You know how hectic things can get during a busy shift — you’re documenting one patient after another, trying to keep notes clear, accurate, and fast. That’s where dot phrases in Epic come in.

If you’ve ever wished you could save time typing the same thing over and over again, this little feature is about to become your best friend.

Dot phrases are basically shortcuts that help you drop in entire sentences or templates with just a few keystrokes — like magic for documentation.

If you’re a nurse, physician, or medical assistant, learning how to use them smartly can seriously cut down your charting time and make your notes more consistent.

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Why Dot Phrases for Epic Matter 🩺

Using dot phrases for Epic (or SmartPhrases) is one of the easiest ways to simplify repetitive clinical documentation. Here’s why they’re so valuable:

• ⏰ Save Time: No more retyping long paragraphs—dot phrases instantly fill in text you use often.
• 📋 Improve Accuracy: Pre-approved phrases help ensure consistent, error-free notes.
• 💬 Standardize Communication: Everyone on the team uses the same format, so notes are clear and uniform.
• 😌 Reduce Burnout: Less time typing = more time caring for patients and fewer after-hours note sessions.
• 💡 Real Example: A clinician can type “.HTNfollowup” and instantly insert a complete hypertension follow-up plan instead of retyping it every time.

Whether you’re a physician, nurse, scribe, or healthcare admin, learning how to create and use dot phrases for Epic is a small step that delivers massive efficiency.

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Categories of Dot Phrases for Epic

Below are 8 useful categories, each containing 3–5 examples of dot phrases, complete with explanations, “Use When” tips, and example sentences.

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1. History & Social / Past Medical Dot Phrases 📋

.PMHStandard

Explanation: Inserts a standard paragraph for common chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension.
Use When: You want a quick, uniform past medical history.
Example: “Patient has a 10-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, well controlled on metformin, hypertension for 5 years, and hyperlipidemia treated with statin.”

.FHNeg

Explanation: Family history negative for key disorders.
Use When: No relevant family history exists.
Example: “Family history is negative for early cardiovascular disease, stroke, or cancer.”

.SHSmoke

Explanation: Documents smoking status.
Use When: Recording a patient’s tobacco history.
Example: “Social history: Former smoker, quit 3 years ago after a 10-pack-year history.”

.SHPsych

Explanation: Social history about mental health or living status.
Use When: Capturing social and behavioral context.
Example: “Lives alone, works full-time, denies alcohol use or recreational drugs.”

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2. Physical Exam / Review of Systems Dot Phrases 🩹

.ROSComplete

Explanation: Inserts a normal, full review of systems.
Use When: You completed a comprehensive ROS with no abnormal findings.
Example: “Review of systems negative except as noted.”

.PEGeneral

Explanation: Normal general appearance note.
Use When: Physical exam is unremarkable.
Example: “Patient alert and oriented ×3, in no acute distress.”

.PECardioNormal

Explanation: Normal cardiac findings.
Use When: Cardiac exam is within normal limits.
Example: “Heart regular rate and rhythm, no murmurs or gallops.”

.PERespNormal

Explanation: Normal respiratory findings.
Use When: Lungs are clear.
Example: “Lungs clear to auscultation bilaterally, no wheezes or rales.”

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3. Assessment & Plan Dot Phrases ✅

.PlanHTNStable

Explanation: Template for stable hypertension management.
Use When: Documenting controlled hypertension.
Example: “Continue current medications, monitor BP weekly, follow up in 6 months.”

.PlanDiabetesTC

Explanation: Plan for diabetes follow-up.
Use When: Reviewing diabetes management.
Example: “Continue metformin, check HbA1c in 3 months, reinforce lifestyle counseling.”

.PlanRefSpecialist

Explanation: Specialist referral note.
Use When: Referring to another department.
Example: “Refer to cardiology for further evaluation of chest pain.”

.PlanVaccination

Explanation: Adds vaccine recommendation.
Use When: Vaccine is due.
Example: “Administer influenza vaccine today; pneumococcal per schedule.”

