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We changed how note templates work. Instead of one big text box, templates now have individual fields for each piece of information—like a form. Rolling out January 2026.

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What Changed?

Old way: Your template was a block of text with placeholders like {{chief_complaint}}. AI filled it in as paragraphs. New way: Your template is a form with separate fields. Each piece of info gets its own box—text fields, dropdowns, yes/no switches, etc.

Before

  • Hunt through paragraphs to fix one thing
  • Vitals buried in text
  • AI guesses what goes where
  • One big text blob

After

  • Click the field, edit it, done
  • Vitals auto-save to patient chart
  • AI knows exactly what each field needs
  • Clean, organized sections

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Building a Template

Go to Settings → Note Templates → Create Template. You’ll see a blank form on the right and a toolbox on the left.

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Field Types

Drag fields from the left panel onto your template:

Basic Fields

  • Short Text — One-line answers (chief complaint, diagnosis)
  • Long Text — Multi-line answers (assessment, detailed history)
  • Number — Just numbers (age, dosage)
  • Date — Date picker
  • Dropdown — Pick one option from a list
  • Checkboxes — Pick multiple options
  • Yes/No — Simple toggle switch
These have a green dot and auto-save to the patient record:
  • Weight, Height, Blood Pressure
  • Allergies, Medications
  • Medical History
Upload slots for images (before/after photos, etc.)Attachments work the same as before—you’re still uploading photos the same way. The only difference is where they live. Previously, attachments were in a separate tab. Now you can place them anywhere in your template, right next to the relevant fields.

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Setting Up a Field

Click any field to configure it:
SettingWhat it does
LabelThe question text (“Chief Complaint”)
RequiredMust be filled before saving
AI HintHelps AI know what to extract from recordings
PlaceholderGray hint text inside empty fields
AI Hint example: If your label is “Subjective”, add a hint like “Patient’s symptoms and complaints in their own words.” This helps AI pull the right info from transcripts.

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Organizing Fields

  • Drag the handle to reorder
  • Click to edit
  • Trash icon to delete

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Using Templates

1

Record

Record your session as usual
2

Generate

Click Generate AI Note and pick a template
3

Review

AI fills in each field from your recording—review and edit any fields
4

Save

Save when you’re happy with it
Chat with AI: After generating, use the chat box to tweak answers. Try “Make the assessment shorter” or “Add more detail about the symptoms.”

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Converting Old Templates

Your existing templates still work. We converted them to a single “Long Text” field with your old content. Want to upgrade? You can convert them to the new format:
1

Open Template

Open your template in Settings → Note Templates
2

Find the Banner

Look for the blue “Legacy Template Detected” banner
3

Convert

Click Convert to Form—AI suggests fields based on your old template
4

Review & Apply

Review the suggestions and click Apply if you’re happy
5

Save

Save your template
Not sure? Duplicate your template first. Then you have a backup if you want to revert.

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Your Old Notes Are Fine

Notes you already created haven’t changed. They look exactly the same as before. The new format only applies to new notes going forward.

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Quick Tips

Make AI Smarter

  • Add AI Hints to your fields
  • Use dropdowns instead of text when there’s a fixed set of options

Save Time

  • Use Patient Chart fields for vitals—they auto-save
  • Don’t mark everything as required (only the essentials)

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Need Help?

Contact support if you have questions about migrating specific templates, or ask an AI assistant for quick answers:
“Help me with Decoda note templates. Docs: https://docs.decodahealth.com/guides/scribe-forms-migration”
ChatGPT ChatGPT • Claude Claude