Cardiology: Step-by-Step Guide on How to Write SOAP Notes
Updated January 2026
Cardiology documentation demands precision, thoroughness, and adherence to evidence-based guidelines. Cardiovascular SOAP notes must capture complex diagnostic workups, risk stratification, and multifaceted treatment regimens. This guide provides comprehensive instructions for documenting cardiology encounters, from routine follow-ups to acute cardiac events, ensuring compliance with ACC/AHA guidelines and optimal patient care.
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Unique Aspects of Cardiology Documentation
Cardiology documentation differs from other specialties in several key ways:
- Risk Stratification: Documentation must support cardiovascular risk assessment using validated tools (ASCVD, HEART, CHA2DS2-VASc)
- Complex Diagnostics: Integration of ECG, echocardiography, stress testing, and catheterization findings
- Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT): Must demonstrate adherence to ACC/AHA treatment guidelines
- Device Management: Pacemaker and ICD documentation requirements
- Longitudinal Care: Tracking ejection fraction, functional status, and medication titration over time
- Procedural Documentation: Detailed documentation for catheterization, ablation, and device procedures
- Anticoagulation Management: Careful documentation of bleeding vs. thrombotic risk assessment
Subjective Section (S)
The Subjective section in cardiology captures symptom characterization, functional status assessment, and cardiac risk factors essential for diagnosis and risk stratification.
Subjective Section (S) Components
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Chief Complaint:
- Primary cardiac symptom with duration
- Urgency and acuity level
- Example: "Exertional chest discomfort x 3 weeks, progressive"
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Chest Pain Characterization:
- Location, quality, duration, radiation
- Precipitating factors (exertion, rest, meals, position)
- Relieving factors (rest, nitroglycerin)
- Associated symptoms (dyspnea, diaphoresis, nausea)
- Typical vs. atypical features
- Example: "Substernal pressure radiating to left arm, provoked by climbing stairs, relieved with rest. Associated with dyspnea."
-
Dyspnea Classification (NYHA Functional Class):
- Class I: No limitation of physical activity
- Class II: Slight limitation; comfortable at rest, symptoms with ordinary activity
- Class III: Marked limitation; comfortable at rest, symptoms with less than ordinary activity
- Class IV: Unable to carry on any physical activity without symptoms; symptoms at rest
- Example: "Patient reports dyspnea with one flight of stairs, comfortable at rest - NYHA Class II"
-
Palpitations:
- Onset, frequency, duration
- Regular vs. irregular rhythm
- Associated symptoms (presyncope, syncope, chest pain)
- Triggers (caffeine, alcohol, stress, exercise)
- Example: "Intermittent rapid irregular palpitations lasting 10-30 minutes, occurring 2-3x weekly, associated with lightheadedness"
-
Syncope/Presyncope:
- Prodrome (lightheadedness, vision changes, nausea)
- Circumstances (exertional, positional, situational)
- Witness account if available
- Post-event symptoms
- Example: "Episode of witnessed syncope during exercise, no prodrome, brief loss of consciousness with rapid recovery"
-
Cardiac Risk Factors:
- Hypertension (duration, control, medications)
- Diabetes mellitus (HbA1c, complications)
- Hyperlipidemia (current lipid panel, statin use)
- Tobacco use (pack-years, cessation status)
- Family history of premature CAD (males under 55, females under 65)
- Obesity (BMI, distribution)
- Physical inactivity
- Example: "HTN x 15 years on 3 agents, DM2 with HbA1c 7.8%, former smoker (30 pack-years, quit 2020)"
-
Current Cardiac Medications:
- Antiplatelets/anticoagulants
- Beta-blockers (heart rate response)
- ACE-I/ARB/ARNI
- Statins (intensity)
- Diuretics (weight monitoring)
- Antiarrhythmics
- Document adherence and side effects
-
Device Status (if applicable):
- Pacemaker/ICD symptoms
- Shocks delivered
- Last interrogation date
Example Subjective Section for Cardiology
Objective Section (O)
The cardiology Objective section requires comprehensive cardiovascular examination, hemodynamic assessment, and integration of diagnostic studies.
