Prompt Chain: Evaluation Report Generator from Structured Data

For Speech-Language Pathologists

Tools: Claude Pro | Time to build: 2-3 hours | Difficulty: Intermediate-Advanced Prerequisites: Comfortable using Claude for documentation — see Level 3 guide: "Use Claude Pro to Draft Evaluation Reports"

What This Builds

A multi-step prompt chain that takes your raw evaluation data (case history bullets, standardized test scores, clinical observations) and produces a complete, structured evaluation report section by section — with each section's output feeding into a more coherent final document. Instead of a one-shot "write my eval report" prompt (which produces generic output), this chain produces reports that feel like they were written by a clinician who actually knows the case. SLPs using this system report reducing evaluation report writing time from 6-10 hours to 1.5-3 hours.

Prerequisites

• Claude Pro account ($20/month) — long reports exceed free tier limits
• A completed evaluation with test scores scored and recorded
• Your standard eval report template (if you have one — upload it to the Claude Project)
• Optional: a Claude Project set up (see Level 4 guide: "Your Personal SLP Documentation Assistant")

The Concept

A prompt chain is a series of connected prompts where you complete them in order — each step's output informs the next step. Writing an eval report is naturally a chain: background → testing → observations → diagnosis → recommendations. Running these as separate, connected prompts produces better output than asking for the whole report at once, because each step focuses Claude's attention on one task at a time, and later sections can reference what was already established in earlier ones.

Build It Step by Step

Part 1: Set Up Your Data Sheet

Before opening Claude, fill out this data sheet for the evaluation. You'll paste from it throughout the chain. Takes 10-15 minutes — most of this information already exists in your notes.

=== EVALUATION DATA SHEET ===

PATIENT PROFILE
- Age: [X years, X months]
- Sex: [M/F]
- Referral source: [who referred and why]
- Primary concern: [presenting complaint in 1-2 sentences]

BACKGROUND HISTORY (bullet points)
- Developmental history: [milestones, any delays noted]
- Medical history: [relevant diagnoses, medications, hearing/vision]
- Educational history: [grade, any services, teacher concerns]
- Family history: [family history of communication disorders if relevant]
- Prior speech-language therapy: [yes/no; if yes, duration, focus, progress]

BEHAVIORAL OBSERVATIONS
- Cooperation/engagement: [description]
- Attention/focus: [description]
- Communication attempts: [did they initiate? respond? gesture?]
- Rapport with examiner: [description]
- Any notable behaviors: [fatigue, frustration, anxiety, etc.]

STANDARDIZED TEST RESULTS
- [Test name 1]: Standard Score [X], Percentile [X]th, Confidence Interval [X-X]
- [Test name 2]: Standard Score [X], Percentile [X]th
- [Test name 3 or subtest]: [score] — [brief description of what it measures]
- [Continue for all tests administered]

INFORMAL ASSESSMENT FINDINGS
- [Connected speech sample / language sample / informal observation]: [description of findings]

CLINICAL IMPRESSIONS
- Diagnosis/diagnoses: [your clinical conclusion]
- Severity: [mild / moderate / severe]
- Prognosis: [good / fair / guarded — with rationale]

RECOMMENDATIONS
- Speech-language therapy: [yes/no; frequency/duration if yes]
- Other referrals: [audiology, OT, psychology, pediatrician, etc.]
- Home program: [yes/no; focus area]
- School/team communication: [what you want communicated]

Part 2: Run the Prompt Chain in Order

Open Claude (ideally your Documentation Assistant Project). Run these prompts one at a time in the same conversation, waiting for each response before continuing.

Prompt 1 — Background Section:

I'm writing a speech-language evaluation report. I'll share my evaluation data section by section. Please draft each section as a formal clinical report narrative when I provide the data. Start with the Background/Case History section.

Background data:
[PASTE your Background History bullets from the Data Sheet]

Patient: [age]-year-old [sex] referred by [source] for [reason].

Prompt 2 — Behavioral Observations:

Now draft the Behavioral Observations section from this data:
[PASTE your Behavioral Observations bullets]
Write 1-2 paragraphs. Note implications for test validity where relevant.

