkboxes vertically. It’s now easy to see at a glance that there are four distinct checklists, how many items are on each list, and which box corresponds to which item.
I made a few other changes as well. I lightened the signature boxes and the name of the company, since they are non-essential when scanning the form for therapy-related data during a session. I also swapped positions of the two signatures, moving the client signature over to the left. That way, the two most vital parts of any note—the date and the signature (crucial in, e.g., billing or an audit)—can be found by scanning down the left side of the page, with plenty of white space in between and not other text to get in the way. They still wanted to fit four days’ worth of therapy notes on one page, so I narrowed the margins of the page to give it more white space than the original. By narrowing the needlessly-wide columns in the chart at the top, I was able to move the title off to the right, reclaiming the valuable white space it was occupying up at the top all by itself.
Here is the company’s original form (click on the form to zoom in on different parts):
Here’s what it looked like after I redesigned it:
I absolutely love doing form redesign. For me, it’s like cleaning up a cluttered but often-used space. Once it’s done, it makes life easier. And the thing is, it doesn’t take a lot of bells and whistles. Just a few simple principles can go a long way toward a cleaner, more user-friendly form.
Lynn Applebee
January 21st, 2014
Good morning,
I have been searching for a speech therapy SOAP note template and came across this sample. Would you be willing to send me this form in an editable version? Thank you very much for your prompt reply.
Regards,
Lynn A Applebee M.S., CCC-SLP
Lynn A Summers LLC
D/B/A Making Milestones Pediatric Therapy of the Treasure Coast
Nathan000000
February 6th, 2014
You bet, Lynn. I’ve attached the files and sent it to the email address you provided.
Kayle Shulenberger
February 8th, 2014
I would LOVE a copy too! Thanks so much!
Tequesta Thomas-allen
March 22nd, 2014
Beautifully designed document. Do you mind sending me an editable copy as well? I am still doing progress notes by the old method: long, lengthy SOAP notes. Thank you so much.
Tequesta, Thomas-Allen
DBA Imari’s therapy services, P.A.
Francine Pritt
October 3rd, 2014
I would love an editable copy as well would you be so kind and email this to me? I’ve been searching and searching..
Thank you!
michelle
October 9th, 2014
Love this! Would you be willing to send me this form in an editable version? Thank you very much for your prompt reply.
April Griggs
November 6th, 2014
Your beautiful document is exactly what I have been searching for. Would it be possible for me to also receive an editable copy?
Thanking you in advance-
Kirsten Gaffey
February 15th, 2015
Good afternoon!
I have also been searching for a wonderful SOAP note like this for the students I see in schools. Often I write notes electronically but I need something like this for other environments.
Would you be willing to send me an editable copy?
It looks so good, I’m sure you could post it on Teachers Pay Teachers and increase your following!
Thanks in advance,
Kirsten
Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (from Australia)
Becky
July 8th, 2015
Good afternoon,
I have been searching for a speech therapy SOAP note template and came across this sample. Would you be willing to send me this form in an editable version? Thank you very much for your prompt reply.
Becky. R.
Advance Therapy Works
my email beckyatw@gmail.com
Andrea
July 30th, 2015
Hello!
I love that form! Would you mind emailing me the form so I can use/edit it?!? I would love that! Thanks!!
Andrea
Erin
July 31st, 2015
Hello,
I LOVE the new version of the SOAP note you created!! You would mind sharing the editable version with me? I would be so appreciative!
Thank you!
Michelle Young
August 4th, 2015
I love this SOAP note templet ate. Could you please send me an editable copy as well. Thank you so much!!!!
Jillian K
August 7th, 2015
I have been searching for a speech therapy SOAP note template and came across this sample. Would you be willing to send me this form in an editable version? Thank you very much for sharing your work with others.
Regards,
Jillian
Speech Language Pathologist
Claudia Aguilar
August 30th, 2015
Good afternoon,
I love the way you revamped her template. How can I get an editable copy of this template. I really need to use something like this for therapy center.
Thank you in advance.
tanya acosta
October 15th, 2015
What a great easy daily note form,, would you mind sending me a copy>
thank you so much
tanya acosta MA ccc-slp
boston ma
Karen
February 8th, 2016
Good evening,
I absolutely LOVE the template you created, and would be ever grateful if you were able to send me something I could edit/modify (especially dates). Could you please send me an editable copy or direct me to where I might find it (if elsewhere) online?
