Colorectal Surgery Consult Note

Template structure

This is the structure Notat follows when it writes the note from the visit — you never fill it in by hand.

Colorectal Surgeon Consult Note

Patient Identification: [Patient name, age, gender, with a history of..., presenting with...]

History of Present Illness:
[Detailed description of presenting complaint, including onset, duration, progression, associated symptoms (e.g., pain, bleeding, change in bowel habits, weight loss, fever, discharge), prior interventions, and relevant surgical history. Structure symptoms and associated information into distinct paragraphs. Use full sentences and formal clinical language.]

Past Medical History:
(hyphenated list)
- [Relevant medical conditions, especially gastrointestinal, oncologic, or surgical history]

Past Surgical History:
(hyphenated list)
- [Prior surgeries, dates, and indications]

Medications:
(hyphenated list)
- [Medication name, dose, route, frequency]
- (e.g., Metformin 500 mg oral BID)

Allergies:
(hyphenated list)
- [eg. No known drug allergies (NKDA)]

Family History:
(hyphenated list)
- [Relative: Condition or pertinent diagnosis, especially colorectal cancer, polyposis syndromes, inflammatory bowel disease]

Social History:
(hyphenated list)
- [Tobacco: type, amount, duration, quit date if applicable]
- [Alcohol: type, amount, frequency]
- [Recreational substances: type, amount, frequency]
- [Occupation: current job, exposures]
- [Living situation: who lives with patient, home environment]

Review of Systems:
(hyphenated list)
- [General: fever, weight loss, fatigue]
- [GI: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, blood in stool, change in bowel habits, tenesmus, incontinence]
- [Other systems as relevant]

Physical Examination:
(hyphenated list)
- [Vital signs with units in one line] (e.g., HR: #, BP: #, T: #, RR: #, O2 sats: #%)
- [General appearance]
- [Abdominal: inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation findings]
- [Perineal/rectal: inspection, digital rectal exam findings, presence of masses, fistula, fissure, hemorrhoids, tenderness, bleeding]
- [Other relevant systems]

Investigations:
(hyphenated list)
- [Investigation results with units] (e.g., CBC, electrolytes, LFTs, CEA, imaging findings, colonoscopy results, pathology reports)

Assessment & Plan:
[One-sentence patient summary including age, sex, and primary diagnosis]

#) [Assessment as a numbered item for each active issue]
(hyphenated list with each corresponding plan item on a new line)
- [Diagnosis and reasoning]
- [Investigations planned or ordered]
- [Treatment plan, including surgical and non-surgical options]
- [Counselling discussion, including risks, benefits, alternatives]
- [Referrals sent]
- [Follow up plan]
- [Return precautions]