Describes the event of a patient consuming or otherwise being administered a medication. This may be as simple as swallowing a tablet or it may be a long running infusion.

Related resources tie this event to the authorizing prescription, and the specific encounter between patient and health care practitioner.

External identifier - FHIR will generate its own internal IDs (probably URLs) which do not need to be explicitly managed by the resource. The identifier here is one that would be used by another non-FHIR system - for example an automated medication pump would provide a record each time it operated; an administration while the patient was off the ward might be made with a different system and entered after the event. Particularly important if these records have to be updated.

Will generally be set to show that the administration has been completed. For some long running administrations such as infusions it is possible for an administration to be started but not completed or it may be paused while some other process is under way.

The person or animal to whom the medication was given.

The individual who was responsible for giving the medication to the patient.

The visit or admission the or other contact between patient and health care provider the medication administration was performed as part of.

The original request, instruction or authority to perform the administration.

Set this to true if the record is saying that the medication was NOT administered.

A code indicating why the administration was not performed.

A code indicating why the medication was given.

An interval of time during which the administration took place (or did not take place, when the 'notGiven' attribute is true). For many administrations, such as swallowing a tablet the use of dateTime is more appropriate.

Identifies the medication that was administered. This is either a link to a resource representing the details of the medication or a simple attribute carrying a code that identifies the medication from a known list of medications.

Note: do not use Medication.name to describe the administered medication. When the only available information is a text description of the medication, Medication.code.text should be used.

The device used in administering the medication to the patient. E.g. a particular infusion pump.

Extra information about the medication administration that is not conveyed by the other attributes.

Indicates how the medication is/was used by the patient.

Free text dosage instructions can be used for cases where the instructions are too complex to code. When coded instructions are present, the free text instructions may still be present for display to humans taking or administering the medication.

A coded specification of the anatomic site where the medication first entered the body. E.g. "left arm".

A code specifying the route or physiological path of administration of a therapeutic agent into or onto the patient. E.g. topical, intravenous, etc.

A coded value indicating the method by which the medication was introduced into or onto the body. Most commonly used for injections. Examples: Slow Push; Deep IV.

Terminologies used often pre-coordinate this term with the route and or form of administration.

The amount of the medication given at one administration event. Use this value when the administration is essentially an instantaneous event such as a swallowing a tablet or giving an injection.

If the administration is not instantaneous (rate is present or timing has a duration), this can be specified to convey the total amount administered over period of time of a single administration (as indicated by schedule).

Identifies the speed with which the medication was introduced into the patient. Typically the rate for an infusion e.g. 200ml in 2 hours. May also expressed as a rate per unit of time such as 100ml per hour - the duration is then not specified, or is specified in the quantity.

If the rate changes over time, each change should be captured as a distinct "dosage" repetition. This element should not be used to convey an average rate.