Create
a	Case	Report	Timeline	using	Microsoft	Word	
	Creating	a	timeline	does	not	need	to	be	difficult.		Here	are	two	ways	to	create	a	timeline	using	Microsoft	Word.		We	have	attached	a	sample	
timeline.		
Option	1:	Create	a	Timeline	Picture:		
1. In	the	“Home”	menu	select	“Insert”	and	the		“Shape”	on	the	ride	side	of	menu.		Open	“Block	Arrows”	and	select	the	appropriate	arrowed	
   line.		If	you	“click”	on	an	arrow	and	go	to	the	format	tab	you	can	select	the	color	of	the	arrow.			      	        	       	      			
	      	        	                       	       OR										    	      OR				
	      	        	(Note	that	these	arrows	are	adjustable	in	length,	width,	and	direction.)		
2. In	the	“Home”	menu	select		“Insert”	and	choose	Text	Box”	and	then	choose	“Text	Box”	again.		Once	you	have	inserted	the	text	box	where	
   you	wish	on	the	page	you	can	enter	text	and	move	it	around.			
3. Often	the	arrow	will	be	in	the	middle	of	the	page	(horizontal	or	vertical)	and	different	types	of	visits	can	be	grouped	on	either	sides	of	the	
   arrowed	line.	
4. Continue	adding	enough	text	boxes	to	accommodate	the	number	of	visits	and	clinical	information	you	wish	to	present.		Remember	that	
   the	timeline	provides	a	visual	image	of	the	case	and	does	not	need	to	contain	all	of	the	information	related	to	this	case	report.	
5. Black	boxes	–	Relevant	past	medical	history	and	final	resolution	of	this	case	
6. Green	boxes	–	Current	illness,	physical	exam,	diagnostic	evaluations,	diagnoses	
7. Red	boxes	–	Interventions	and	follow-ups	
8. Gray	arrow	-	Dates		
Option	2:	Create	a	Timeline	Table:		
   1. Select	the	“Table”	tab	from	the	menu	bar,	select	“Insert”	and	choose	“Table.”	
   2. Select	the	number	of	columns	and	rows.		Choose	at	least	3-5	columns	and	enough	rows	to	cover	the	important	milestones	of	your	case.	
   3. You	can	always	add	columns	and	rows	while	you	by	selecting	the	“Table”	tab,	selecting	“Insert”,	and	choosing	“Insert	Rows”	or	“Insert	
       Columns”.	       		
                 Timeline	Picture	Created	Using	Microsoft	Word	                                        		
                              Relevant Past Medical History
	                            (symptoms, diagnoses, interventions)		
	      Current Illness	
	   Physical Examination                 Date	
	   Diagnostic Evaluations	
	         Diagnoses			
	                                        Date        Initial Treatment (and referrals if indicated)	
	                                        Date                  Ongoing Interventions and Follow-up
	
                                         Date                  Ongoing Interventions and Follow-up
	
	                                        Date                  Ongoing Interventions and Follow-up
	
                                                                       Final Follow-up
	                                        Date
	
	
	
	
	                        Resolution of this Episode of Care
	
	
                                            Timeline	Table	Created	Using	Microsoft	Word	
    Dates                                        Relevant Past Medical History and Interventions
                               Relevant personal, family and psychosocial history including important past interventions,
                                    outcomes, and follow-up. Genetic information should be included if available.
                                                                              Diagnostic Testing
    Dates         Summaries from Initial and Follow-up Visits                                                    Interventions
                                                                               (including dates)
            Patient’s primary concerns as well as clinical initiated       Relevant testing (imaging    Pharmaceuticals, lifestyle
            diagnostic assessments and diagnoses.                          laboratory surveys).         recommendations, dietary
                                                                           Include dates of testing.    supplements and procedures
            Follow-up visits:                                              Relevant testing such as     Pharmaceuticals, lifestyle
             • Important outcomes and follow-up information                laboratory, imaging, and     recommendations, dietary
             • Report adherence to interventions, how was this assessed    surveys. Include dates of    supplements and procedures
             • Were there any unanticipated or adverse events              testing.
            Add additional rows as needed for follow-up visits
            Final outcome for this episode of care
	
	
	
	                          	
	
	
    Dates                               Relevant Past Medical History and Interventions
                                                                  Diagnostic Testing
    Date    Summaries from Initial and Follow-up Visits                                   Interventions
                                                                   (including dates)