A medical note is an entry made by a physician, nurse, lab technician, or any other member of a patient's healthcare team into a medical or health record. Medical notes that are accurate and full provide systematic documentation of a patient's medical history, diagnosis, treatment, and care. They are necessary for charting the progress of a patient's illness and for communicating essential information with other members of the patient's healthcare team. Medical notes are used by physicians to document their findings and plan of treatment after examining a patient. Notes also serve as communication tools between members of the healthcare team. For example, a physician may use a medical note to inform nurses or other staff about a patient's diagnosis or changes in her condition. Medical notes are also used by other healthcare professionals to communicate important information about a patient's care with others involved in her treatment. In addition to physicians, other members of the healthcare team may include nurse practitioners, physician assistants, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, pharmacists, social workers, and many more. Any person who provides care for a patient, either directly or through another healthcare provider, is considered part of the patient's healthcare team. Members of the healthcare team may have different roles in caring for a patient; therefore, they may need to document medical information about the patient in detail depending on these roles. Often, several members of the healthcare team will be involved in treating one patient.