Objective Section (O) Components
-
Vital Signs Including Orthostatics:
- Blood pressure (both arms if indicated, sitting and standing)
- Heart rate and rhythm
- Respiratory rate
- Oxygen saturation
- Weight (critical for heart failure)
- BMI
- Example: "BP sitting 118/72, standing 98/64; HR 68 regular; SpO2 94% RA; Weight 198 lbs (+8 from baseline)"
-
General Appearance:
- Volume status assessment
- Respiratory distress
- Cardiac cachexia if present
-
Jugular Venous Pressure (JVP):
- Height above sternal angle
- Waveform abnormalities (cannon A waves, V waves)
- Hepatojugular reflux
- Example: "JVP elevated to 12 cm H2O with positive hepatojugular reflux"
-
Cardiac Examination:
- Inspection: Visible apical impulse, precordial heave
- Palpation: PMI (location, size, character), thrills
- Auscultation:
- Heart sounds (S1, S2 quality and splitting)
- S3 (ventricular gallop) - heart failure indicator
- S4 (atrial gallop) - reduced compliance
- Murmurs (timing, location, grade, radiation, maneuvers)
- Rubs (pericarditis)
- Example: "PMI laterally displaced to 6th ICS, AAL. S1 normal, S2 with physiologic split, S3 gallop present. Grade 2/6 holosystolic murmur at apex radiating to axilla."
-
Peripheral Vascular Examination:
- Peripheral pulses (radial, femoral, DP, PT)
- Peripheral edema (location, severity, pitting)
- Skin temperature and color
- Capillary refill
- Example: "Bilateral 2+ pitting edema to mid-calf. Pulses 2+ throughout. Warm extremities."
-
Pulmonary Examination:
- Breath sounds
- Crackles/rales (location, extent)
- Wheezing
- Pleural effusion signs
-
ECG Interpretation:
- Rate, rhythm, axis
- Intervals (PR, QRS, QT/QTc)
- Atrial abnormalities
- Ventricular hypertrophy
- ST-T wave changes
- Q waves
- Comparison to prior
-
Echocardiogram Findings:
- LV size and function (EF, wall motion)
- RV size and function
- Valvular assessment
- Diastolic function
- Pericardium
- Estimated pressures (RVSP)
-
Laboratory Results:
- BNP/NT-proBNP
- Troponin
- Basic metabolic panel (electrolytes, renal function)
- CBC
- Lipid panel
- HbA1c
- Thyroid function
-
Device Interrogation (if applicable):
- Battery status
- Lead parameters
- Arrhythmia episodes
- Therapy delivery
Example Objective Section for Cardiology
Assessment Section (A)
The cardiology Assessment synthesizes clinical findings, provides risk stratification, and documents guideline-directed reasoning.
Assessment Section (A) Components
-
Primary Diagnosis:
- ICD-10 code
- Severity/stage classification (e.g., ACC/AHA Stage C HFrEF)
-
Cardiovascular Risk Assessment:
- ASCVD 10-year risk score (for primary prevention)
- HEART score (for acute chest pain)
- CHA2DS2-VASc score (for atrial fibrillation)
- HAS-BLED score (for bleeding risk)
-
Guideline References:
- ACC/AHA heart failure guidelines
- ACC/AHA/ESC arrhythmia guidelines
- ACC/AHA chest pain guidelines
- Lipid management guidelines
-
Clinical Reasoning:
- Integration of symptoms, exam, and diagnostic findings
- Differential diagnosis when applicable
- Disease progression assessment
-
GDMT Assessment:
- Current medications relative to guideline recommendations
- Target doses achieved or barriers
- Optimization opportunities
Example Assessment Section for Cardiology
Plan Section (P)
The cardiology Plan must address acute interventions, medication optimization, procedures, lifestyle modifications, and follow-up consistent with ACC/AHA guidelines.