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4. Discharge Instructions / Follow-Up Dot Phrases 🏥

.DCInstructionsGeneric

Explanation: Inserts standard discharge text.
Use When: Patient leaves clinic stable.
Example: “Return if symptoms worsen, follow up in 2 weeks.”

.DCInstructionsSurgery

Explanation: Post-surgical instructions.
Use When: After a minor surgery.
Example: “Keep incision clean and dry, no lifting over 10 lbs for one week.”

.DCMedAdjust

Explanation: Medication change note.
Use When: Starting or changing a medication.
Example: “Start lisinopril 10 mg daily, recheck in 2 weeks.”

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5. Specialty / Procedure Specific Dot Phrases ⚙️

.CardioEchoReport

Explanation: Summarizes echocardiogram results.
Use When: Adding echo results.
Example: “EF 55%, mild TR, no regional wall motion abnormalities.”

.OBGynPapFollow

Explanation: Pap smear follow-up note.
Use When: Reviewing Pap results.
Example: “Pap negative; repeat in 3 years per guidelines.”

.NeuroStrokeAlert

Explanation: Stroke alert documentation.
Use When: Stroke activation in progress.
Example: “Stroke alert called; NIHSS 8, CT head negative, tPA administered.”

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6. Billing & Admin Dot Phrases 💼

.InformedConsentProc

Explanation: Informed consent documentation.
Use When: Obtaining consent for a procedure.
Example: “Risks, benefits, and alternatives discussed; consent obtained.”

.TelehealthNote

Explanation: Telehealth visit template.
Use When: Virtual encounter.
Example: “Telehealth visit conducted; consent obtained; patient aware of limitations.”

.Level4NewPatient

Explanation: Level-4 visit documentation.
Use When: Billing higher-complexity visits.
Example: “Comprehensive review and multi-system exam performed.”

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7. Patient Education & Lifestyle Dot Phrases 🌱

.CounselSmokingCessation

Explanation: Quit-smoking counseling text.
Use When: Discussing cessation.
Example: “Discussed quitting strategies; provided hotline and support resources.”

.CounselDietExercise

Explanation: Diet and activity advice.
Use When: Counseling on healthy lifestyle.
Example: “Encouraged balanced diet and 30 min of daily exercise.”

.CounselSleepHygiene

Explanation: Sleep hygiene education.
Use When: Addressing sleep issues.
Example: “Advised regular bedtime, reduce screen time, avoid caffeine.”

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8. Workflow & Team Communication Dot Phrases 📬

.HandoffNightTeam

Explanation: Night shift handoff.
Use When: Ending your shift.
Example: “Stable overnight, labs pending; notify MD if HR > 120.”

.AlertCriticalLab

Explanation: Critical lab communication.
Use When: Notifying about abnormal result.
Example: “K = 2.8; rechecked, corrected, MD informed.”

.TeamNoteDailySummary

Explanation: Daily team summary note.
Use When: Recording team rounds.
Example: “Patient stable; no new events; continue plan of care.”

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Final Thoughts 💭

If you’ve read this far, you now understand how dot phrases for Epic work, why they matter, and how they can make your life much easier.

They help you document faster, improve consistency, and enhance patient care.

👉 Action tip: Start by creating just three phrases you use most often. Use them daily for a week, then expand your library.

Over time, you’ll build a powerful, personalized set of dot phrases that cut your typing time dramatically and make your notes shine.

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Bonus Recap Table 📊

Category	Example Dot Phrase	Use Case	Example Text
History & Social	.PMHStandard	Chronic conditions	“Type 2 DM, HTN, HLD”
Physical Exam	.PEGeneral	Normal exam	“Alert, oriented, NAD”
Assessment & Plan	.PlanHTNStable	Controlled HTN	“Continue meds, monitor BP”
Discharge	.DCInstructionsGeneric	Stable discharge	“Return if fever or pain”
Specialty	.OBGynPapFollow	Pap results	“Pap negative; repeat 3 yrs”
Billing/Admin	.TelehealthNote	Virtual visit	“Consent obtained”
Patient Education	.CounselDietExercise	Lifestyle tips	“Encouraged balanced diet”
Workflow	.HandoffNightTeam	Shift change	“Stable, labs pending”