← ReferenceResource

What is a MedicationRequest?

A MedicationRequest represents a prescription or an order for a medication to be given to a patient — the drug, dose, route, frequency, and quantity. It is equivalent to a written prescription or a computerized physician order entry (CPOE) record.

Metformin prescription — MedicationRequest

{
  "resourceType": "MedicationRequest",
  "id": "rx-metformin-001",
  "status": "active",
  "intent": "order",
  "medicationCodeableConcept": {
    "coding": [{
      "system": "http://www.whocc.no/atc",
      "code": "A10BA02",
      "display": "Metformin"
    }]
  },
  "subject": { "reference": "Patient/patient-001" },
  "authoredOn": "2024-03-15",
  "dosageInstruction": [{
    "text": "500 mg twice daily with food",
    "timing": { "repeat": { "frequency": 2, "period": 1, "periodUnit": "d" } },
    "doseAndRate": [{
      "doseQuantity": { "value": 500, "unit": "mg",
        "system": "http://unitsofmeasure.org", "code": "mg" }
    }]
  }]
}

Key elements

status — active | on-hold | cancelled | completed | entered-in-error | stopped | draft | unknown
intent — proposal | plan | order | original-order | reflex-order | filler-order | instance-order | option
medication[x] — CodeableConcept (ATC, SNOMED, RxNorm) or Reference to Medication resource
subject — reference to Patient (required)
dosageInstruction — dose, route, timing — can be complex
dispenseRequest — number of repeats, quantity to dispense
reasonReference — link to Condition for which drug is prescribed