Which form serves as the Medical Record—Narrative Summary?

• A. SF 509
• B. SF 502
• C. SF 600
• D. SF 651

Answer: (B)

SF 502 is used to document the Medical Record—Narrative Summary. A narrative summary provides a concise, readable synthesis of the patient’s story, capturing the presenting problem, relevant history, key examination findings, the clinician’s assessment, and the immediate plan. It gives a quick, integrated view of the case for clinicians reviewing the file or when transferring care, without having to wade through every individual note. This differs from ongoing daily entries like progress notes, and from the chronological record that logs care over time. Nursing notes appear on a different form, so SF 502 specifically serves as the succinct narrative snapshot of the medical record.