A sandwich note is a subtype of progress note that reports on the status of a sandwich that a patient is eating, about to eat, or has just completed eating. In the event of a chart being reviewed in court before lawyers and a judge, the sandwich note is considered the most important document in the medical record. Not charting a sandwich note is punishable by 1-year suspension.
How to Write a Sandwich Note
- NAME OF SANDWICH
- TYPE OF BREAD AND NUMBER OF SLICES
- LIST ANY MEATS
- LIST ANY CHEESES
- LIST ANY TOPPINGS
- LIST ANY CONDIMENTS
- HUNGER PAIN SCORE BEFORE SANDWICH (ON SCALE FROM ZERO TO INFINITY)
- TIME OF FIRST BITE
- TIME OF PENULTIMATE BITE
- TIME OF LAST BITE
- HUNGER PAIN SCORE AFTER SANDWICH (ON SCALE FROM ZERO TO INFINITY)
- PERCENTAGE OF SANDWICH CONSUMED (EXCLUDING THE CRUST)
- PERCENTAGE OF CRUST CONSUMED
- CODE STATUS
- ALWAYS WRITE NOTE IN CAPS LOCK
Example of a Sandwich Note
- TURKEY SANDWICH
- WHITE BREAD, 2 SLICES PRESENT
- TURKEY PRESENT
- AMERICAN CHEESE PRESENT
- LETTUCE, TOMATO, PICKLE, ONIONS PRESENT
- MAYONNAISE PRESENT
- HUNGER PAIN SCORE BEFORE SANDWICH: 30 MILLION
- TIME OF FIRST BITE: 12:22 PM
- TIME OF PENULTIMATE BITE: 12:32 PM
- TIME OF LAST BITE: 4:32 PM
- HUNGER PAIN SCORE AFTER SANDWICH: 13
- 100% OF SANDWICH CONSUMED
- 83% OF CRUST CONSUMED
- FULL CODE
Other Notes
- Napkin