One of the first things taught in nursing school is how to evaluate and document the condition of a patient. This system is called “SOAP” notes. SOAP notes were developed by Dr. Lawrence Weed in the 1960’s at the University of Vermont as part of the problem-orientated medical record (POMR).1 SOAP is an acronym for this system of assessment and charting. SOAP stands for:
As it turns out, this system not only works for patient care, it works for pretty much any situation, project, or program. See and you thought this was about hand-washing!
Over the next few weeks, this series, “SOAP-ing your Wellness Program” will present you with an organized and clear path to set up a new wellness program, or to evaluate an existing one. If you are like many in this ever-changing world of wellness, it can be difficult to determine where to start. Even more challenging is crafting a plan that will address the specific needs of your employee population. Last but not least, monitoring your program to identify trends, making adjustments for maximum impact and evaluating the effectiveness of your program can be a nightmare. Not to worry, all you need is a little SOAP.
Next week: The “S” of SOAP.
1(Quinn & Gordon, 2003).
No comments:
Post a Comment