Specialty PA Protocol & Differential Diagnosis Assistant
Structure differential diagnoses and apply specialty protocols for complex patient cases
What You Can Do
You can rapidly structure differential diagnoses ranked by clinical probability, apply specialty-specific diagnostic protocols to atypical presentations, and generate clear clinical reasoning documentation that bridges patient presentation to evidence-based decision paths. This skill helps you systematize complex cases where multiple etiologies are plausible, ensuring diagnostic rigor, protocol compliance, and time-sensitive decision justification across cardiology, orthopedics, psychiatry, emergency medicine, oncology, gastroenterology, and other specialty settings.
Features
applies relevant institutional and evidence-based protocols (ACR imaging guidelines, AHA/ACC cardiac protocols, ACOG obstetric protocols, etc.) to your clinical specialty
systematically lists and ranks differential diagnoses by clinical probability with supporting clinical features and red flags
structures reasoning when clinical presentation deviates from typical protocol pathways, with clear justification for protocol modifications
generates structured notes suitable for attending physician review and EHR documentation with explicit reasoning chains
applies specialty-specific risk stratification tools (e.g., HEART score for chest pain, Ottawa rules for orthopedic injury, suicide risk assessment scales)
recommends diagnostic testing sequence (labs, imaging, procedures) prioritized by protocol and clinical urgency
handles cases spanning multiple organ systems by clearly identifying primary specialty domain and coordinating systems considerations
Example Output
Example 1: Cardiology PA – Atypical Chest Pain
Case: 58-year-old with 3 days substernal chest pain, negative troponins × 2, nonspecific EKG changes, history of GERD and anxiety.
Differential Diagnosis (ranked by probability):
- Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) – intermediate risk by HEART score (5/10); continued troponin surveillance + stress testing indicated
- Pulmonary Embolism – low pretest probability but dyspnea present; D-dimer warranted
- Esophageal spasm – positional component, response to antacids
- Anxiety-related chest pain – documented history but cannot exclude ACS
Protocol Application: Per ACC/AHA guidelines, patient meets criteria for serial troponin protocol with stress imaging. Admit for observation and stress test in AM.
Example 2: Orthopedic PA – Complex Knee Pain
Case: 42-year-old with acute knee swelling, mild fever (101.2°F), recent intra-articular injection.
Red Flag Assessment: Fever + joint swelling post-injection = rule out septic arthritis (joint aspiration/culture indicated STAT)
Diagnostic Pathway:
- STAT knee aspiration with cell count, culture, Gram stain, crystal analysis
- Pending results: hold physical therapy, consider empiric antibiotics if clinical concern high
- Imaging: MRI only after infection ruled out (ACR guidelines)
Clinical Reasoning: Septic arthritis risk outweighs mechanical workup; infection must be excluded before advanced imaging.
What's Included
- SKILL.md: Complete system prompt for specialty PA protocol and differential diagnosis workflows
- Specialty Protocol Templates: Evidence-based protocol frameworks for cardiology, orthopedics, psychiatry, emergency medicine, oncology, and gastroenterology cases
- Differential Diagnosis Ranking Checklist: Structured format for systematically listing, ranking, and justifying differential diagnoses by clinical probability
- Clinical Reasoning Documentation Framework: Template for peer-review-ready documentation including case summary, differential ranking, protocol application, and recommended diagnostic pathway
- Red Flag Assessment Toolkit: Quick-reference guides for identifying urgent findings requiring immediate protocol escalation or consultation
Who It's For
- Physician Assistants in specialty practice (cardiology, orthopedics, psychiatry, emergency medicine, oncology, gastroenterology, pulmonology)
- PA students and residents requiring structured clinical reasoning frameworks for complex cases
- Clinical educators and PA program directors teaching differential diagnosis and protocol application
- Hospitalist PAs managing undifferentiated presentations requiring rapid risk stratification
- Urgent care and emergency medicine PAs working up complex presentations with multiple specialty considerations
Best For
- Working up atypical or complex presentations that deviate from straightforward diagnostic pathways
- Applying specialty-specific protocols (ACC/AHA, ACR, ACOG, etc.) to real-world patient cases
- Ranking and justifying differential diagnoses for peer review and attending physician consultation
- Generating clinical reasoning documentation suitable for EHR entry and medical records
- Rapid risk stratification in time-sensitive cases requiring protocol-based decision justification
- Managing cases spanning multiple organ systems with competing diagnostic considerations
You might also like
Turn project descriptions, timelines, and structured data into professional draw.io diagrams instantly. You can generate flowcharts, org charts, Gantt charts, swimlane diagrams, and process flows by describing what you need. Claude creates draw.io XML that you can open directly in the editor or modify further.
by skillslib
You can design culturally appropriate survey instruments tailored to international development contexts, analyze mixed-methods data by integrating quantitative findings with qualitative insights, and implement robust data quality management systems for your field operations. Claude helps you create survey templates with adaptive logic, develop validation protocols, and produce data quality reports that highlight issues before analysis begins.
by skillslib
You can evaluate whether products are viable remanufacturing candidates by conducting systematic disassembly analysis and identifying recovery opportunities. The skill helps you design efficient remanufacturing workflows, calculate ROI and environmental impact metrics (including embodied energy recovery of 85-90%), and create remanufacturability scorecards that guide design improvements and supply chain decisions.
by skillslib
You can diagnose warehouse bottlenecks using structured data analysis, then generate optimized layouts and flow improvements. The skill models space utilization, labor deployment, and throughput constraints to identify quick wins and long-term improvements, delivering quantified cost savings and performance gains for your specific facility.
by skillslib
You can systematically code qualitative data against your evaluation framework, surface patterns and themes across multiple responses, extract compelling impact stories with supporting evidence, and generate summary matrices that link narrative findings to your outcomes claims. This skill maintains analytical rigor while reducing the 40-60 hours typically spent manually reviewing transcripts and open-ended survey responses per evaluation cycle.
by skillslib
Get complete, ready-to-deploy lead magnets tailored to your ideal customer profile. Claude designs the concept, writes the persuasive copy, builds the email sequences, and creates deployment strategies that attract qualified prospects and build engaged lists fast. You'll capture 3-5x more subscribers with magnetic offers that actually resonate.
by skillslib
You can convert raw discovery call notes into polished, multi-section sales proposals that include executive summaries tailored to buyer personas, needs analysis mapped to your solution architecture, tiered pricing options with competitive positioning, ROI projections with financial justification, and realistic implementation timelines. The skill preserves personalization and strategic positioning while automating structural components, letting you respond to RFPs and time-sensitive opportunities without sacrificing quality or consistency.
by skillslib
This skill generates optimized facility layouts by analyzing material and personnel flow patterns, validating against operational constraints, and comparing multiple design options with quantified metrics. You provide your facility's dimensions, equipment locations, and operational requirements, and Claude produces detailed layouts with flow efficiency scores, space utilization analysis, and cost-benefit comparisons. Each layout option includes specific recommendations for improving throughput, reducing congestion points, and enhancing safety compliance.
by skillslib