diff --git a/.example.env b/.example.env
index 8cee07d7925..5466250e094 100644
--- a/.example.env
+++ b/.example.env
@@ -67,5 +67,8 @@ REACT_JWT_TOKEN_REFRESH_INTERVAL=
 # Minimum encounter date (default: 2020-01-01)
 REACT_MIN_ENCOUNTER_DATE=
 
+# Default Encounter Type (default: "hh" - Home Health)
+REACT_DEFAULT_ENCOUNTER_TYPE=
+
 # Available languages to switch between (2 Digit language code seperated by comas. See src->Locale->config.ts for available codes)
 REACT_ALLOWED_LOCALES="en,hi,ta,ml,mr,kn"
diff --git a/care.config.ts b/care.config.ts
index bf1ae695061..f48d842d262 100644
--- a/care.config.ts
+++ b/care.config.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import { EncounterClass } from "@/types/emr/encounter";
+
 const env = import.meta.env;
 
 interface ILogo {
@@ -48,6 +50,9 @@ const careConfig = {
     .split(",")
     .map((l) => l.trim()),
 
+  defaultEncounterType: (env.REACT_DEFAULT_ENCOUNTER_TYPE ||
+    "hh") as EncounterClass,
+
   gmapsApiKey:
     env.REACT_GMAPS_API_KEY || "AIzaSyDsBAc3y7deI5ZO3NtK5GuzKwtUzQNJNUk",
 
diff --git a/src/components/Encounter/CreateEncounterForm.tsx b/src/components/Encounter/CreateEncounterForm.tsx
index 8bc81f74865..39a5e8363e2 100644
--- a/src/components/Encounter/CreateEncounterForm.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Encounter/CreateEncounterForm.tsx
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import careConfig from "@careConfig";
 import { zodResolver } from "@hookform/resolvers/zod";
 import { useMutation, useQueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import {
@@ -139,7 +140,7 @@ export default function CreateEncounterForm({
     resolver: zodResolver(encounterFormSchema),
     defaultValues: {
       status: "planned",
-      encounter_class: encounterClass || "amb",
+      encounter_class: encounterClass || careConfig.defaultEncounterType,
       priority: "routine",
       organizations: [],
     },
diff --git a/src/types/notes/messages.ts b/src/types/notes/messages.ts
index 92a88107930..bca88676392 100644
--- a/src/types/notes/messages.ts
+++ b/src/types/notes/messages.ts
@@ -7,4 +7,3 @@ export interface Message {
   created_by: UserBase;
   updated_by: UserBase;
 }
-
diff --git a/src/vite-env.d.ts b/src/vite-env.d.ts
index f9cf1f9d763..bbaaef0c91d 100644
--- a/src/vite-env.d.ts
+++ b/src/vite-env.d.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ interface ImportMetaEnv {
   readonly REACT_STILL_WATCHING_PROMPT_DURATION?: string;
   readonly REACT_JWT_TOKEN_REFRESH_INTERVAL?: string;
   readonly REACT_MIN_ENCOUNTER_DATE?: string;
+  readonly REACT_DEFAULT_ENCOUNTER_TYPE?: string;
   readonly REACT_ALLOWED_LOCALES?: string;
   readonly REACT_ENABLED_APPS?: string;