Context is where you capture everything that doesn't need to be said out loud.
You don't say everything you're thinking during a visit. That makes it hard for Heidi, to build a complete picture of what actually happened. Context is the solution: a space to add your own notes, observations, and clinical details before, during, or after a session. It is important to note that Context applies only to the current visit and does not automatically carry forward to future sessions. To incorporate linking past sessions you should configure your patient profile to assure that record has context rolling forward.
You can write in shorthand, add examination findings, clarifications, symptoms, test results, reminders, or action items. Anything that belongs in the note but not in the spoken record.
Access Context in the tab next to your session notes.
Example uses:
"Patient appears distressed and dishevelled"
"Possibly seeking stronger pain medication — answers inconsistent"
Vital signs recorded manually during exam
Screening questions you want reflected in the output
Uploading files to Context
You can upload files directly into Context. Heidi reads them alongside your transcript and notes to produce more complete, accurate documentation. When files or historical documents are uploaded to Context, Heidi may mirror or closely reuse language from that content when generating notes or letters.
Supported file types
Heidi accepts PDFs, Word documents (.doc, .docx), and images (.jpg, .png). This includes scanned files, handwritten notes, and documents with tables, lists, or mixed content — Heidi handles them all automatically.
How to upload a file
In the Context tab, click the paperclip icon and select your file. Once processing is complete, the file is ready for Heidi to use. You can upload files at any point. Before, during, or after a session. If you add files later, ensure you press “sync changes” to have them incorporated in your note. If new information is added to the Context tab after a note or letter has been generated, you must regenerate the document for the changes to take effect.
What you can upload
Anything that contains clinical information useful for documentation. Some common examples:
Pathology and lab results
Discharge summaries and specialist letters
Imaging reports
Patient intake forms
Handwritten notes or photographs of clinical documents
Best Practices for Using Context
Provide Clear Instructions: Add headings or notes to clarify how the content should be used. For example, label historical notes with a heading like "Background only: do not carry forward quotes unless stated today."
Edit Historical Notes: Remove direct patient quotes or sensitive information from historical notes before adding them to the Context tab. Alternatively, replace them with brief summaries.
Regenerate Documents: Always regenerate notes or letters after updating the Context tab to ensure the new information is included.
Generating a note from files only
You don't need a live session to generate from uploaded files. Add your files to Context, then click Create at the top right and choose a template. Heidi will generate your note or document from the uploaded content.
💡 You can also use Ask Heidi to query or summarise the contents of an uploaded file — useful for quickly pulling specific details before or during a consult.
Separating merged patient sessions
If you start a second patient session before ending the first, the transcripts can merge into a single session. Here's how to separate them:
Locate the merge point — identify where the first patient's session ends and the second begins in the transcript.
Copy the relevant block — copy the section of transcript relating to the first session.
Open a new session for each patient and paste the relevant transcript into the Context tab.
Label clearly — add a header like "Visit with [Patient] on [Date]" to avoid future confusion.
Generate your note — click Create at the top right, then choose your template.
Review and finalise — check each note for clarity and completeness.
💡 Read more about this quick fix in the following article: How to Separate Merged Patient Sessions in Heidi
Adding a previous visit to the current session
Referencing details from a patient's past visit can strengthen continuity and clarity in care. Here's how to bring prior context into a new session:
Reusing Transcripts in a New Session
To reuse or re-paste a transcript into a new session:
Open the old session and navigate to the Transcript tab.
Copy the section or entire transcript you want to reuse.
Create a new session in Heidi.
Paste the transcript into the Context tab (not the Transcript tab).
Record a few seconds of audio, then stop to activate the session.
Choose your template and generate the note. Key Points: Always paste text into the Context tab, and a short audio recording is required to start the new session. Heidi will treat the pasted text as part of the conversation.
Start a new session and locate the patient's past session notes.
Copy key details observations, treatment plans, or anything relevant, and paste them into the Context tab of the current session. Label clearly, e.g. "Context from Initial Visit on [Date]."
Generate your note click Create at the top right and choose your template.
Customise if needed adjust the template to differentiate past context from new observations.
Adding Context to old sessions created in Dictate Mode
If you need to add context to old sessions recorded in Dictate mode:
Copy the full transcript from the dictation session.
Paste it into a new session in Transcribe mode.
Add the text to the Context field. Heidi will generate a note based on the provided text.
Linking sessions for continuity
To include information from previous sessions without manually copying and pasting:
Create and complete the new session.
Open the Session List.
Select the sessions you want to link by checking their boxes.
Click "Link Sessions" at the bottom.
Choose "Existing Patient" to add to an existing compilation or "New Patient" to create a new compilation. This feature allows the new session to reference past sessions seamlessly.
💡 For more details around linking previous sessions, see the following article: Linked Previous Sessions
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Unintended Reuse of Historical Content: If historical quotes or phrasing are being reused inappropriately, ensure that the Context tab is used for background information only and provide explicit instructions to guide the generator.
Check linked patient sessions, you may be pulling in past sessions without realising.
Personalisation Settings: To manage Heidi’s personalisation behaviour, use the Personalisation pop-up to toggle the "Apply personalisations on current note" setting. Changes take effect immediately for future notes.
Dictate Mode Limitations: The Context tab and linking features are only available in Transcribe mode, not Dictate mode. Ensure you use Transcribe mode for these functionalities.