Questions answered in this article:

  • What is the importance of a smart tree?
  • What is the definition of the trees, branches, and leaves of the smart tree?
  • How do I differentiate the features available for "Basic" and "Premium" smart trees?

View the instructional video(s) on this topic below:


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What Are Smart Trees?


Smart Trees is a powerful framework designed to simplify goal-setting, treatment planning, and progress tracking for practitioners. This concept was developed to save time while maintaining a client-centered approach that emphasizes customization and efficiency.


With Smart Trees, you can create and manage unique, personalized goals for each client without reinventing the wheel for every new treatment plan. It combines familiar metaphors with modern tools to streamline your workflow, from goal setup to progress documentation and reporting.


How Smart Trees Work

Smart Trees are structured into three interconnected components, each serving a specific purpose:


  1. Trees
    Think of a Tree as a file cabinet drawer. It contains all the information for a particular treatment plan.
    • The title of the Tree typically represents a domain, timeframe, or location.
    • It serves as the overarching category that aggregates all related goals and data.

  2. Branches

    Branches are like folders inside the file cabinet drawer.

    • Each Branch contains multiple Leaves (smaller goals).
    • A Branch represents a longer-term goal or a desired functional outcome that requires several smaller steps to achieve.
    • Branches also show the total count of mastered targets/goals within them.

  3. Leaves
    Leaves are the forms inside the folders—the most detailed and actionable level.
    • Each Leaf represents a specific target, activity, or goal.
    • Leaves are used to track data, record progress, and monitor individual achievements.
    • They hold trial data and can be customized to include activities, tools, or equipment needed to support progress

Why Use Smart Trees?

Smart Trees streamline your workflow by combining efficiency with customization, enabling practitioners to:

  1. Save Time: Reduce repetitive tasks by creating reusable templates and easily tracking progress.
  2. Focus on Client-Centered Care: Design goals that are as unique as your clients.
  3. Simplify Goal Tracking: Use clear structures to organize and manage treatment plans, long-term goals, and short-term targets.
  4. Enhance Collaboration: Share progress with clients and their families through session notes and the client portal, enabling support at home.

Using Smart Trees

An overview of the workflow for adding and using goals:

  1. Create goals for your client in the client chart modal - The set up - 4 minute tutorial.
  2. Add these targets (leaves), to an individual session - Add to a session - 3 minute tutorial.
  3. In the session report/ OT Note, you may document the progress of your client there. Share your session notes with the client so they can track goals and progress and support their child's development at home with assigned homework. - Share a note or homework with your client - 3 minute tutorial
  4. View all comments on a particular goal in the client chart modal under the trees tab.

Comparison of Basic and Premium Smart Trees


Smart Trees - Basic
Smart Trees - Premium
  • Create new trees/branches/leaves.
  • Add leaves to session notes and comment on them.
  • Include leaf session comments in chart note PDFs.
  • Update leaf completion status.
  • Preview session leaf comments from the leaf setup
  • Copying tree/branch/leaf to another client (no tracked data is copied)
  • Moving branch/leaf to another tree for the same client (keeps current tracked data)
  • Real-time goal sharing via the client portal
  • One-click goal summary report
  • Options for adding leaves in bulk to a session
  • Everything from Smart Trees Basic
  • Goal setup and management: 
    Included features:
    • Advanced data collection
    • Collection method: Accuracy, Frequency, Opportunity
    • Self-mastery criteria
    • Tags (Branch & Leaf tags)
    • Data table and graph
  • Tracking trial data using the arrow up/down icons to trigger self-mastery