Prompting your AI Scribe enables you to generate medical notes which are more useful, accurate, and bespoke, and can elevate the existing capabilities of your software.
However, we understand that even the most seasoned medical professional, who may have composed thousands of notes throughout their career, can find the task of prompting daunting.
As one of Lyrebird's AI Engineers, I am providing these 10 tips in an attempt to democratise the unique methodology that we take to prompting.
Remember, you're instructing the AI's persona. Use "you" in your prompts to establish clear communication. For example: "You should summarise the patient's symptoms in bullet points."
Begin instructions with strong verbs like "Summarise," "List," or "Compare." Prefer high modality words such as "must" or "always." For instance, instead of "Try not to include family history," say "Never include family history."
Avoid vague terms or ambiguous instructions. Instead of "Tell me about treatment," try "Describe the first-line treatment options for chronic migraines." Ground your prompts in context by referring to the patient when possible.
Outline not just what you want, but how you want it written. For example: "Summarise the patient's medical history in one sentence." Consider whether your instructions apply to a specific section or the entire note.
Use our golden formula: [Instruction]. For example, [example]. This helps clarify your expectations. Instead of "Always use acronyms," try "Always use acronyms, for example 'Social Hx, SHx, Aggs'."
When instructing the AI to include certain information, explain its purpose. This helps the AI understand the context and produce more relevant content.
Structure your prompt to reflect the output you want. If you're aiming for bullet points, use them in your prompt as well.
1. Use Variables: Incorporate dynamic content using variables like {patient_name} or {date} to create adaptive sections.
2. Conditional Instructions: Use if-then statements to handle different scenarios. For example: "If the patient's blood pressure is above 140/90, recommend a follow-up visit. Otherwise, suggest lifestyle modifications."
3. Sequential Instructions: Break down complex tasks into steps. For instance: "Step 1: List current medications. Step 2: Summarise recent lab results."
Remember, perfecting your prompts may take some trial and error. At Lyrebird Health, we offer the ability to regenerate notes on past patients or use AI-generated mock patients to help you refine your prompts.
By implementing these tips, you'll be well on your way to creating more efficient, accurate, and personalised medical documentation with our AI Scribe.
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