Using scored measures

Scored measures let you screen for mental health conditions and track treatment progress. You can send measures automatically, complete them on behalf of clients, and review their scores over time.

You can automatically send scored measures on a recurring basis to provide measurement-based care to clients. When clients complete a measure, their scores will be calculated for you, and you can view their progress over time on the Measures tab of a client’s profile.

Note: For answers to commonly asked questions about scored measures, see Scored measures FAQs.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

• Enabling scored measures
• Scheduling recurring measures
• Completing scored measures on behalf of a client
• Viewing scores and completed measures

Enabling scored measures

Note: To learn about which scored measures are available in SimplePractice, see What scored measures are available in SimplePractice?

To use a scored measure, it must be added to your template library. To do this, navigate to Settings > Documentation > Template library, and select View pre-built templates. Once you're able to view pre-built templates, click + Add next to the scored measure you’d like to add.

Note: For more information, see Adding a pre-built template.

After the scored measure is added in your template library, check the box next to the scored measure's name to add it to your Settings > Documentation > Shareable documents. This will make it available for selection when you share intakes.

Note: For more information on previewing, deleting, and removing scored measures from shareable documents, see Managing your template library.

In Settings > Documentation > Shareable documents, you can also check Default under a scored measure to pre-select it when you're sending intakes.

Scheduling recurring measures

Scored measures can be automatically sent to clients on a recurring basis. To do this:

1. Navigate to the client’s Overview page
2. Click Share
3. Check the box next to the scored measure(s) you want to share
4. Choose the Frequency:

Below is a table of all available frequencies and the specific timing for each frequency.

Note: Measures won’t be sent for Canceled, Clinician canceled, Late canceled, or No show appointments, unless the selected frequency is Every 2 weeks or Every 4 weeks.

Once you've set your frequency for the scored measure, click Continue to Email and follow the prompts to schedule the recurring item(s). Once you've shared the item(s), the client can complete these through the Client Portal.

Only scored measures can be scheduled to send automatically. If you have consent to send emails to your client, a Recurring measure request email will be sent to let the client know whenever it's time to complete their scored measure. You can edit the Recurring measure request email template at Settings > Client notifications > Email.

To remove a scheduled recurrence:

1. Navigate to the client’s Overview page
2. Select the Files tab
3. Locate the scheduled measure
4. Select the 3 horizontal dots > Delete

5. Select End recurrence

To change the frequency, delete the scheduled measure and reshare it with the new frequency.

Note: To learn more about the Files tab, see Managing the client's Files tab.

Completing scored measures on behalf of a client

If your client doesn’t use the Client Portal, or if you’d like to complete a measure during session, you can do so from their profile:

1. Navigate to the client’s Overview page
2. Select New > Scored measure

3. If applicable, choose which client or contact you’re completing the measure for
4. Select Continue to Scored measure
5. Choose the measure you’d like to complete from the dropdown

Note: To learn how to add a scored measure to your account, see Enabling scored measures.

6. After completing the measure, click Save

The completed measure will be added to the client’s profile, with a caption indicating it was completed by a clinician on their behalf.

Note: To learn how to share measures with clients through the Client Portal, see Scheduling recurring measures.

Viewing scores and completed measures

Measures completed by clients are scored automatically. You can review their score and responses from the Overview page.

To view a completed measure:

1. Click All Items
2. Select Scored measure from the dropdown menu

3. Click the completed measure you’d like to view

You’ll see the client’s responses, the calculated Score, and a Scoring interpretation. You can click View scoring guide for more information.

Important: Some measures, such as the PHQ-9, include questions about suicidality and self-harm. If a client answers affirmatively, this will be indicated. To learn more, see Scored measures FAQs.

When you're viewing the completed measure, you can choose from the following options on the top right:

• + Note to add a note
• The printer icon to print
• The arrow icon to download
• The trash can icon to delete

You can also add your signature at the bottom of the scored measure. To do this, see Sharing and signing completed documentation.

If a client has completed a measure multiple times, each score will appear on a graph for the measure under the Measures tab. This includes changes since the baseline and the last measure completed. For example, this is how the Measures tab appears if a client has completed the GAD-7 multiple times.