How to edit default customizable templates

Dragon Copilot provides a suggested template in each of the sections that offer a customizable template option: History of Present Illness, Allergies, Physical Exam, Results, Procedure, and Assessment and Plan. You can modify the suggested template or replace it with a template that you design.

Edit or replace a default template

• Go to the style panel: Settings > Note style & format > Style.
• Scroll to any of the six note sections that support a customizable template option. Then select the open icon   next to the heading name. Open the drop-down menu and choose the customizable template for that specific note section.
• To edit the default template, scroll to the bottom of the suggested template and select Edit template. Make your changes, and then select Save.
• To use your own template instead, delete the default text, paste in your content, and select Save.

Typical scenarios for customizable templates

Here are common scenarios where a customizable template can help you get the output you need.

How do I get titles or subheadings to appear in my note?

To add headings or titles to a specific note section, include them as plain text in your template. Here are some examples of subheadings:

General appearance: [List findings] {if not mentioned put "Normal."}
Vital signs: [List findings] {if not mentioned put "Within normal limits"}.
HEENT: [List findings] {if not mentioned put "Within normal limits"}.

How do I get "canned text" to appear in my note?

For fixed content that isn't a subheading or label, such as canned or boilerplate text, use quotation marks to designate that text. For example:

• "Risks and benefits have been discussed with the patient."
• "Further diagnostic therapeutic intervention will be based on patient response to treatment."

In each of these cases, the text in quotation marks is included in that section every time you apply the template.

How do I design the template so the AI adds or generates content based on the recorded conversation?

To have the AI fill in specific information from the recorded conversation, add a placeholder to your template. Placeholders mark the spots the AI updates using details extracted from the note and transcript.

• Follow-up: [next scheduled visit, other]

Placeholder text can be detailed if necessary. Use placeholders to guide the AI on how to structure the content, for example:

• Treatment: [Briefly describe any related treatments like lifestyle counseling, medications, or referrals. Don't include the name and location of the pharmacy.]

How do I ask the AI to delete a subsection if it's not mentioned?

Add instructions to your template to provide guidelines for Dragon Copilot to update specific content in a certain way. Instructions help the AI understand what changes to make to the template after filling in the necessary information, including placeholder content.

• Commonly used instructions include deleting a row if there's no content or replacing specific content with a designated word or phrase.
• Word instructions as "if, then" statements. Position them as close as possible to the elements or rows to which they pertain.

• Food allergies: {If none specified, then delete this entire row and its heading.}

Can I structure my template to include multiple requests to the AI?

Yes. Your template can include several elements—such as subheadings, placeholders, and instructions—and the AI will use all of them when generating the note. For example:

• Subheading: HEAD, FACE, EYES:
• Placeholder: [List findings.]
• Instruction with canned text: {If HEAD, FACE, EYES is unremarkable use the statement "Normocephalic, atraumatic; PERRLA.", then append any noted exceptions. Delete this entire row if no findings were mentioned.}

All together, it looks like this example:

• HEAD, FACE, EYES: [List findings] {If HEAD, FACE, EYES is unremarkable use the statement "Normocephalic, atraumatic; PERRLA.", then append any noted exceptions. Delete this entire row if no findings were mentioned.}

How can I have the AI populate a Physical Exam section with my standard text, even when that body system wasn’t discussed?

Add an {empty section} instruction at the very top of your customizable template. This instruction tells Dragon Copilot to include your standard text even when the recording doesn't mention that body system. Within the template, list the standard text you want for each body system and place those statements in quotation marks. For example:

• {empty section}
• General Appearance: [List findings] {if not mentioned put "Normal"}.
Vital signs: [List findings] {if not mentioned put "Within normal limits"}.
HEENT: [List findings]...

How can I tell the AI to repeat an instruction, so I don't have to enter it multiple times?

Use a looping command, which tells the system to repeat a specific part of the template. Looping commands are helpful when you have several repeating items - such as multiple diagnoses - and want the AI to format each diagnosis the same way. In some cases, you might also need to mark where the repeated section ends to ensure it functions correctly.

• {Repeat for each diagnosis}
• [Diagnosis] {Do not number the diagnoses}
• -Monitoring: [Briefly describe symptoms, signs, or testing to be followed as evidence of disease progression or evidence of disease regression] {if none specified, then delete this entire row and its header}
• -Evaluation: [Briefly describe any analysis and interpretation regarding the patient's condition to determine how well the current treatment plan is working and to identify any necessary adjustments. This could include reviewing medical test results or describing the patient's response to treatment] {if none specified, then delete this entire row and its header}
• -Assessment: [Briefly describe any clinical judgments and decisions based on the evaluation to address the patient's needs by planning and implementing appropriate interventions. This could include ordering new tests or procedures, discussing the patient's treatment options, or reviewing previous treatments]  {if none specified, then delete this entire row and its header}
• -Treatment: [Briefly describe any related treatments like lifestyle counseling, medications, or referrals. Do not include the name and location of the pharmacy]  {if none specified, then delete this entire row and its header}

Define a customizable template source

By default, customizable templates use both the transcript and AI-generated note to build the clinical content for a section. However, you can choose to use the note only or the transcript only. For example:

• For the Physical exam in particular, you can use transcript only if you want to capture more details as discussed during the encounter.
• If you have too much detail from the transcript, you can opt for using the note only.

To use the transcript only, add the following instruction at the top of your template followed by a new line:

• {Transcript only}

To use the note only, add the following instruction at the top of your template followed by a new line:

• {Disable transcript}

Best practices when developing customizable templates

• Start with the default note. Review your note outcome without any custom templates to understand how your specialty‑specific AI model performs. Then apply templates only where you need extra tailoring.
• Write clear, specific instructions. Keep AI guidance concise and direct when creating placeholders or template rules.
• Review and adjust as needed. Because customizable templates use generative AI, results can vary. Always review the generated note and edit content as necessary.
• Use Auto‑Style for consistency. When you enable auto‑style, your style preferences—including customizable templates—are automatically applied each time you add a new recording.
• Manually apply when needed. If you choose not to run your style automatically, remember that adding another ambient recording regenerates the note. Reapply your template after each new recording.
• Avoid reapplying unchanged templates. If the output isn't what you expect, try one of these actions: Add another ambient recording, make a monologue recording, restore an earlier unstyled version, or adjust your template before applying it again.
• Skip unnecessary prompts. Don't include instructions that direct the overall AI model, such as "do not hallucinate" or "use medically relevant information," as they're already built in.

Next steps

Develop even further personalization for your notes by building a customizable template library for each note section that supports customizable templates. To learn more, see Create a custom template library.

Related topics

Personalize your AI-generated note

Intro to customizable templates

How to use default customizable templates