Plan Section (P) Components
-
Acute Interventions:
- Diuretic adjustments
- IV therapy if indicated
- Monitoring parameters
-
Cardiac Medications:
- GDMT optimization
- Dosage adjustments with rationale
- New medications with indication
- Medications held and reason
-
Procedures:
- Catheterization, ablation, device procedures
- Pre-procedure planning
- Post-procedure care
-
Lifestyle Modifications:
- Sodium restriction
- Fluid restriction
- Weight monitoring
- Exercise/cardiac rehab
- Smoking cessation
- Alcohol limitation
-
Cardiac Rehabilitation:
- Referral criteria
- Phase specification
- Goals
-
Monitoring Plan:
- Labs (BNP, renal function, electrolytes)
- Daily weights
- Telemonitoring devices
- ICD remote monitoring
-
Specialist Consultations:
- Electrophysiology
- Heart failure specialist
- Cardiac surgery
- Palliative care (if appropriate)
-
Follow-up:
- Timing and focus of next visit
- Parameters for urgent return
Example Plan Section for Cardiology
AI-Assisted Documentation for Cardiology
As of 2025, 66% of healthcare providers utilize AI tools in their practice. AI scribes and ambient clinical intelligence can significantly reduce documentation burden for cardiologists while maintaining comprehensive records.
How AI Can Help with Cardiology Documentation
- Symptom capture: Accurately documents chest pain characterization, dyspnea classification, and symptom progression
- Medication reconciliation: Captures complex cardiac medication regimens with doses
- Exam findings: Documents cardiac examination including murmur grading
- Risk score calculation: Can assist with ASCVD, CHA2DS2-VASc, and other calculations
- Template generation: Creates structured notes based on clinical conversation
Cardiology-Specific AI Considerations
What AI captures well:
- Symptom history and HPI details
- NYHA functional class from patient description
- Medication lists and adherence
- Lifestyle discussion (diet, exercise, smoking)
- Follow-up instructions
What requires careful review:
- ECG interpretation: Verify AI-captured ECG findings against your read
- Murmur grading: Confirm grade, timing, and radiation accuracy
- Echo measurements: Verify EF percentages and valve findings
- Vital signs with orthostatics: Ensure positional changes captured
- Device interrogation data: Verify specific parameters and arrhythmia logs
- Complex medication regimens: Double-check doses, especially anticoagulants
Tips for Using AI with Cardiology Documentation
- Verbalize examination findings clearly: "There is an S3 gallop present" not "S3"
- State measurements precisely: "JVP is elevated to 12 centimeters" not "JVP up"
- Dictate ECG findings systematically: "Rate 72, rhythm atrial fibrillation, axis left, Q waves in V1 through V3"
- Specify murmur characteristics: "Grade 2 out of 6 holosystolic murmur at the apex radiating to the axilla"
- Review device data carefully: AI may not accurately capture complex ICD interrogation findings
- Verify guideline-directed therapy assessment: Confirm GDMT status is accurately documented
For more details, see our complete AI-Assisted Documentation Guide.
Telehealth Cardiology Documentation
Virtual cardiology care has expanded significantly, particularly for chronic disease management, medication adjustments, and device follow-up. Per CMS 2026 guidelines, telehealth services continue with specific documentation requirements.
Telehealth-Specific Cardiology Services
-
Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM):
- Daily weight monitoring
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Heart rate monitoring
- Implanted device data transmission
-
Device Remote Interrogation:
- Pacemaker/ICD remote checks
- Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) monitoring
- Alert-based reviews
-
Chronic Disease Management:
- Heart failure follow-up
- Atrial fibrillation management
- Hypertension optimization
- Anticoagulation management
Telehealth Cardiology Documentation Requirements
For virtual cardiology visits, document:
-
Visit logistics:
- Platform used (HIPAA-compliant)
- Patient and provider locations
- Consent for telehealth services
-
Remote monitoring data integration:
- Weight trends from home scale
- BP trends from home monitoring
- Device transmission data
-
Modified examination:
- Patient self-assessment (edema, dyspnea)
- Visual assessment (general appearance, JVD if visible)
- Functional assessment via observation
-
Examination limitations:
- Document what could not be assessed
- Indicate when in-person visit is needed
Example Telehealth Cardiology Documentation
Device Remote Monitoring Documentation
For complete telehealth documentation guidance, see our Telehealth SOAP Notes Guide.
