All progress notes ultimately achieve the same thing: document the session, the therapist’s impression, and the plan. Still, every therapist writes notes a little differently. For example, some use SOAP notes, while some use a format called DAP notes that outlines Data, the Assessment, and the Plan. Most therapists will tell you that notes take up a significant portion of their workday, and despite how important they are, it can be hard to give them the attention they’re due, but AI tools are changing that.
AI DAP Notetaking that Supports Clinical Care
When a therapist starts a new DAP note from a blank page, they need to remember every important detail from the session, and usually, they’re doing this in very little time between sessions or trying to recall sessions at the end of the day. It makes sense why interest in AI for DAP notes is growing: AI notetaking tools like Smart Notes create some breathing room. Clinicians have peace of mind that all of the important details that came up in session will have been captured and ready for review shortly after.
An AI notetaker can take the information from a therapy session and format it into a progress note quickly. Smart Notes can even use a pre-loaded DAP notes template to organize notes into the following categories:
- Data: Anything factual that came up in session. This could be something the client said, or something the therapist observed. (Essentially a combination of the Subjective and Objective sections in SOAP notes.)
- Assessment: The therapist’s clinical interpretation of the session. This could include a diagnosis or a conceptualization based on context from previous sessions.
- Plan: This section will show anything that was discussed that will happen next, like homework or a future intervention.
Capturing an in-person or virtual session’s most important details automatically frees up therapists’ time so they can better advocate for their clients and be more present in session. Because the DAP note-taker doesn’t miss any detail, it can help therapists deliver better continuity of care. Something the therapist may have missed in session could be picked up by the tool and factored into the therapist’s conceptualization and treatment plan.
AI DAP Notes, Control and Privacy
AI-assisted notes create an objective baseline that gives therapists a solid foundation for their clinical interpretations and judgement. With Smart Notes, the clinician has complete control. Anything that is automatically generated can be edited, deleted, or added to before it enters the client’s file. For example, they may have ideas for interventions to use in the next session that didn’t come up in the conversation, or they may choose to delete very sensitive details that are not necessary to include for the client’s protection. That same respect for the client extends to how AI use is disclosed in the first place, and Owl Practice makes informed consent simple with a built-in form written specifically for Smart Notes.
Therapists have an immense responsibility when it comes to privacy and confidentiality of their clients’ data. When considering an EHR or AI for DAP notes, security should be top of mind. Beyond having full control of what goes in their progress notes, therapists can also have peace of mind that Owl Practice keeps all client data within its native PIPEDA-compliant platform, and any existing information is stored on Canadian servers. This includes any personal information as well as transcripts, notes, and recordings, and any transcript generated from the telehealth platform is deleted within seven days. On top of that, all of our servers are housed in Canada, meaning client data is always subject to Canadian privacy laws.
Looking Ahead with Owl Practice
For clinicians who want to strike the balance between an efficient, more modern practice and maintaining clinical integrity, Owl Practice’s Smart Notes is purpose-built to work with structured progress note formats like DAP and SOAP while allowing clinicians full control. If you want to learn more about how an AI notetaker can help you create DAP while saving you time, start a free trial today.
