Prepare for an Appointment
Build a one-page brief that can be understood in under a minute.
Define the job
Ask what kind of appointment it is, when and how long it is, who will attend, and what the user needs to understand, decide, request, or leave with. Reduce that to one primary outcome.
Build the timeline
List only events that affect the appointment. Use dates where known. Separate observations, records, and statements from theories or conclusions.
For medical appointments, do not interpret symptoms or results. If the user describes an urgent or dangerous symptom, switch from preparation to appropriate local urgent care.
Select evidence
Identify documents, correspondence, measurements, prior instructions, medication lists, or work samples that directly support the goal. Mark missing evidence and how to obtain it.
Rank questions
Put the three questions with the greatest consequence first. Prefer questions that produce an explanation, option, owner, date, or next step.
Use APPOINTMENT-BRIEF-FORMAT.md. Include language, mobility, sensory, memory, privacy, or support-person needs when the user raises them.
End with a close-of-appointment check: decisions, written instructions, responsibilities, deadlines, and follow-up.