Jon, if you use the SOAP note format, it will only use those headings (subjective, objective, assessment, plan). I just send my referring providers a generic letter format with my A/P hooked onto the end. Takes 20 seconds to zip it to them without any extra work.
You could just "print" them a SOAP note by printing it to your fax machine.
When I first started practice before AC, I would dictate my note, then dictate my letter to the referring provider. I would then read over those quickly, sign them, and then have my staff fax the letter to the referring provider, file the note/H&P, and file a copy of the note to the referring provider. It was a process and cost me an arm and a leg in dictation costs.
Now, my staff enters in all of the info except for HPI (very few templates), PE (standard template), A/P (a lot of templates), which I do. It's slower than dictating but it speeds up dramatically the longer you do it. I sign that and fax a quick letter with my A/P at the bottom to the referring provider. I often have to fax my H&P to the place where I may do a procedure or operation. All of this takes less than one minute to do after the actual note is done. I do it all but I could easily have my staff do it. I'm just a control freak and don't mind the extra 10 minutes out of my day.
I have yet to finish my day without all of my notes being done by 5pm, all the letters sent to referring providers, and the H&P sitting at the hospital for the operation.
I'm close to recouping the cost of the program by not using paper, folders, dictation costs, and staff time in just 7 weeks.
