Customization Overview
PatientNotes templates are fully customizable. Modify existing templates or start from scratch to create documentation that fits your practice perfectly.
Full Control
Every aspect of your templates can be customized—sections, headings, default content, and AI behavior.
Editing a Template
Modify any template to better suit your needs.
How to Edit
- Go to Templates in the navigation
- Find the template you want to edit
- Click the "Edit" button
- Make your changes
- Click "Save"
System Templates
System templates (provided by PatientNotes) cannot be modified directly. Use "Duplicate" to create your own editable copy.
Duplicate First
Customizing Sections
Templates are organized into sections. Each section becomes a heading in your generated note.
Section Structure
Each section has a title, description, and optional default content that guides AI note generation.
Adding Sections
- Open the template editor
- Click "Add Section"
- Enter a section title
- Add a description to guide the AI
- Drag to reorder if needed
Removing Sections
Click the delete icon next to any section to remove it. The AI will no longer include that section in generated notes.
Reordering Sections
Drag and drop sections to change their order. The order in the template determines the order in your generated notes.
Section Descriptions
Descriptions tell the AI what content to include in each section.
Writing Effective Descriptions
Good descriptions are:
- Specific: Tell the AI exactly what to include
- Concise: Keep it brief but informative
- Instructive: Use action words like "Include" or "Document"
Example: Chief Complaint
"Document the patient's primary reason for visit in their own words. Include duration and any relevant context."
Example: Assessment
"List diagnoses with ICD-10 codes. Include differential diagnoses considered. Note severity and status of each condition."
Advanced: Prompt Content
For advanced customization, you can write custom AI prompts.
Custom Prompts
The prompt content field gives you direct control over how the AI interprets and generates content for your template.
Writing Custom Prompts
Custom prompts let you specify:
- Formatting preferences (bullet points, paragraphs, tables)
- Tone and style (formal, conversational)
- Specific terminology requirements
- What to include or exclude
- Length guidelines
Advanced Feature
Default Values
Set default content that appears in sections when there's no relevant information from the recording.
Setting Default Content
- Open the section editor
- Find "Default Content"
- Enter your preferred default text
- Save the template
Common uses for defaults:
- "No allergies reported" for Allergies section
- "Patient denies" prefixes for Review of Systems
- Standard disclaimers or footers
Template Settings
Configure additional template options.
Template Name
Choose a descriptive name that helps you identify the template quickly.
Description
Add a description explaining when to use this template.
Specialty
Tag the template with a specialty for easier filtering and discovery.
Set as Default
Make this your default template for new sessions.
Next Steps
Learn how to share templates with your team.