> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.decodahealth.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Measurements

> Create measurement fields, groups, formulas, and chart layouts for patient measurements.

<Info>
  **Where to find it:** Go to **Settings > Measurements**.
</Info>

Measurements define what your clinic records for patients, such as vitals, body composition, lab values, range of motion, or assessment scores. Create fields for each value you track, then place related fields into groups so staff can record and review them together.

The page has two tabs:

* **Fields** — individual values, such as Weight, A1C, or Systolic.
* **Groups** — sets of fields that appear together on the patient chart, forms, and note templates.

## Create fields

A field is one measurement value that can be recorded or calculated.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Fields tab">
    Click **Fields**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start a new field">
    Click **Create Field**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the field details">
    Fill in **Name**, **Description**, **Data Type**, and **Unit**. Use **Float** for decimal values, **Integer** for whole numbers, **Text** for short written values, and **Multi-value (text)** when staff may select or enter more than one value.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add choices if needed">
    Open **Options** and click **Add option** when the field should use a fixed list of choices. For numeric fields, each option stores a number. For text and multi-value fields, each option stores text.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set limits and ranges if needed">
    Use **Validation** to set **Decimal Places**, **Min Value**, and **Max Value**. Use **Reference Ranges** to label values as normal, warning, high, or critical.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save the field">
    Click **Create Field**. The field is now available for groups, forms, and note templates.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  **Options** cannot be used with **Min Value**, **Max Value**, or **Reference Ranges** on the same field. If you add options, Decoda clears those limits and ranges when the field is saved.
</Note>

## Create calculated fields

Calculated fields are filled in by Decoda from other measurement fields. Staff do not enter these values directly.

To create one, open **Computed Field**, turn on **Derived Field**, choose a **Formula Type**, choose **Operand Fields**, and set **Round to** if the result should be rounded.

| Formula                                    | Inputs                                                           | Use it for                                                               |
| ------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Ratio**                                  | Two numeric fields                                               | Comparing one value to another.                                          |
| **Difference**                             | Two numeric fields                                               | Showing the gap between two values.                                      |
| **Sum**                                    | Two or more numeric fields                                       | Adding related values together.                                          |
| **Percentage of**                          | A part field and a whole field                                   | Showing a value as a percent of another value.                           |
| **Body Mass Index**                        | Weight in lbs and height in inches                               | Calculating BMI.                                                         |
| **Total Change**                           | One numeric field                                                | Showing the change from the earliest recorded value.                     |
| **Basal Metabolic Rate (Mifflin–St Jeor)** | Weight in lbs, height in inches, patient age, and patient gender | Estimating daily resting calories.                                       |
| **Body Surface Area (Mosteller)**          | Weight in lbs and height in inches                               | Estimating body surface area.                                            |
| **Scored weighted group**                  | Several fields with weights and score rules                      | Building a score from multiple markers, such as a wellness or lab score. |
| **Weighted capped composite**              | Several calculated scores with weights and cap rules             | Combining section scores into one overall score.                         |

Simple formulas calculate one number from the selected fields. Score formulas first turn each input into a point score, then combine those parts by weight. A score can also be capped when an important marker meets a rule your clinic has set. On the patient chart, these scores can show a **Score donut** and calculation notices so staff can see which parts affected the result.

Use **Formula Playground** to test sample values before saving.

Some advanced formulas also show **Formula parameters (JSON)**. Fill this in only when your Decoda team gives you settings to paste or asks you to adjust a score setup. These settings can control score ranges, weights, caps, defaults, and whether Decoda can use an earlier value when a same-day value is missing. Leave it blank when the formula does not need extra settings; Decoda will use only the selected **Formula Type**, **Operand Fields**, and **Round to** settings.

<Note>
  **Basal Metabolic Rate (Mifflin–St Jeor)** uses age and gender from the patient profile. It calculates only when the patient is recorded as **Male** or **Female**.
</Note>

Calculated fields fill in after the needed values are saved. If a calculated field is set up to use an earlier value when today's value is missing, Decoda marks the result with a warning on the patient chart.

## Set display details for a field

Open **Display Settings** to control how trends look for a field.

* **Higher values are better** or **Lower values are better** controls the color of trend arrows.
* **Chart Panels** control how that field appears in charts. Numeric fields can use **Line**, **Bar**, **Area**, **Mixed**, **Stacked**, **Pie**, or **Score donut** charts.

Use **Score donut** for calculated scores that should show each part of the score. The ring shows each part's weight, and the filled portion shows how well that part scored.

The **Live Preview** panel shows sample data so you can check the setup before saving.

## Create groups

A group controls how related measurements appear together, such as a Vitals group or a Blood Work group.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Groups tab">
    Click **Groups**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Use a template or start from scratch">
    Click **Apply Template** to add a pre-built group, or click **Create Group** to build your own.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter basic information">
    Fill in **Name** and **Description**. Use **Appearance** to set **Color** and **Sort Order**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add fields and child groups">
    Open **Fields & Groups** and use **Select fields or groups...** to choose what belongs in the group. Drag items to reorder them. Turn on **Required** for any field that must be filled in when the group is recorded.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose how the group appears">
    Open **Display Settings** and choose **Table**, **Chart**, or **Cards**. For **Cards**, choose the number of **Columns**. For **Chart**, configure one or more **Chart Panels**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save the group">
    Click **Create Group**. The group is available on patient charts, forms, and note templates.
  </Step>
</Steps>

When a group uses **Chart**, each chart panel has a **Panel Source** setting:

* Choose **Custom panel** to pick the chart type and fields directly in the group.
* Choose **Use \[field name]'s chart** when a field in the group already has the chart you want to show, such as a calculated score field with a **Score donut**.
* If you see **Unavailable field chart**, the group is pointing to a field chart that is no longer available in that group. Switch back to **Custom panel** or add the field back to the group.

## Use measurement templates

Click **Apply Template** on the **Groups** tab to add a pre-built set of fields and groups. Templates are useful when your clinic wants a standard setup without creating each field one by one.

Some templates may include calculated score fields. These scores can combine several related measurements, apply weights, and show a capped result when important risk markers are high.

Score templates may open in **Chart** view by default and use **Score donut** charts to show what contributed to the score. Use the normal **Table** or **Cards** view when you need to review the raw measurements behind the score.

## Where groups appear

After a patient has recorded values, matching groups appear in **Measurements** on the patient chart. The same measurements show on the **Overview** tab and the **Medical Notes & Data** tab. Values that are not part of a group appear under **Other Measurements**.

Staff can also add measurement fields and groups to:

* **Forms** — use **Measurements** for one field or **Measurement Groups** to add a section of fields. Values are saved to the patient chart when the patient submits the form.
* **Note Templates** — use **Measurements** for one field or **Measurement Groups** to add a section of fields. Values are saved to the patient chart when the note is saved.

Derived fields are not offered in forms or note templates because Decoda calculates them from the entered values.

## Edit or archive measurements

* To edit a field or group, click its row, make changes, and click **Save Changes**.
* To archive a field or group, open the row actions menu and click **Archive**.

Archived fields and groups stop appearing for new entry, but past patient values stay on the chart.

## Related pages

* [Record Patient Measurements](/modules/patients/measurements)
* [Patient Chart](/modules/patients/patient-chart)
* [Form Structure Reference](/modules/forms/form-structure)
* [Note Templates](/modules/settings/note-templates)