Ep 13: If It's Not Documented, It Didn't Happen: Why Clinical Notes Matter

You told them about their periodontal issues,

You warned them about the risks — again and again.

You handed them the referral. Every. Single. Visit. ...they never listened.

Buuut… you never wrote any of it down.

Fast forward to now: the patient has moved, listened to their new dentist, (wtf man) and are threatening to sue you for negligence.

And what do your notes from their last visit say?

“Perio hx — [ no change ]”

(Oof. Dat template overreliance tho)

In this episode of The Truth Decay Podcast, Sara Baker and LaRae McMullen break down the silent killer of clean claims and court cases: weak clinical notes.

They dig into a real malpractice case where a dentist’s memory didn’t hold up — but a well-written chart might have. You’ll learn the three reasons your notes matter more than you think (plus a rad bonus reason). And do you know what SOAP notes are? Welp, you will now! We're talking about SOAP notes (that don’t suck. You lucky duckies.)

You’ll learn:

• Why clinical notes are financial, legal, and operational protection
• The difference between telling the story vs. parroting the code
• How templated notes, generic entries, and assistant-authored charts can burn you
• How to use the SOAP framework without sounding like a robot
• What to write when patients refuse treatment or ghost referrals
• How great notes can boost case acceptance, retention, and trust

Whether you’re trying to win an appeal, dodge an audit, or just stop your future self from screaming “Who WROTE this?!” — this episode gives you the tools to start charting like a boss.

🎧 Available on all major podcast platforms

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abM1qQcKMI8

📥 Download your free resource:

• Clinical Notes Power Checklist + SOAP Note Builder

→ thetruthdecaypodcast.com

📩 Have a question? Email us at [e-mail]

🌐 Learn more at sddentalsolutions.com