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Cookbook: A Checklist for Pulmonology Cases

This guide provides a sample workflow and checklist for efficiently analyzing a pulmonology-focused IME case using Records Rocket's specialized tools.

Phase 1: Initial Triage & Overview (First 5-10 Minutes)​

The goal of this phase is to quickly understand the scope and key periods of the case.

  • Open the Case and review the Case Timeline. Use the filters to isolate key event types like Hospital Admission, Surgery, and Diagnostic to get a sense of major medical milestones.
  • Scan the Document List. Mentally note the types of documents available. Look for high-value reports like Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs), imaging reports (CT/X-ray), and specialist consultations (Pulmonology, Oncology).

Phase 2: Targeted Information Gathering​

Use the search tools and the IME Assistant to zero in on the most critical data.

  • Perform Broad Searches for key concepts using the main search bar:

    • smoking OR tobacco OR cigarette OR PPD
    • dyspnea OR "shortness of breath" OR wheezing
    • PFT OR spirometry OR FEV1 OR FVC
    • CT OR "chest x-ray" OR imaging
    • cancer OR malignancy OR nodule OR mass

  • Use the IME Assistant for more complex queries. The assistant can synthesize information and perform calculations.

    • "Summarize all PFT results in chronological order, including FEV1, FVC, and DLCO values with their corresponding dates."
    • "Based on the PFT report from June 2023, calculate the AMA impairment class." (This will trigger the calculate_pulmonary_function tool).
    • "Is there any mention of asbestos exposure?"

Phase 3: Automated Report Generation & Review​

Leverage the automated reporting feature to draft your narrative sections.

  • Request a smokingHistory Report. Let the AI compile every mention of smoking history into reviewable findings.
  • Request a pulmonologyDisabilityHistory Report. This is specifically tuned to find data relevant to impairment evaluations.
  • Review Generated Findings. This is the most critical step. Go to the Reports tab and open your awaiting_review reports.
    • Verify PFT Values: For each finding related to a PFT, click the source link to view the original page and ensure the FEV1, FVC, and DLCO values were extracted correctly.
    • Check Dates: Confirm that the date of service for each finding is accurate.
    • Add Clinical Impressions: For ambiguous PFT results or conflicting reports, add your own clinicianImpression to clarify the context. For example: "While the FEV1 is within normal limits, the significant drop from the patient's prior baseline is clinically relevant."
    • Reject Irrelevant Data: Discard any findings that are not pertinent to the key evaluation questions.
  • Finalize the Report. Once your review is complete, click Finalize Report. This will generate the Word document based only on the findings you approved and the impressions you added.

By following this checklist, you can systematically break down a complex pulmonology case, leveraging AI for speed while ensuring every piece of the final report is validated by your clinical expertise.