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

# The Vital Object

> The vital signs recorded for a patient at one point in time, such as height, weight, blood pressure, and temperature.

## In the EHR

Vitals are recorded in a patient's chart as part of a note. One collection holds the readings taken at a single point in time — height, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, oxygen saturation, head circumference, and pain — together with a BMI. Providers enter them in the vitals section of a visit note, or on a non-visit note when recording readings from outside records. See [Adding historical vitals](/articles/adding-historic-vitals).

## Working with vitals via the API

Three behaviors to know before you build against this object.

**A create without a note creates one.** A `POST` that omits both `visit_note` and `non_visit_note` opens a new visit note in the patient's chart and attaches the vitals to it. Send `visit_note` or `non_visit_note` when the readings belong on a note that already exists.

**A visit note carries one collection.** A `POST` naming a `visit_note` that already has vitals responds `409` with a `redirect` field holding the id of the existing collection. Update that collection to add readings to the note.

**Deleting a note removes the vitals on it.** Deleting a visit note or a non-visit note also removes that note's vitals, and the collection's `deleted_date` is set to the time of the delete. Delete the note when you need the whole collection removed.