Note section settings let you choose how Abridge structures and styles your clinical notes — including the level of detail in the History of Present Illness (HPI) and the format of the Assessment and Plan (A&P). Changes apply to all future generated notes and are not applied retroactively.
How to update note section settings
- Open the Abridge web editor at notes.abridge.com on a desktop or laptop.
- Select the three horizontal bars in the upper left corner to open the menu.
- Select Note Settings.
- Choose a style for Assessment & Plan: Concise or Comprehensive.
- Choose a format for Assessment & Plan: Bulleted or Paragraph.
To show or hide individual note sections (such as Physical Exam or Results), see View or Hide Note Sections
History of Present Illness style: Concise vs. Comprehensive
The HPI style setting controls the level of detail and structure in your History of Present Illness section. Choose the style that best matches how you document.
Concise
Use Concise if you prefer a focused HPI that captures the key clinical details without a tight opening summary. Best for clinicians who want a clean, readable narrative without additional structure.
See example output: Concise HPI
History of Present Illness
The patient, with a history of diabetes and recent vision loss, presents for follow-up. They report no nausea with weekly Trulicity injections and are familiar with the pen. They have not experienced the common side effect of weight loss with Trulicity, and attribute their recent weight gain to decreased mobility due to vision loss. They underwent an operation for their vision last week, but report no improvement and are unable to drive. They continue to work, with transportation provided by their husband.
They are also taking metformin and insulin, but no Farxiga. They administer 20–25 units of insulin at bedtime and report no hypoglycemic episodes. Their morning blood sugars are around 140. They recall a previous medication, possibly an injectable, that maintained their blood sugars in the 90s, but cannot remember the name. They have one more box of insulin vials left from a previous prescription.
In addition to their diabetes and vision loss, they have been dealing with the stress of decreased independence and increased reliance on their husband for transportation.
Comprehensive
Use Comprehensive if you want a more structured HPI that opens with a tight one-liner summary and captures more pertinent negatives and subjective/objective detail. Best for clinicians who want richer documentation with greater clinical specificity.
Comprehensive includes:
- A tight one-liner summary at the beginning of the section
- More pertinent negatives captured
- Increased sensitivity to subjective vs. objective findings
- Prioritization of listed problems by specialty (when available)
See example output: Comprehensive HPI
History of Present Illness
The patient, with a history of diabetes, has been managing their condition with Trulicity, metformin, and insulin. They have not experienced any side effects such as nausea or pancreatitis from the Trulicity. However, they have not noticed any weight loss, a common side effect of the medication. They have been taking insulin at a dosage of between 20 and 25 units, with no episodes of hypoglycemia. Their blood sugar control has been satisfactory, with an A1c close to 7, but there is a desire to lower it further due to their eye problems.
The patient recently underwent an operation for their vision, which has been significantly impaired. They report a distinct blur in their right eye and the presence of a floater. They are unable to drive due to their vision problems and have been staying at home since the operation. They are scheduled for a follow-up appointment next week.
The patient has also been experiencing high morning blood sugar levels, around 140. They recall a previous medication, possibly an injectable, that kept their levels consistently in the 90s, but they cannot remember the name. They have been using an Accu Chek meter to monitor their blood sugar levels.
The patient has been taking their insulin at bedtime, but there is a plan to change this to taking it with breakfast and dinner.
The patient has been struggling with weight gain, which they attribute to their limited mobility due to their vision problems. They acknowledge the impact of weight gain on their blood sugar control and overall health. They also express the emotional toll of their vision problems and the resulting changes in their lifestyle.
Assessment and Plan format: Bulleted vs. Paragraph
The A&P format setting controls how problems and plans are presented in the Assessment and Plan section.
Bulleted
Each problem is listed with its supporting rationale, followed by plan items as indented bullets. Best for clinicians who prefer a scannable, structured A&P.
See example output: Bulleted A&P
Assessment & Plan
Possible Ischemic Heart Disease: New onset exertional chest pain and shortness of breath with radiation to the arm and associated lightheadedness. High risk given history of diabetes, hypertension, and family history of heart disease.
-Perform electrocardiogram (EKG) and echocardiogram today.
Poorly Controlled Diabetes: Hemoglobin A1C of 9 in January. Admitted to inconsistent use of Metformin.
-Encourage consistent use of Metformin 500mg twice daily.
-Review diabetes medications with nurse during today's visit.
Uncontrolled Hypertension: Blood pressure of 180/80 today.
-Start Hydrochlorothiazide 25mg daily.
-Refer to nutritionist for low salt, heart healthy diet education. Nutritionist to call next week.
Paragraph
Each problem is presented as a continuous paragraph integrating the assessment and plan. Best for clinicians who prefer a narrative A&P style.
See example output: Paragraph A&P
Assessment & Plan
Possible Ischemic Heart Disease: She presents with new onset exertional chest pain, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness, compounded by multiple cardiovascular risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, and a family history of heart disease. We will perform an EKG and echocardiogram this afternoon.
Poorly Controlled Diabetes: Her last A1C in January was 9, indicating poorly controlled diabetes, exacerbated by inconsistent adherence to metformin. We will continue Metformin 500mg twice daily and review diabetes medications with a nurse this afternoon.
Uncontrolled Hypertension: Her blood pressure today is 180/80, indicating uncontrolled hypertension. We will start Hydrochlorothiazide 25mg daily and refer her to a nutritionist for low salt, heart-healthy diet counseling.
FAQs
Will changing my settings update notes I've already created?
No. Setting changes apply to future generated notes only. They are not applied retroactively to existing notes.
Can I change these settings at any time?
Yes. You can update your Note Settings at any time from the web editor menu. The new settings will apply starting with your next generated note.
Are these settings available in Abridge Inside (Hyperspace)?
Note Settings are configured in the Abridge web editor at notes.abridge.com. Settings saved there apply across your Abridge account, including when using Abridge Inside in Hyperspace.
Related troubleshooting
- A Section is Missing from a Generated Note— What to check if a section is not appearing in your generated note, including how to verify Note Settings.