Table 1.

“Assessment of the Assessment” Tool

1. Diagnostic assessment

a. Chief complaint

b. Differential diagnosis

c. Psychosocial information

d. Possible etiologies

e. Degree of certainty

2. Follow-up plan

a. Mentions diagnostic tests

b. Contingencies

c. Time frames

d. Rationale

3. Situational awareness/safety nets

a. Red flags

b. Don’t miss diagnoses

c. Pitfalls

4. Other diagnostic factors

a. Quality of diagnosis/differential diagnosis

b. Adequate tests

c. Avoids over-testing

d. Succinctness

e. Clinician readability

f. Patient readability

g. Avoids legal liability pejorative red flags

Scale: 1, absent; 2, minimal/implicit; 3, mentioned but less than good; 4, neutral (obvious mention); 5, adequate/good; 6, very good; 7, excellent; not applicable (N/A)