The Medication Prescription Event template defines the structure and format rules for the details of a medication record and will repeat for each prescription against a medication record. This template includes, or references other templates that include, the information specific to the prescription or medication order such as the dosing instructions, medication timing, instructions to the patient and pharmacist as well as structured dispensing instructions.

This Medication Prescription Event template includes the identification of the Prescription Event and may repeat for each prescription issued for the Drug identified in the Medication List Record. This template includes the detailed level information about the medication as prescribed, or as reported as well as all the information that may be communicated as part of a prescription, or known about the consumption of the medication, including instructions regarding refills, part-fills and administration.

While the EMR should be able to generate prescriptions that are complete the data in the prescription should provide the pharmacist with unambiguous instructions on the medication to be prescribed. If some data elements are missing it should be possible to infer the missing data based on the information provided.