When I was in massage school, our teachers instilled in us the importance of keeping detailed client records or, SOAP notes. At the time, many thought of it as a way to simply to track progress and as a refresher to jog our memories. It wasn't until we actually got out into the world to practice, to really understand the impact of SOAP notes.
For those unfamiliar with the term, SOAP notes stand for the following:
Subjective
Objective
Assessment
Plan
While keeping detailed client notes is an excellent way of charting progress and change, it is vital in business to protect yourself. If, for some reason, a situation arose where your services were questioned (medical reasons, insurance, legal etc), having detailed accounts of each client is imperative. It is much easier and more reliable to refer to documented information than that of "let me think for a second" and try to remember. It is also important to remember to document what the client tells you, from medications to likes/dislikes - you'd be surprised how these seemingly small pieces of information can have a huge impact!
It also gives your clients the confidence that you're paying attention to them, their body and their needs. Confident clients are loyal clients!
SOAP And You
