Purpose
The Comprehensive SOAP is the core of how Shepherd works - because it mirrors how your team works. Instead of managing invoices, discharge instructions, and medical records separately, Shepherd connects them all.
As you care for a patient, treatments, services, and notes are recorded in real time and automatically populate invoices, discharge instructions, reminders, and tasks. This connected workflow saves time and ensures accuracy across patient care and billing.
SOAP Format Options
Singe Page SOAP lands 11/11/2025!
Comprehensive SOAPs can be viewed in two layout styles - Tabular and Single Page.
Both contain the same sections, information, and functionality. The format simply determines how you move through the SOAP.
Tabular Format - Displays each section in separate tabs (Summary, Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan, etc.), ideal for users who prefer a structured, step-by-step workflow.
Single Page Format - Combines all SOAP sections into one continuous, scrollable page. Sections can be expanded or collapsed for a cleaner view, and the fixed header makes it easy to navigate between sections as you document. Optimized for mobile and tablet use.
To choose your preferred layout, go to User Profile → Preferences → SOAP Format.
This setting is user-specific and applies to all Comprehensive SOAPs (past, present, and future).
Comprehensive SOAP Summary
When you open a Comprehensive SOAP, you’ll land on the Summary - a snapshot of the patient’s visit and current status.
Summary Fields
Status - Displays where the SOAP appears on the dashboard: Active, In Review, Lab Pending, or Locked (displays in the header for Single Page SOAP)
Locked SOAPs cannot be edited unless permissions allow unlocking.
SOAP Title - A short description for quick reference in the patient’s medical history (appears in the header for Single Page SOAP).
Location - Identifies where the patient is within the clinic.
Patient Weight - Can be entered here or under Vitals in the Objective section.
Supervising Doctor - Used for reporting, production tracking, and dashboard filtering.
Assigned Users - Typically technicians; visible on the dashboard and whiteboard.
Estimates - Create or import estimates directly from the SOAP.
Addendum Information - Attach notes or files after the SOAP is locked.
This section appears collapsed in Tabular and as a toggle in Single page
SOAP Actions
From the Summary page (Tabular) or from the SOAP header (Single Page), you can select the three dots to:
Export, email, or print the SOAP
Print a cage card
Edit check-in time
Delete the SOAP (based on permissions)
Tabular Comprehensive SOAP
Single Page Comprehensive SOAP
Subjective
The Subjective section is where you document patient history, including Initial Complaint, Current Medications & Supplements, and Patient Medication History.
Objective
The Objective section is where vitals and physical exam findings are recorded. You can enter multiple sets of vitals or exams within one SOAP.
Each set of vitals automatically populates a comparison table.
Physical exams can be entered using preloaded or custom templates.
You can load past exams to reuse or compare findings.
Add default values in Admin to streamline routine exam entries.
Physical Exams
There are two ways to add an exam. You can:
Add a new exam from your pre-loaded or custom templates
Load a past exam to reuse findings
To save time, use default values in your exam templates or load a past exam. You can also use shortcuts within the SOAP for quick entries.
Body Maps
Add a Body Map to notate physical findings (e.g., lumps or wounds). You can also load a previous map to build on prior annotations.
Assessment
Use the Assessment section to document:
Problems and diagnoses
Chronic conditions
Prognosis
Rule-outs and assessment notes
If you’ve linked discharge instructions to a diagnosis in Admin, they automatically populate when that diagnosis is selected.
Diagnostics (Lab Integrations)
When using integrated partners such as IDEXX Reference Labs or Zoetis Reference Labs, the Diagnostics section allows you to:
View pending and completed lab orders
Access results in the partner’s portal
View PDFs automatically uploaded to the Laboratory section
Laboratory
Upload lab results manually and add notes for future reference. This makes it easy to review diagnostic data without opening each file.
Imaging
Upload or view diagnostic and reference images (e.g., radiographs, photos).
If using an integration like IDEXX Web PACS, imaging results populate automatically.
Documents
Upload outside medical records, client-provided files, or paper forms collected during the visit.
Forms
Add and complete client consent forms or internal documents such as anesthesia sheets or dental charts. Forms can be completed electronically or uploaded from paper.
Plan
The Plan section is where treatment recommendations, procedures, and follow-up actions are recorded. It includes your clinical guidance, treatments to be performed, and tools for tracking care.
Tx Plan
Document medical recommendations and outline treatments for the visit. You can also include relevant client communication.
Order Treatments
From this section, you can:
Mark treatments as Administered or Schedule them for later in the visit
Push approved estimate items directly into the Tx Plan (no re-entry required)
Treatment Automations
When a treatment is administered, Shepherd automatically:
Logs it in the medical record
Adds it to the invoice
Triggers linked discharge instructions
Generates client reminders
Creates linked internal tasks (e.g., callbacks)
Because invoices and records are connected, only mark treatments as administered once completed. To remove an item from the invoice, the treatment must be undone.
Weight-Based Dosing
When entering weight-based doses (e.g., mg/kg), Shepherd automatically calculates the correct volume using the patient’s current SOAP weight.
A current SOAP weight is required for accurate dosing to avoid calculating doses from previous weight entries.
Additional Instructions
When ordering a treatment, you can include special handling or procedural notes under Additional Instructions, such as:
Required x-ray views
Administration instructions
Handling notes
Client Medication Toggle
If a client brings their own medication to be administered, toggle Client Medication ON. This logs the treatment but prevents it from being added to the invoice.
Tx Schedule
Scheduled treatments can be prioritized using:
STAT - Immediate
Scheduled - Planned for later
PRN - As needed
You can also specify the number of doses and administration frequency.
Tx History
Once treatments are administered, they appear in Tx History, automatically creating the medical record entry.
In Admin, each treatment can have a default medical note (e.g., “Given SC in right hind limb”). This text auto-populates when administered but can be edited before saving.
Setting up product defaults in Admin saves time and ensures consistency across your records.
Rx (Prescriptions)
Prescriptions can be entered in the SOAP or directly from the patient’s profile.
Add In-House or Written prescriptions
In-house prescriptions will automatically appear on the invoice
For detailed guidance, see the Prescription Guide.
Comprehensive SOAP Charges
The SOAP Charges page displays all items that have been added to the invoice as part of the current SOAP.
Invoices can include items from more than one patient, depending on how the visit is structured
If you need to assign the SOAP charges to a different invoice:
Click the dropdown under Change Invoice
Select an existing invoice or create a new one