Specialty Documentation Templates
Murmur Documentation Template
Heart Failure Assessment Template
Free Cardiology SOAP Note Template
Related Resources
- Emergency Medicine SOAP Notes
- Telehealth SOAP Notes Guide
- AI-Assisted Documentation Guide
- Free SOAP Note Templates
Frequently Asked Questions
Cardiology SOAP notes should document relevant risk scores based on the clinical scenario. For primary prevention, include the ASCVD 10-year risk score. For atrial fibrillation patients, document CHA2DS2-VASc score for stroke risk and HAS-BLED score for bleeding risk. For acute chest pain, the HEART score is essential. For heart failure patients, include ACC/AHA stage and NYHA functional class. These validated scores support clinical decision-making and demonstrate guideline-directed care.
Document heart failure using ACC/AHA staging (A-D) and NYHA functional classification (I-IV). Create a GDMT table showing each medication class (ARNI/ACEi/ARB, beta-blocker, MRA, SGLT2i), current dose, target dose, and whether at target. Note barriers to optimization such as hypotension, bradycardia, or renal dysfunction. Document the patient's congestion and perfusion profile (warm/cold, wet/dry) and ejection fraction with comparison to prior values.
Document murmurs systematically including: timing (systolic, diastolic, continuous), duration (early, mid, late, holo/pan), grade (1-6 for systolic, 1-4 for diastolic), quality (blowing, harsh, rumbling, musical), pitch (high, medium, low), location of maximum intensity, and radiation pattern. Include dynamic maneuver responses (Valsalva, standing, squatting, handgrip) and associated findings (S3, S4, clicks, rubs). Document your suspected etiology and comparison to prior examinations.
For ECG documentation, include: rate, rhythm, axis, intervals (PR, QRS, QTc), atrial abnormalities, ventricular hypertrophy criteria, ST-T changes, Q waves, and comparison to prior ECGs. For echocardiograms, document: LV size and ejection fraction, wall motion abnormalities, RV size and function, valvular assessment with severity grading, diastolic function parameters, RVSP, IVC size and collapsibility, and pericardial findings. Always compare to prior studies.
Telehealth cardiology notes should document: the platform used (HIPAA-compliant), patient and provider locations, consent for telehealth, and visit appropriateness. Include remote patient monitoring data (weight trends, blood pressure readings, heart rate). Document modified examination findings via video observation. Note examination limitations (unable to auscultate, perform orthostatic vitals, or physically examine). Include ICD/pacemaker remote transmission data if applicable and specify when in-person follow-up is recommended.
Document device type, manufacturer, model, and implant date. Include battery status with estimated longevity. For each lead, document threshold, impedance, and sensing values with comparison to prior. Record arrhythmia episodes (AF burden, NSVT episodes, VT/VF events), therapies delivered (ATP, shocks with appropriateness), and pacing percentages. Note any alerts or concerning findings and document your assessment and plan including programming changes and follow-up schedule.
Yes, SOAPNoteAI.com offers AI-assisted documentation specifically designed for healthcare providers including cardiologists. The platform is fully HIPAA-compliant with a signed Business Associate Agreement (BAA) and works on iPhone, iPad, and web browsers. It can capture complex cardiology encounters including symptom characterization, medication reconciliation, examination findings, and GDMT assessments. The AI helps ensure comprehensive documentation while reducing documentation burden, and it works for any medical specialty.
Medical Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical judgment. Always consult current clinical guidelines and your institution's policies.