Workflow: Creating a Post-Transfer Follow-Up Checklist

The days after embryo transfer are the most anxious of the IVF cycle. A clear, well-structured checklist helps patients know what is normal, what is not, and when they should contact you. This workflow uses AI to draft that checklist.

Steps

Step 1: Decide what the checklist needs to cover. Think about the questions your patients most commonly ask after transfer. Common categories include: physical symptoms to expect, activities and restrictions, medication reminders, emotional preparation for the wait, and when to call the clinic. Note these down before prompting.

Step 2: Note any clinic-specific instructions. Your clinic may have specific guidance that differs from general advice — for example, specific rest recommendations, or when to stop or start certain medications. Note these separately. You will add them manually, not rely on AI to know them.

Step 3: Open your AI tool.

Step 4: Write your prompt. Try: "Create a clear, patient-friendly checklist for the two weeks after embryo transfer in an IVF cycle. Cover: normal physical symptoms to expect, symptoms that need urgent attention, lifestyle guidance, emotional support tips, and when to contact the clinic. Use plain language. Format as a checklist with short, clear bullet points. Reassuring tone."

Step 5: Review for accuracy. Check every item. Remove anything that does not match your clinical guidance. Add anything that is missing. Pay particular attention to the "when to seek urgent help" section — this must be accurate.

Step 6: Personalise and add clinic details. Copy the draft into your own document. Add your clinic's phone number and out-of-hours contact details. Add the specific date for the pregnancy test. Remove any generic placeholder information.

Step 7: Review the emotional tone. The two-week wait is genuinely hard. Check that the checklist acknowledges this without being alarming. A sentence like "It is completely normal to feel anxious during this time" can make a significant difference to how a patient experiences the wait.

Step 8: Have a colleague or nurse review it. A nurse who speaks with post-transfer patients daily will spot gaps or inaccuracies quickly. One review before this becomes a standard document is worth the ten minutes.

Remember: AI is a helpful assistant, not a clinician. You make the call.