Patient forms are filled in by the patient from a link, before the visit: intake, history, outcome measures. The same builder as notes, with a few delivery switches.

What a patient form is

A patient form is filled in by the patient, from a link ClinyPal emails them, rather than by a clinician. Intake questionnaires, medical histories and outcome measures are the usual ones. Templates live under Settings, then Patient Form Templates. An appointment type can also send a form automatically with its confirmation; see Set up appointment types.

This list is one for the whole clinic; every location uses it, and there's nothing to set up again when you add a location.

The form builder

Notes and patient forms share one builder. A template is a list of sections, each holding fields. Add section gives it a title; Add field inside it asks for a Field label and a type. Fields and sections can be archived rather than deleted once a template has been used, so old notes still display correctly; Show archived brings them back.

GroupField typeWhat it collects
TextSingle lineA short answer, with an optional default answer
TextParagraphA longer free-text answer
ChoiceMultiple choiceOne option from a list you write
ChoiceCheck boxesAny number of options from a list
ClinicalDateA date
CaptureFile attachmentAn uploaded file, such as a photo or a referral
CaptureSignatureA typed full name, confirmed as an electronic signature

Each field can be marked required. Preview shows the template as it will appear when filled. A choice field needs at least one option, and a section at least one field, before the template saves.

The template builder showing a section titled Subjective with two fields, one a paragraph and one a Check boxes field listing Sharp, Dull and Burning, and the Add field and Add section buttons.
The builder with a Subjective section holding a Paragraph field and a Pain quality Check boxes field with Sharp, Dull and Burning options.

Start from a form you already have

Above the builder, Already have this form somewhere else? Bring it in instead of rebuilding it from scratch accepts a PDF, a Word document or a FHIR Questionnaire file. Fillable PDF fields are read directly; a plain document is read by AI, which proposes sections and fields for you to tidy. A scanned image can't be read: This looks like a scanned image or photo, not a text PDF. Older .doc files aren't accepted either; save them as .docx first.

Generate with AI on the templates page drafts a set of templates for your kind of clinic from three answers: What kind of clinic?, Services you provide and Anything else to capture. You pick which to keep and they're saved marked AI-drafted. Open and save it to approve — it cannot be sent to patients until then, so nothing reaches a patient unreviewed. See AI in ClinyPal.

Settings

Under Control visibility and delivery options:

  • Restrict access to practitioners only: the completed answers are hidden from reception and other non-practitioner roles. Use it for anything clinical.
  • Send completed form to the patient: when the patient submits, they're emailed a PDF copy.
  • Show inline in telehealth chat: during a video call the practitioner can push this form into the chat for the patient to complete on the spot; see Chat during a telehealth call.
The Settings section of a patient form template with three switches: Restrict access to practitioners only, Send completed form to the patient, and Show inline in telehealth chat.
A New patient intake template's Settings with Restrict access to practitioners only switched on.
Mark clinical forms practitioners only. Restrict access to practitioners only keeps the answers out of reception's view while still showing that the form was returned.