Please note: This guidance has been superseded by the Implementation guide for digitial medicines, which contains up-to-date information.
Element: dispenseRequest
Used to convey specific dispensing requests to the pharmacy that are not otherwise detailed within the dosageInstruction
The element is not deemed business required for the MVP but should be considered for an implementation.
For most medication requests the hospital pharmacy will typically dispense a quantity of medication appropriate for the medication and dosage, as per their local agreed best practice, to balance the quantity of medication held in pharmacy to that held on the ward.
The inclusion of a dispenseRequest may be useful when requesting discharge medication requests.
| Use case | Original Medication | Discharge Medication | Dispense request |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instruction to the pharmacy to dispense a specific quantity of medication, either expressed as a number of days or as a dose form quantity. | Paracetamol - 1g - four times a day | Paracetamol - 1g - four times a day | 7 days or 56 tablets |
| Any inpatient scenario where the pharmacy is instructed to dispense a specific quantity of medication. For example, if the patient is known to be discharged soon. | Atenolol - 50mg - daily | Atenolol - 50mg - daily | 3 tablets |