Overview
Building Effective Clinical Evaluations
When you build a clinical evaluation, you follow a proven methodology that moves through four distinct stages. Each stage builds on the previous one, helping you create evaluations that are accurate, usable, and clinically sound. By working through these stages in order, you reduce rework and catch issues early in the development lifecycle.
The Development Lifecycle
The four stages of development guide you from initial concept to a polished, peer-reviewed evaluation:
- Planning -- Define the problem you want to solve, identify your end users, and set clear goals before you write a single formula or design a single screen.
- Data -- Structure your inputs and outputs with unique, meaningful labels that ensure traceability and accuracy throughout the evaluation.
- Logic -- Translate clinical best practices into concrete business rules using visibility conditions and formula expressions, then validate every path with test scenarios.
- Design -- Shape the user experience by organizing content into manageable sections, adding clarity through media and descriptions, and conducting thorough peer review.
Recommended Development Tools
Throughout the development lifecycle, you rely on four key tools to keep your work on track:
- User Stories -- Frame requirements from the perspective of real users to ensure your evaluation delivers genuine clinical value.
- Logic Maps -- Diagram decision paths and scoring algorithms before you build them, so you can identify gaps and edge cases early.
- Test Scenarios -- Validate every possible result by running realistic inputs through your evaluation and confirming the outputs match expectations.
- Peer Reviews -- Invite colleagues to inspect your evaluation in read-only mode, catching errors and gathering feedback before you publish.
Where to Start
If you are building your first evaluation, begin with the Planning guide and work through each stage sequentially. If you are revisiting an existing evaluation, jump directly to the stage that addresses your current challenge. Each guide stands on its own while connecting to the broader methodology.