Building self-scoring screening forms

Screening forms are built in Forms. A screening form looks like a regular form to the patient, but Ona scores supported answers when the form is submitted and shows the result on the patient’s form record.

How do I import a ready-made screening form?

Use the form catalog in Forms when you want to start from an existing screening template instead of building every question and score rule yourself. In the left sidebar, click Library, then under Library, click Forms.

Use Library (1) in the left sidebar, then Forms library (2) in the main list to browse the combined form catalog.

1. In the left sidebar, click Library, then under Library, click Forms.
2. Browse the combined form catalog.
3. Find the screening template you want to use.
4. Open Preview to review the full template details before adding it to your practice.
5. Select Import.

Ona copies the template into your forms. Open the imported template before sending it so you can confirm the questions, scoring setup, severity bands and flags match your practice’s workflow.

How do I turn a form into a screening form?

Use the form builder in Forms when you want Ona to calculate a result from patient answers. On the same page, open the form template you want to edit, or create a new one.

Use Required (2) for questions the patient must answer, Scored (3) for the questions, rows or scale items that count toward the result, and Points (5) to set each answer’s value.

1. In the left sidebar, click Library, then under Library, click Forms.
2. On the same page, open the form template you want to edit, or create a new one.
3. Turn on Screening near the top of the editor.
4. Add the questions and answer options the patient should complete. For text blocks, type in the block body and use the in-editor insert affordance to add more blocks as you build the form.
5. Leave Scored on for each question, single-choice matrix row or scale item that should count toward the result.
6. Enter the point value for each answer option, or set the point range for a scale question.
7. Select Save.

Only single-choice, single-choice matrix and scale questions can be scored. Multiple-choice, multiple-choice matrix, checkbox, text, short text, long text and table blocks can still be part of the form, but they do not add points.

For a scored single-choice question, each answer option has its own value. For a scored single-choice matrix, each row has its own scoring item and shares the same answer-column values. For a scored scale question, each point on the scale counts as its value. Use Reverse when higher patient answers should count as lower score values for that item or matrix row.

How do I set severity bands and flags?

Use the Screening panel in Forms to turn raw points into a result your team can read consistently. On the same page, open the screening form.

Use Screening panel (1) to set the scoring options, and Score name (2) to name the result that appears on the form.

1. In the left sidebar, click Library, then under Library, click Forms.
2. On the same page, open the screening form.
3. In the Screening panel, name the score so it is clear on the result.
4. Choose how Ona should handle unanswered scored questions.
5. Add severity bands for the score ranges your team uses.
6. Add flags for questions, matrix rows or scores that need attention.
7. Select Save.

Severity bands group score ranges under labels your team recognizes. Flags call attention to configured thresholds on the submitted result.

A flag is not a diagnosis. It tells your team that a threshold was met so they can follow the practice’s protocol.

What does the patient see when completing a screening form?

When you send a screening form from a patient's Forms section, the patient completes the same anonymous completion flow used for other patient forms. In the left sidebar, click Patients, then click the patient's name. In the patient chart sidebar, click Forms.

Use Forms (1) in the patient chart to open the patient’s form record, and use Add forms (2) to send a form or fill one on this device.

The patient sees the questions, reviews the form, agrees to electronic signature and signs before submitting. If they leave required questions unanswered, Ona highlights them inline and keeps the form open with a message that the required questions aren't answered yet. They still do not see point values, score totals, severity bands or flags while filling in the form.

If the form is sent by secure link, the patient can open it without signing in. Ona asks them to confirm their date of birth in the date picker before the form opens. The link is one-time use. After submission, the confirmation says the answers were delivered to the clinic and the link cannot be opened again. If a secure-link submission fails because the link was revoked, already used, expired, or opened in the wrong tab or on the wrong device, Ona shows a matching message for that state.

How do I review a submitted screening result?

Review screening results from a patient's Forms section after the patient submits the form. In the left sidebar, click Patients, then click the patient's name. In the patient chart sidebar, click Forms.

1. In the left sidebar, click Patients, then click the patient's name. In the patient chart sidebar, click Forms.
2. Find the submitted screening form in the list.
3. Open the form.
4. Review any flag callouts first.
5. Review the score card, severity band, patient answers and signature record.

The submitted form keeps the patient’s answers with the signature record. Screening results appear with the submitted form, so your team can review the score in context. The submitted summary can also show who signed and whether someone signed on the patient's behalf.

What can't I do here?

On the forms page, screening has these limits:

• You cannot score multiple-choice, multiple-choice matrix, checkbox, text, short text, long text or table blocks.
• You cannot save a screening form if Screening is on and every scored question has been removed. Ona shows the message "Score at least one question, or turn off Screening, to save."
• Patients cannot see scoring values, severity bands or flags while completing the form.
• If required questions are unanswered, the form stays open, highlights those questions inline and shows a message that the required questions aren't answered yet.
• If a screening form is sent by secure link, the patient confirms their date of birth in the date picker before the form opens.
• A form that has already been sent uses the form snapshot from the time it was sent. Editing the template later does not change that issued form.
• A secure form link can fail with a revoked, used, expired or wrong-tab/wrong-device state, and each state shows its own message.

Common questions

Can I use screening on a custom form?

Yes. Turn on Screening in the form builder, then add scored single-choice, single-choice matrix or scale questions and configure the result in the Screening panel.

Can a scored question be optional?

Yes. Required and Scored are separate controls. If a scored question is not required, choose how unanswered scored questions should be handled in the Screening panel.

Can patients tell that a form is scored?

Not from the scoring setup. The patient-facing form shows the questions, not the point values, score total, severity bands or flags, and unanswered required questions are shown inline if the patient tries to submit without them.

Where should I send a screening form from?

Send it from a patient's Forms section when you want it tied to a patient record.

Can I edit the score after submission?

No. The submitted form shows the result calculated from the patient’s submitted answers and the form snapshot used when the form was sent.