Module 2, Lesson 2
Prerequisites: Lesson 2.1 — Finding & Applying Templates
Estimated time: 8 minutes
What You’ll Learn
- How to create a new template using the header-and-instruction builder
- How to add, remove, and reorder sections
- How to set per-section formatting instructions
- How to add macros with trigger phrases
- How to create a template from a sample note or voice recording
- How to edit an existing template manually or with AI
- How to preview, save, and roll back template versions
The Template Builder
At the top of the Template Maker page, you see the template builder — an accordion-style interface where each row represents one section of your clinical note.
Default Headers
When you open the builder for a new template, DeepCura provides a set of default headers that cover a comprehensive clinical note:
- Reason for Visit (Chief Complaint)
- History of Present Illness
- Interval History (Symptoms)
- Labs/Pathology
- Imaging/Radiology
- Allergies
- Medications
- Past Medical History
- Past Surgical History
- Family History
- Social History
- Review of Systems (ROS)
- Physical Examination
- Assessment
- Plan
- Procedures
- Patient Instructions
You are not required to keep all of these. Delete any header that does not apply to your specialty or encounter type, and add new ones as needed.
Editing Headers
Each header row has a text input field where you type the section title. Below it, a dropdown lets you choose a formatting instruction for that section. The available instruction options are:
- Make this concise (default)
- Make this very detailed and comprehensive
- Make this in bullet points
- Make this in a numbered list
- Make a table for this section
- Insert mentioned macros in this section
- Insert all possible ICD-10 Codes in this section
- Insert all possible CPT Codes in this section
- Insert all possible HCC Codes in this section
- Custom instruction — opens a free-text field where you write exactly what you want
Custom instructions are the most powerful option. For example, you might write: “List each medication with dosage, frequency, and route. Flag any changes from the previous visit.”
Click Show Advanced Options on any section row to reveal these per-section instruction settings.
Reordering Sections
The template builder uses drag-and-drop reordering. Grab the handle on any header row and drag it up or down to rearrange the order. The AI follows the exact header order you define when generating notes.
Adding Macros
Macros are text snippets that get inserted into your note when a specific trigger phrase is mentioned during the encounter. To add macros:
- Scroll to the macro section of the builder
- Enter a trigger phrase — the keyword or phrase that activates the macro (e.g., “normal cardiac exam”)
- Enter the text to insert — the full text that replaces the trigger (e.g., a detailed normal cardiac examination finding)
- Click Add another macro to add more rows
You can also bulk-upload macros from a CSV file. The CSV should have columns for title (trigger) and nickname (display name). Upload the file and DeepCura creates all macros at once.
The Default Physical Exam Template
Below the macros section, you can set a Default Physical Exam Template. This is a block of text that the AI inserts verbatim into the Physical Examination section — but only when the transcript indicates a physical exam was actually performed. If no exam is documented in the recording, the AI omits this section entirely.
Creating a Template from a Sample Note
If you already have a note in the format you like, you can reverse-engineer a template from it:
- Paste the sample note text into the sample note field
- Click generate — the AI analyzes the note’s structure and creates matching headers and instructions
- Review the generated template in the streamlined builder view
- Adjust any headers or instructions as needed
- Save the template
Creating a Template by Voice (“Talk to Template”)
Click the “Talk to Template” button and record a voice description of the template you want. Describe the sections, the formatting style, and any special instructions. The AI listens and generates a complete template structure from your verbal description.
This is particularly useful when you know exactly what you want but do not want to type it all out. You can also use voice recording to edit an existing template — the AI applies your spoken changes to the current headers and instructions.
Saving Your Template
Once you are satisfied with your headers, instructions, macros, and exam template, give it a title and nickname (the nickname is the short name shown in the gallery and template menus). Click Save to add it to your template gallery.
Editing an Existing Template
After saving a template, you can return to edit it at any time. Go to Templates in the sidebar and find the template you want to update.
Step 1: Open the Template Editor
Click the pencil icon next to the template name to open it for editing.
Step 2: Identify Your Template Type
Your template will appear in one of two formats:
| Full-Text Block | Lego-Style (Header Builder) |
- Full-Text Block: Edit the template instructions directly as a block of text.
- Lego-Style: Each section header is a separate row. You can reorder sections, rename headers, and customize each field’s instructions individually.
Step 3: Make Your Edits
Full-text block templates: Edit the text directly to match your updated instructions.
Lego-style templates: Reorder sections by dragging, rename header titles, and click Show Advanced Options to set per-section instructions.
Step 4: Preview and Save
Before saving, click Preview AI Result to see how your template performs with sample data. When satisfied, click Save Template.
AI Template Teacher — Instant Troubleshooting
If your template is not behaving as expected — for example, a section appears in the wrong order, a field is missing, or the formatting is off — use the AI Template Teacher to diagnose and fix the issue automatically.
How to Use the AI Template Teacher
- Go to Templates and scroll to the template you want to fix.
- Click the AI Troubleshoot Assistant icon next to the template name.
- In the pop-up, describe clearly what is wrong and what result you expect.
Example: “My diagnosis section appears after the lab table instead of before it.”Tip: The clearer your description, the better the result. Mention both what is wrong and what you expect to see.
- Click Analyze Issue. The AI proposes a patch and shows you the differences side by side.
- Click Accept to apply the changes, then test your template to confirm.
Rolling Back to a Previous Version
Made a change you regret? DeepCura keeps a version history for every template. You can roll back to any earlier version at any time.
- Open the template editor
- Click to view all previous versions
- Pick the version you want to restore
- Click Rollback to this version
Next Steps
Continue to Lesson 2.3 — AI Template Optimization