What is a SOAP note?
Updated Nov 1, 2026
Definition
A SOAP note is a structured clinical note with four parts: Subjective (what the patient reports), Objective (what the clinician observes and measures), Assessment (the clinician's judgment) and Plan (what happens next).
What goes in each part
- Subjective: symptoms, history and concerns in the patient's own words.
- Objective: observations, vital signs, exam findings and test results.
- Assessment: the clinician's diagnosis or working impression.
- Plan: treatment, prescriptions, referrals and follow-up.
Why the format is used
Every clinician reads the note in the same order, so care is easier to hand over between colleagues, and the reasoning from symptoms to plan is clear.
How Acta drafts SOAP notes
Acta's Clinical visit note template drafts a SOAP note from the recorded consultation, using only what was said. The clinician checks and corrects it before it goes anywhere. Before recording clinical meetings, check that your data-processing agreements cover patient data.
SOAP note templateFAQ
Does an AI-drafted SOAP note replace the clinician?
No. It is a draft written from the conversation, for the clinician to check and correct before use.
What's the difference between Subjective and Objective?
Subjective is what the patient tells you. Objective is what you can observe or measure yourself.