Da Form 5181 R is the Army Screening Note of Acute Medical Care, used at Battalion Aid Stations to document acute patient visits. Medical staff fill out this form to capture vital signs, chief complaints, allergy details, and the final care disposition. It operates under AR 40-66 and serves as an alternative to SF 600. Select the button below to access and fill out this medical form online for free.
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How to Fill Out DA Form 5181
DA Form 5181 at a glance
What it is: DA Form 5181 is the SCREENING NOTE OF ACUTE MEDICAL CARE.
Where and when to file: This form will be filed in the HREC when evaluation and audit are completed.
On page 2, under SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: this form will be utilized in lieu of SF 600 (Health Record-Chronological Record of Medical Care) at the BAS level and above when care is initiated by an ADTMC screener.
A filled-in DA Form 5181 example: a screener records an acute medical care visit
An aidman fills out the Screening Note of Acute Medical Care. The patient lives in barracks, and this is a first visit for a cough. The picture shows page 1, and none of its entries is real. The aidman chooses IV - SELF CARE PROTOCOL, so the other FINAL DISPOSITION boxes stay empty. The visit is a first visit, so the return boxes stay empty. The patient lives in barracks, so the other PATIENT RESIDENCE boxes stay empty.
How to fill out DA Form 5181, box by box
Times, date and screener location
Enter the TIME PATIENT DEPARTS UNIT (From DD Form 689).
Enter the TIME PATIENT ARRIVES and the TIME ENCOUNTER BEGINS.
Enter the TIME PATIENT LEAVES.
Enter the DATE (YYYYMMDD), the SCREENER LOCATION, the CHIEF COMPLAINT and the DURATION.
Patient residence
Under PATIENT RESIDENCE: BARRACKS, POST HOUSING, TRANSIENT, OFF POST.
Temperature, pulse, BP, resp and allergies
Enter the TEMPERATURE.
Enter the PULSE.
Enter the BP and the RESP.
Enter the ALLERGIES.
First visit for this complaint
Mark YES or NO for FIRST VISIT FOR THIS COMPLAINT. If NO, mark YES or NO for WAS RETURN SCHEDULED/REQUESTED BY CARE PROVIDER?
Algorithm and comments
Enter the ALGORITHM/CODE.
Enter the ALGORITHM SUMMARY.
In COMMENTS: reasons for referral, method of referral, hospital appointments, self-care protocols, and patient instructions/precautions.
Patient's identification
Enter the PATIENT'S IDENTIFICATION.
Use mechanical imprint if available; for typed or written entries give: Name, SSN, Unit, Sex (Male/Female Only), Birthdate and Duty Phone.
Final disposition
FINAL DISPOSITION: I - PHYSICIAN STAT, II - PA STAT, III - PA, IV - SELF CARE PROTOCOL, V - HOSP CLINIC REFERRAL.
Aidman's signature and auditor's initials
The AIDMAN signs AIDMAN'S SIGNATURE & CODE. The AUDITOR enters the AUDITOR'S INITIALS & DATE (YYYYMMDD).
Record of acute medical care, second care location
Entries on the RECORD OF ACUTE MEDICAL CARE should be restricted to further evaluation and treatment of complaint(s) screened.
Enter the DATE (YYYYMMDD), the 2ND CARE LOCATION, the TIME PATIENT ARRIVES, the TIME ENCOUNTER BEGINS and the TIME PATIENT LEAVES.
Signatures of health care provider and medical supervisor
The HEALTH CARE PROVIDER signs the SIGNATURE OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. The MEDICAL SUPERVISOR signs the SIGNATURE OF MEDICAL SUPERVISOR. The AUDITOR enters the AUDITOR'S INITIALS AND DATE (YYYYMMDD).
More rules for DA Form 5181
For use of this form, see AR 40-66; the proponent agency is the Office of The Surgeon General.
The record of acute, medical care will accompany the patient to the next level of care or remain in the BAS depending on disposition reached.
Sources
[1] DA Form 5181 (FEB 2003), Screening Note of Acute Medical Care, U.S. Army (the Official source link on this page).
Da Form 5181 R PDF Details
This form, known as the Screening Note of Acute Medical Care, plays a crucial role in the documentation and management of medical care within the military. Mandated by AR 40-66 and developed under the guidance of the Office of The Surgeon General, it records essential aspects of each patient's acute care visit. The document captures the time the patient leaves their unit, chief complaints, vital signs, allergy information, and whether the visit is an initial contact or a follow-up appointment. It includes patient identification details and concludes with the final disposition, which may range from physician consultation to self-care or hospital referral. Medical providers fill out this document at the Battalion Aid Station level, where it serves as an alternative to SF 600 for acute care documentation. The completed record either travels with the patient to a higher care level or remains at the BAS based on the final disposition. As such, it is an important document for military healthcare providers, supporting both immediate medical care decisions and the broader patient record system.