What to include in an Ayurvedic intake form
A good intake form saves the first ten minutes of the consult and gives you Nidana before the patient sits down. A bad one asks for everything and gets half-finished answers. The goal is a form patients can complete in about fifteen minutes that still gives you the Ayurvedic picture.
Sections that earn their place
- Chief complaint in the patient's own words, with onset and what makes it better or worse (early Upashaya).
- Ahara: a typical day of meals, timing, and cravings.
- Vihara: sleep pattern, work rhythm, exercise, screen time before bed.
- Agni and koshtha: appetite, digestion after meals, bowel regularity.
- Seasonal patterns: which time of year symptoms worsen.
- Menstrual history where relevant.
- Current medicines and supplements, including herbal products.
What to leave out
Avoid long dosha quizzes. Patients answer them inconsistently, so the score is a poor Prakriti record.
In the US, collect identifiers and insurance in your EHR, not in the Ayurvedic form. Keeping the Ayurvedic record separate from demographics reduces what any single system holds.
Sending the form
Send intake links that expire, and that can be revoked if they go to the wrong person. Avoid emailing forms as attachments that patients fill in and send back.
Questions practitioners ask
- How long should an Ayurvedic intake form be?
- Aim for something a patient can finish in about fifteen minutes. Anything you will only use occasionally is better asked during the consult.
- Should patients upload lab reports with intake?
- Yes, if your system can store them securely with the patient record. It lets you review them before the visit.