5 Working with Question Sets

5.1.1 Question Set Listing Screen

See section Listing Screens above for information on working with features common to many listing screens. The question set listing screen is launched by:

• If necessary, click on the Menu link ()

• Click on the Question Sets button from the Menu page.

An example list might look like this:

One of these question sets is based on a system-provided standard and the other is coming from custom questions. The Standard column names the version of the standard a question set is built on, for example Joint Commission (Jul 2026); see Question Sets and Versions of a Standard. Question Set Types are configurable categories for organizing question sets. These categories are used for grouping and filtering in several of the reports. These types can be created, removed, and renamed by clicking on the Manage Types button.

The Fee for Service value is optional and would be used in cases where the question set pertains to a chart review for a specified service (e.g., psychotherapy) that has a customary fee associated with it. The value provided here simply serves as a default value that can be overridden in an actual audit. Some reports allow estimation of risk of recoupment for services that fail to meet a given compliance rate.

When a question set is marked as available it will appear as an option when creating an audit. When a question set is being modified it is automatically marked as unavailable to prevent other users from accessing an incomplete/unfinished question set.

The available actions for each question set are:

• to modify a question set

• to toggle availability of the question set

• to print a question set

• to archive a question set

5.1.2 Creating/Modifying a Question Set

When creating a question set you will need to specify the standard from which the questions will be drawn. A new question set is built on the version of that standard in effect. If the question set will contain only custom questions then indicate Custom Questions Only from the drop-down. When later modifying a question set the standard on which the question set is based cannot be altered by hand; moving a question set to a newer version of its standard is described in Question Sets and Versions of a Standard. An example of modifying a question set can look like this:

Clicking on the checkboxes to right will bring in groups of questions in ribbons according to associated keywords or section names. Individual questions can then be selected for inclusion/exclusion as needed. When finished identifying questions click one of the save buttons at the top right.

5.1.3 Question Sets and Versions of a Standard

Standards are revised. In MOST™ each revision of a standard is a new version (the Joint Commission calls them editions), and each version takes effect on a date. We install each new version ahead of time; nothing about your question sets or audits changes until the date it takes effect. You are surveyed to the standard in effect on your survey date, and so are your audits.

For standards that update on a schedule (the Joint Commission today), question sets work like this:

• Question sets that follow the standard update themselves. A question set built on the version in effect, or moved to it, follows the standard. The night a new version takes effect, it moves to that version by itself. It keeps its name, fee and instructions, and everything you chose: questions you added by hand stay, and questions you left out stay out. Questions the standard retires leave the set, and new questions under the set’s keywords join it.

• You are told. When a question set moves, your organization admins and question admins see a message when they log in and are emailed a summary. The email can be turned off with Email Me When a Question Set Moves to a New Version in Preferences (Menu > Preferences):

  

• Audits and reports are not disturbed. An audit already started or finished keeps its questions, answers and notes. Reports cover every version of the standard without you choosing one, so a year’s report stays whole across a change.

• Older question sets stay where they are until you move them. A question set on an older version keeps working, but it does not update. The Standards Dashboard shows each one, what moving it to the version in effect would change, and what we recommend. Once moved, it follows the standard from then on.

5.1.4 The Standards Dashboard

Organization admins and question admins in an organization that uses the Joint Commission have the Standards Dashboard. To open it:

• If necessary, click on the Menu link ()

• Click on the Standards button in the Questions and Tools box.

The dashboard shows where your organization stands with the standard:

• In effect: the version in effect and the date it took effect.

• Coming next: a version installed ahead of the day it takes effect, with that date, and how many of your question sets will move to it that night, and how hard each move will hit them: little, moderate or severe. See What Changes opens a summary of what the new version changes, written in plain words (from the Joint Commission’s 1 Jan 2027 edition on): the headline changes, what to start doing and what stops, and each chapter’s standards that are new, withdrawn, renumbered or changed, beside the count of questions carried over, retired and new. When a new version is installed ahead of its date, organization and question admins see a message pointing to the dashboard.

• Your question sets: whether any of your question sets are on an outdated version. Review Question Sets lists them.

• Policy documents: the starter policy documents follow the version in effect, too (see Policy Documents).

The link at the bottom, Explain how new versions affect my question sets and reports, opens the same explanation given above.

Review Question Sets lists your question sets built on the standard, and what the next change to each would do. Questions shows how many a set asks today and, where a change is coming, how many it would ask after (your own questions included).

Question sets that do not follow the standard are grouped by our recommendation:

• We recommend moving these: moving keeps each about the same size and purpose.

• Look at these before moving them: moving would change these a good deal. They would shrink or grow sharply, or some of their keywords would bring in nothing. Look at what the move adds and removes, then decide. Moving one of these needs you to confirm you have reviewed it.

Review the Move shows what moving a question set would add and remove, and moves it when you confirm. A move that would leave a question set with none of its standard questions is refused; build a new question set instead.

Question sets that follow the standard are listed as Up to date. View History beside a question set lists every move it has made and each question each move added and removed. (It replaces the Standard Updates screen of v7.1.)

5.1.5 Printing a Question Set

The print icon provides a convenient way to launch the report interface for printing a question set. For details of report options See the Printable Question Set Report section below.