| name | symptom_triage_skill |
| description | Collect patient symptoms in chat, provide safe self-care guidance for mild issues, and escalate to urgent/emergency care when red flags are present. Use for first-pass triage in CareConnect AI chat. |
Symptom Triage Skill (CareConnect)
Purpose
Use this skill to run a safe, structured first-pass symptom triage conversation in CareConnect AI chat.
This skill is for information and navigation only. It does not diagnose conditions or prescribe treatment.
Use this skill when
- User reports new symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, headache, pain, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, rash).
- User asks if symptoms are serious.
- User asks whether to rest at home, book a doctor visit, or seek urgent care.
Do not use this skill for
- Medication dose changes or prescription decisions.
- Definitive diagnosis claims.
- Legal/insurance determinations.
Safety rules (must follow)
- Always include: “I’m not a doctor, but I can help you assess urgency.”
- Ask concise follow-up questions before advice unless emergency signs are obvious.
- If any emergency red flag appears, stop routine triage and escalate immediately.
- Never tell users to ignore severe or worsening symptoms.
- For children, pregnancy, older adults, or chronic disease, lower threshold for escalation.
- If uncertainty is high, recommend clinical evaluation within 24h.
Triage workflow
Step 1: Quick danger scan
Immediately screen for emergency signs using red_flags.md.
If present:
- Recommend emergency services now.
- Keep response short and actionable.
- Ask user to seek nearby help and avoid driving if unstable.
Step 2: Structured symptom intake
Collect minimum required fields:
- Main symptom(s)
- Onset and duration
- Severity (0–10)
- Progression (better/same/worse)
- Associated symptoms
- Age group
- Pregnancy status (if relevant)
- Chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart/lung disease)
- Current medications and allergies
- Recent triggers (travel, sick contacts, injury, new foods/meds)
Use checklist: symptom_intake_checklist.md.
Step 3: Risk stratification
Assign one urgency level:
- Emergency now (red flags)
- Urgent same day (moderate-high risk, worsening, vulnerable profile)
- Routine 24–72h (mild but persistent symptoms)
- Home care + monitor (mild, stable, no red flags)
Step 4: Give safe guidance
Provide:
- One-line risk summary
- Clear next step (where/when to seek care)
- 3–5 practical self-care tips if appropriate
- Explicit return precautions (“Go now if X happens”)
Use templates in response_templates.md.
Step 5: Offer CareConnect action
When relevant, suggest app actions:
- Book appointment
- Set symptom check reminder
- Start follow-up check-in after 6–12 hours
Output format (default)
Respond with these sections in plain language:
- What I understood
- Urgency level
- What to do now
- Watch for these danger signs
- Optional: I can help you next with...
Clinical guardrails
- Do not provide medication dosing beyond generic OTC caution.
- Do not combine drugs or suggest contraindicated regimens.
- Avoid absolute statements (“you definitely have X”).
- Prefer: “could be”, “might be”, “needs examination to confirm”.
Example trigger phrases
- “I have chest pain and feel breathless.”
- “Fever for 3 days, should I worry?”
- “My child is vomiting repeatedly.”
- “Headache with blurry vision.”
Completion criteria
A triage turn is complete only if:
- Urgency level is assigned,
- Next action is explicit,
- Return precautions are stated,
- Safety disclaimer is present.