Prompt 3 — Assessment Results:

Now draft the Assessment Results section. For each test, write 1-2 sentences interpreting the score clinically (not just restating the number). Include an overall profile statement at the end.

Test results:
[PASTE your Standardized Test Results]

Informal findings:
[PASTE your Informal Assessment Findings]

Prompt 4 — Diagnostic Impressions:

Based on the background, observations, and test results you've written about so far, draft the Diagnostic Impressions section. Use this clinical conclusion:
Diagnosis: [diagnosis]
Severity: [severity]
Prognosis: [prognosis with rationale]

Include appropriate hedging language ("consistent with," "findings support," "presents with"). Reference the key evidence from prior sections.

Prompt 5 — Recommendations:

Draft the Recommendations section. Recommendations:
[PASTE your Recommendations bullets]

Format as a numbered list with brief rationale for each recommendation. Include functional impact language connecting the recommendations to daily life/school/work.

Prompt 6 — Executive Summary (optional):

Finally, write a 2-3 sentence summary paragraph suitable for the top of the report as an executive overview. It should capture: the presenting concern, key findings in plain language, and the primary recommendation.

Part 3: Assemble and Review

Copy each section from Claude into your report template in order. Then do a final review pass:

• Do the sections flow together and reference each other coherently?
• Are all test score numbers accurate? (Compare to your scoring forms)
• Does the Diagnostic Impressions section logically follow from the Results?
• Does the Recommendations section address what the referral question was asking?
• Remove any [REVIEW THIS] flags before finalizing

Real Example: Pediatric Language Evaluation

Patient setup: 7-year-old male referred by first-grade teacher for concerns about reading readiness and following classroom directions.

Data Sheet excerpt:

• CELF-5 Core Language Score: 79, 8th percentile
• CELF-5 Language Memory Index: 72, 3rd percentile
• Phonological Awareness (DIBELS): Below benchmark
• Informal language sample: MLU 5.2, age-appropriate; reduced use of complex syntax; frequent revisions and mazes

Prompt 3 output example (Assessment Results excerpt): "Standardized assessment revealed performance in the Low Average to Borderline range across language domains. On the CELF-5, the patient earned a Core Language Score of 79 (8th percentile), indicating language skills below age expectations. The Language Memory Index (72, 3rd percentile) was particularly notable, suggesting difficulty retaining and recalling linguistic information — consistent with classroom reports of difficulty following multi-step directions. Phonological awareness assessed via DIBELS fell below benchmark, placing him at increased risk for reading difficulties. A spontaneous language sample demonstrated age-appropriate mean length of utterance (MLU 5.2); however, reduced use of complex syntactic structures and increased disfluencies (revisions, mazes) were noted, suggesting effortful language formulation."

Time used: The full 6-prompt chain took 35 minutes to run. Final report assembly and review took 45 minutes. Total: 80 minutes vs. a historical average of 6 hours.

What to Do When It Breaks

• Section 4 (Impressions) doesn't connect to earlier sections → Add "Refer to the test results and observations from earlier in this conversation when writing this section" to the prompt
• Output is too long → Add "Keep this section under [X] words" to any prompt
• Test score interpretation is generic → Add the test's full name and what it measures: "CELF-5 measures language processing across receptive and expressive domains" — Claude interprets scores more accurately with this context
• Hit a message limit → Upgrade to Claude Pro, or start a new conversation with a summary of what's been written so far

Variations

• Simpler version: Run all 6 prompts in a single long prompt if your report is short and simple; works for brief evaluations with 1-2 tests
• Extended version: Create a Claude Project with your standard eval report template uploaded, so the AI can see your exact format and reproduce your headers, formatting, and style precisely

What to Do Next

• This week: Run this chain on a recently completed evaluation you've already written — compare the output to your report; calibrate what additional input produces better output
• This month: Build a version of this chain for each of your 3-4 most common evaluation types (speech sound, language, voice, dysphagia)
• Advanced: Upload de-identified example reports to your Claude Project so the AI can match your exact writing style

Advanced guide for speech-language pathologist professionals. These techniques use sophisticated AI features and require a paid Claude subscription. Always review AI-generated clinical documentation before signing.