SOAP, DAP, and BIRP notes, with a real example of each
See exactly what each format looks like, then use it (or your own) on every note ChatGPT Doctors drafts for you.
Why templates matter more than they sound like they do
A generic draft just moves the work downstream
An AI that ignores your note format doesn't save you time, it just changes what you're doing: reformatting instead of reviewing.
Real examples
What each format actually looks like
Family medicine, internal medicine, most in-person visits
S: Patient reports improved sleep since last visit, occasional early waking around 3am, otherwise stable mood.
O: Alert, cooperative, affect appropriate. Vitals stable.
A: Generalized anxiety, improving.
P: Continue current regimen, reassess sleep pattern in 4 weeks.
Therapy and behavioral health sessions
D: Client arrived on time, reports anxiety at 5/10, down from 8 at intake.
A: Responding well to CBT techniques introduced two sessions ago.
P: Continue weekly sessions. Homework: thought record daily this week.
Social work and counseling
B: Client presented with flat affect, reported low energy over the past week.
I: Reviewed coping strategies for morning routine disruption.
R: Client engaged well, identified two strategies to try before next session.
P: Follow up in 2 weeks, reassess mood tracking.
| Format | Best for |
|---|---|
| SOAP | Medical visits, med checks, most general practice charting |
| DAP | Individual therapy, counseling, mental health follow-ups |
| BIRP | Social work, case management, behavioral interventions |
Built-in clinical formats
SOAP, DAP, and BIRP are ready to use out of the box, covering the formats most practices already chart in.
Bring your own template
Describe your practice's format once and future notes follow it, instead of reformatting a generic draft every time.
Switch per note, not per account
Use a different template for a therapy session than for a med management follow-up, in the same account, without changing any settings.
Trusted by independent clinicians
“Our therapy notes finally come back in our own DAP format instead of generic SOAP.”
J. Liu, LCSW
Behavioral health
“Switching from a generic SOAP template to our practice's own format took one conversation, not a support ticket.”
Dr. M. Santos
Family medicine
Template questions
What's the difference between SOAP and DAP?
SOAP separates subjective and objective findings before assessment and plan, and is the standard for most medical visits. DAP combines data (what happened, subjective and observed) into one section before assessment and plan, and is more common in therapy and counseling notes.
When should I use BIRP instead of SOAP?
BIRP is built around behavior and intervention, which fits social work and behavioral case management better than a medical exam format. If your notes center on what the client did and how you responded, BIRP usually fits better than SOAP.
Can I edit the built-in templates?
Yes. Start from SOAP, DAP, or BIRP and adjust sections, or describe your own format from scratch. Either way, it's saved to your account and used on every note going forward.