What does SOAP stand for in EMS documentation?

• A. Subjective, (chief complaint, events leading up to incident, MOI/ NOI)
• B. Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan
• C. Subjective, Objective, Analysis, Protocol
• D. Source, Objective, Assessment, Plan

Answer: (B)

In EMS documentation, SOAP notes organize information into four parts: what the patient reports (Subjective), what you observe and measure (Objective), your professional interpretation (Assessment), and the planned course of action (Plan). The Subjective portion captures the chief complaint, symptoms, and events leading up to the incident, including relevant history the patient provides. The Objective portion records measurable data and findings from your examination, exams, and monitoring. The Assessment combines your clinical impression and possible diagnoses based on the gathered information. The Plan outlines the treatments given, medications, transport decisions, and what you will communicate to the receiving facility. The other options don’t fit this structure: one focuses only on subjective details, another uses nonstandard terms like Analysis or Protocol, and another replaces Subjective with Source.