Last reviewed
2026-02-07
Workflow pack
Fatigue/weakness triage workflow
Clinical workflow for fatigue visits balancing targeted workup, red-flag detection, and follow-up reliability.
Trust and governance
Use only within this workflow's defined scope and exclusions.
Clinical owner
Family Medicine Editorial Team
Risk tier
Medium
Review cadence
Every 6 months
Next due 2026-08-07
Review status
Current
Scope limits
Initial outpatient fatigue assessment when immediate instability is not present.
Exclusions (escalate/redirect)
- Acute cardiorespiratory, neurologic, or hemodynamic emergencies.
- Hospital-level rapid diagnostic pathways.
References
Escalate-now emphasis (medium-risk workflow)
Treat red-flag findings as urgent. Escalate the care pathway early if concern persists or follow-up reliability is uncertain.
At a glance
Rapid decision framing for in-visit use. Educational only; always apply clinical judgment.
Immediate actions
- Clarify fatigue timeline, severity, and functional consequences.
- Screen for systemic, mood, sleep, and medication contributors.
- Identify immediate escalation criteria before outpatient workup path.
Red flags / escalate now
- Progressive weakness with neurologic deficits or unstable vitals.
- Persistent fevers, significant weight loss, bleeding, or severe dyspnea.
- Inability to maintain safe activities of daily living.
First-line plan
- Use targeted evaluation based on dominant clinical pattern.
- Start supportive plan addressing hydration, activity pacing, and sleep quality.
- Document explicit reassessment and escalation thresholds.
Follow-up and monitoring
- Reassess symptom and function trend in short interval.
- Escalate when red flags emerge or trajectory worsens.
- Coordinate specialist pathway for unresolved high-risk patterns.
Next useful actions
Keep moving without restarting the search.
These are the most likely next clicks after opening this workflow.
Condition guidance
Referral checklists
Tools and calculators
Return precautions (patient script)
Suggested plain-language wording for safety-net counseling:
If symptoms get worse, new warning signs appear, or you cannot follow the plan from this visit, seek urgent care now.
- Use with the specific red flags listed on this page.
- Confirm follow-up timing and where to go after-hours.
- Document that return precautions were reviewed and understood.
Visit-close checklist
- Document disposition, rationale, and unresolved diagnostic uncertainty.
- Give explicit return precautions and follow-up timeline before ending visit.
- Attach a relevant handout when available to reinforce adherence and safety-netting.