How to Take Patient's Daily Progress Report

Patient daily progress report needs to be taken twice a day — before morning and evening rounds.

Use the SOAP format for structured documentation:

S — Subjective Findings

The patient's side of the story:

• What they feel about their illness and its progress
• Their major concerns and problems
• Examples: wound soreness, not passed stool for 24 hours, blood in vomitus, numbness in a limb

Remember: patient's complaints are not always associated with their primary disease. Something else can be more discomforting. What the patient says is always important.

O — Objective Findings

Your assessment of how the patient is today:

• Take vitals: BP, Pulse, Temperature, Respiratory Rate
• Ask pertinent questions
• Do relevant clinical examination
• For diabetic patients: check RBS
• In surgical wards: note output from all tubes and drains
• Check for specific signs (e.g., flapping tremors in hepatic encephalopathy)

A — Assessment

• Your clinical impression of the patient's progress
• Is the patient improving, deteriorating, or stable?
• Any new concerns?

P — Plan

• Management plan for the next 24 hours
• Changes in medication
• Investigations to be done
• Any consults needed