An after-visit summary (AVS) gives patients a clear record of what happened during their visit and what they need to do next. When written well, it reduces follow-up phone calls, improves medication adherence, and helps patients feel confident about their care plan.
Disclaimer: This template is for documentation structure only. Practices should adapt it to their clinical, legal, and organizational requirements.
Copyable after-visit summary template
AFTER-VISIT SUMMARY
Patient name: [Patient full name]
Date of visit: [Visit date]
Provider: [Clinician name, credentials]
Practice: [Practice name]
Visit type: [Office visit / Telehealth / Follow-up / Annual wellness]
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WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY
[Plain-language summary of the main topics discussed during the visit.
Use 2–4 sentences. Avoid medical jargon.]
Example: "We talked about your blood pressure, which has been higher
than your target over the past two months. We also reviewed your
cholesterol results from last week."
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YOUR DIAGNOSES
1. [Condition name in plain language] — [Brief explanation if helpful]
2. [Condition name in plain language] — [Brief explanation if helpful]
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YOUR MEDICATIONS
New or changed medications:
- [Medication name] [dose] — Take [frequency]. [Purpose in plain language.]
Note: [Any important instructions, e.g., "Take with food," "Avoid grapefruit"]
Continuing medications (no changes):
- [Medication name] [dose] — [Frequency]
Stopped medications:
- [Medication name] — Reason: [Brief reason]
─────────────────────────────────
TEST RESULTS
Results reviewed today:
- [Test name]: [Result] — [What it means in plain language]
Pending results:
- [Test name]: Results expected by [date/timeframe].
We will contact you by [phone/portal] when results are ready.
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WHAT TO DO NEXT
- [ ] [Action item #1, e.g., "Pick up your new prescription at your pharmacy"]
- [ ] [Action item #2, e.g., "Schedule a follow-up appointment in 4 weeks"]
- [ ] [Action item #3, e.g., "Get blood work done before your next visit"]
- [ ] [Action item #4, e.g., "Start the new stretching exercises we discussed"]
─────────────────────────────────
WHEN TO SEEK CARE SOONER
Contact our office or seek medical attention if you experience:
- [Warning sign #1]
- [Warning sign #2]
- [Warning sign #3]
If you have a medical emergency, call 911.
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YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT
Date: [Date and time, or "To be scheduled"]
Provider: [Provider name]
Location: [Office address or "Telehealth"]
Preparation: [Any prep instructions, e.g., "Fast for 12 hours before blood work"]
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QUESTIONS?
Call us at: [Phone number]
Patient portal: [Portal URL or instructions]
After-hours: [After-hours contact information]
Patient-friendly language tips
The AVS is for the patient, not for other clinicians. Writing style matters.
- Use plain language. Write "high blood pressure" instead of "hypertension" when possible. If you must use a medical term, explain it in parentheses.
- Use short sentences. "Take this medication once a day with breakfast" is clearer than "Administer one tablet daily with the first meal of the day."
- Be specific with instructions. "Call our office if your pain gets worse" is better than "Follow up as needed." Include the phone number right there.
- Use "you" and "your." Direct address makes the document feel personal and actionable, not bureaucratic.
- Avoid abbreviations. Write out "twice a day" instead of "BID." The patient should not need a medical dictionary to read their summary.
Common sections explained
What we talked about today
This opening section orients the patient. A brief, conversational summary of the visit helps them remember what was discussed — especially if they are reading the AVS hours or days later. Keep it to 2–4 sentences.
Medications
The medication section is where most patient confusion happens. Clearly separate new medications, continuing medications, and stopped medications. For each new or changed medication, include the purpose in plain language and any critical instructions.
What to do next
Frame follow-up tasks as a checklist the patient can work through. Actionable, specific items ("Pick up your prescription at CVS," "Schedule a follow-up in 4 weeks") are more effective than general advice.
When to seek care sooner
This section prevents unnecessary ER visits and catches real emergencies. List the specific warning signs relevant to the patient's condition — not a generic list for every visit.
Review checklist
Before giving the AVS to the patient, check:
- [ ] Patient name and date of visit are correct
- [ ] Diagnoses are written in patient-friendly language
- [ ] All medication changes are listed with clear instructions
- [ ] Pending test results note how and when the patient will be contacted
- [ ] Follow-up action items are specific and actionable
- [ ] Warning signs are relevant to this patient's condition
- [ ] Next appointment details are included or the patient knows how to schedule
- [ ] Contact information is current and correct
- [ ] The summary is understandable without medical training
How Dictum helps with after-visit summaries
Writing a patient-friendly AVS from scratch after every visit is time-consuming — particularly when the clinical note is already done. Dictum can draft after-visit summaries directly from the encounter documentation, translating clinical language into patient-readable text.
The draft pulls in diagnoses, medication changes, and follow-up plans from the clinician's SOAP note or encounter documentation. The clinician reviews the summary, adjusts the language, and hands it to the patient or sends it through the portal.
For practices using EHR integration, Dictum's export features can push the AVS alongside the clinical note, keeping everything in one workflow. To understand how AI fits into clinical documentation more broadly, see our overview of what an AI medical scribe does.
Frequently asked questions
What is an after-visit summary? An after-visit summary (AVS) is a document given to the patient at the end of a clinical visit. It summarizes what was discussed, any diagnoses, medications prescribed, follow-up instructions, and what the patient should do next — written in language the patient can understand.
Is an after-visit summary required? For practices participating in CMS quality programs, providing a clinical summary to the patient within one business day of a visit is a measure under Promoting Interoperability. Many organizations provide the AVS at checkout as standard practice.
What reading level should an after-visit summary use? Health literacy guidelines recommend writing patient-facing materials at a 5th to 8th grade reading level. Avoid medical jargon, use short sentences, and explain any clinical terms that must be included.
Can I customize this template for my specialty? Yes. The core sections apply broadly, but you should adjust the content to match your specialty and patient population. A pediatric AVS might include growth milestones, while a cardiology AVS might include heart-healthy diet guidance.
Should I include test results in the after-visit summary? Include results that are available and relevant. If results are pending, note that clearly and tell the patient how and when they will receive them. Avoid including results without context or explanation.
Can AI generate after-visit summaries? AI tools like Dictum can draft patient-friendly after-visit summaries from the clinical encounter documentation. The clinician reviews the summary for accuracy and completeness before it goes to the patient.
What is the difference between an after-visit summary and discharge instructions? An after-visit summary covers an outpatient visit and summarizes what happened during the appointment. Discharge instructions are typically used in emergency or inpatient settings and focus on post-discharge care, medications, and warning signs to watch for.
Want to generate patient-friendly summaries in less time? Try Dictum free and turn your clinical notes into clear after-visit summaries automatically.