Creating a new medication order for a resident is an important task that ensures accurate administration and compliance.

To create a new order, follow these steps:

Click Resident/Orders.
Select the resident from the list.
Click Orders, then click Add.
Use the dropdown and select Medication.
Complete all required fields.
🤓 Tip: Check out our handy table below for more information.
Click Save.

The new item appears in the resident’s Active Orders with a green flag awaiting approval.

Required fields for a new order

Use the table to find out more about each required field when creating a new order:

Medication	Enter the full name of the medication as written on the pharmacy label.
Strength	Enter the strength and unit of the medication if applicable.
Form	Enter the form the medication has been supplied in such as tablets or liquid.
Diagnosis	State what the resident is taking the medication for.
Start date	Date the medication is physically available to administer.
Start time	Time the medication is physically available to administer.
End date	Date the medication should end on the system. For cycle medication, this should be the end of the current cycle. For courses of medication, this should be the end of the course.
End time	Time the medication should end on the system. For cycle medication, this should be the end of the day such as 23:59.
Prescriber	Create or select from a searchable prescriber database.
Source	Enter the supplier such as pharmacy or hospital.
Route	Enter the administration route such as oral or topical.
Instructions	Full instructions of how to administer the medication as written on the pharmacy label. For vague instructions like 'Use as directed' or 'When required', create an Info Order to clarify the resident or prescriber’s preference for use.
Schedule routine or PRN	Enter either a routine schedule where a quantity and frequency for use is defined such as once daily or twice daily. Enter PRN for all 'When required' medication.

Optional functions you can activate

Use the table to find out more about each optional function you can activate when creating a new order:

Note body site	Select to capture administration site and add selected sites in rotation.
Sliding scale	Select for variable doses such as 'Take one or two tablets twice a day'. More complex sliding scales can be added when defined by a vital sign and the record function must be active to create this.
Given by self, nurse or HH	Select to mark orders as not administered as part of the med round such as self-medicating or given by external professionals.
Controlled drug	Select to activate CD flag and witness requirements.
Record	Select to capture a selected vital sign at point of administration such as pulse reading.
Track inventory	Select to activate stock management of medication.
Wait between admins	Select to activate warnings if medication is selected for administration before the defined time period such as a four-hour wait between doses of paracetamol.
Require follow-up result	Select to activate follow-up for non-PRN medication.
Change alert to	Select to change standard alert to a user-defined time.