Thank you in advance for your time.
Natasha McNeill
March 1st, 2016
I am a Speech Language Pathology-Assistant and a graduate speech clinician. I would love a copy of this form that I would be able to edit to use to have more efficient and better written SOAP notes for when I see clients.
Thanks so much!
Natasha McNeill
Speech Language Pathology-Assistant
Donnie Salcedo
April 19th, 2016
Good afternoon.
I have been looking for a complete and well structured daily note like this one. Can you please send me an editable copy?
Jane
April 23rd, 2016
Beautiful soap/JOT documentation note. Can you please send me an editable version as well as this is the most perfect sample I have come across. Thanks for your consideration.
Jane
MA,CCC-SLP
Katie Vandervalk
April 28th, 2016
I love the looks of this form, and wondered if it would be possible to receive an “editable” copy?
Thanks!
Katie
Melissa Russell
May 17th, 2016
Hello,
I am just now seeing this. I love this form. Could I also receive an editable copy? This would be wonderful to use for therapy at the school. You could sell this on teachers pay teachers.
Kind regards,
Melissa Russell
Kristen
December 16th, 2016
These templates are amazing! We have been looking for something like this for our speech therapy practice. Is there any way you could email me the editable versions? We really appreciate it!
Leianne
December 22nd, 2016
DO you still do this work? I’m curious about pricing. I have several documents/ forms that I would like changed.
Lindsay
January 4th, 2017
You did a wonderful job on your SOAP note redesign! Is there any chance you could email me the template? I would love to use this in my practice.
Thank you!
Aria
January 5th, 2017
Hi, Nathan.
Happy new year and I hope this message finds you well.
I too have been searching for an easy-to-fill-out-easy-to-carry-around SOAP note for all my out of office work (schools, preschools, daycares and home visists).
May I also please please have an editable copy of your beautifully crafted SOAP note form?
Hoping for your kind consideration,
Aria
(Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (Australia)
Emilee
January 5th, 2017
Is there a chance I could get an editable copy of this as well. Its wonderful!
Kina
July 5th, 2017
Good Day!
I would also like a copy of this SOAP note as an editable document
Thank you!
Jenny
September 25th, 2017
Hi I was wondering if anyone could send me an editable version of this! Would love to start using this in our office ! Thanks in advance
Kristen Carter
October 5th, 2017
Hi,
I have been searching tirelessly for a SOAP note that includes all of the information you have included on this one you created. I currently own two small private speech therapy clinics in Southern California and would love to start using this SOAP note at both. Would you be willing to send me the word document or editable version of this? I would greatly appreciate it and would be willing to pay for it as well.
Kind Regards,
Kristen Carter
learningtreetherapy@gmail.com
http://www.learningtreetherapy.com
Deena Offet
April 13th, 2018
This is exactly what I have been looking for. Do you still have a copy you would be willing to share in an editable version.
Christine Vlahos
April 19th, 2018
Hello
I was searching for a suitable SOAP form and found your redesign from 2011. Is your form still available? and if “yes”, would it be possible to receive an editable version.
With thanks and best wishes
Christine Vlahos
Certified Practising Speech Pathologist
Member of Speech Pathology Australia
Brenda Grieshaber
August 31st, 2018
could I get a copy of this that is editable. It looks like it would be so easy to use!
Meg Eliza
November 9th, 2018
Afternoon I was wondering if I too could have an editable copy, I am a community inclusionist for adults with autism. I find your SOAP format so easy to understand and use.
thank you so much
Meg
USA
Brianna Lambro
May 12th, 2019
Hi Nathan,
Are you still willing to share the editable version of this form via email? It is exactly what I’ve been looking for!
Thank you!
Brianna Lambro M.S. CCC-SLP
Hudson Valley Speech and Swallowing Therapy
Julia Suor
May 24th, 2019
Hi,
Your note looks really useful. Could I please have an editable copy? Thank you for helping everyone with this. It’s appreciated.
Julia
Shaly Y Gittens
May 11th, 2020
HI, I would love an editable template, of course if it’s not too much to ask.. I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you
Julie Johnson
July 6th, 2020
I LOVE THIS! May I please have an editable copy?