> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.scribe.commure.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Patient History & Previous Encounters

> Link a new recording to a returning patient's previous visits instead of creating a duplicate record.

To keep a patient's visits linked together instead of creating separate records, the key is choosing the right option when starting a recording.

<Steps>
  <Step title="First visit">
    Click **New Patient** and enter the patient's name.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Future visits">
    Select that patient's name from the dropdown list instead of creating a new patient entry.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/commurescribe/99il5CDCZYeN8ao5/images/new_patient.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=99il5CDCZYeN8ao5&q=85&s=9f6ee90ea929cad37c1cee50a88e3f23" alt="New Patient" width="994" height="816" data-path="images/new_patient.png" />

Selecting the existing patient associates the new encounter with their record.

<Note>
  The **Saved Patients** view only shows a summary of the patient's most recent visit — it doesn't feed that history into note generation. Each recording is processed as a standalone encounter, so details from previous visits aren't automatically carried into a new note.
</Note>