FHIR MedicationRequest Resource (R4)

MedicationRequest is an order or request for a medication: what, for whom, how much, and by whom. Element table, search parameters, example JSON and FHIRPath for FHIR R4.

• FHIR MedicationRequest Resource (R4) — part of the free FHIR Toolbox library.
• Runs entirely in your browser: your FHIR data is never uploaded to a server.

Overview

MedicationRequest is an order or request for a medication: what, for whom, how much, and by whom. It is the prescribing side of the medication workflow, with MedicationDispense and MedicationAdministration recording what happened next. The medication itself was reworked in R5 to a CodeableReference.

Elements

Example JSON (R4)

{
  "resourceType": "MedicationRequest",
  "id": "example",
  "status": "active",
  "intent": "order",
  "medicationCodeableConcept": {
    "coding": [
      {
        "system": "http://www.nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm",
        "code": "197361",
        "display": "Amlodipine 5 MG Oral Tablet"
      }
    ]
  },
  "subject": {
    "reference": "Patient/example"
  },
  "authoredOn": "2024-05-01",
  "dosageInstruction": [
    {
      "text": "1 tablet by mouth once daily"
    }
  ]
}

FHIRPath

• MedicationRequest.medication — The medication (R4 choice element; R5 CodeableReference)
• MedicationRequest.dosageInstruction.text — Dosage instructions as text
• MedicationRequest.subject.reference — Patient reference

Common validation errors

• Using medicationCodeableConcept in R5. R5 uses medication with concept or reference inside.
• Omitting intent. Both status and intent are required; intent is usually order.
• Putting dose instructions only in a note. Use dosageInstruction (text and/or structured timing and doseAndRate).
• Referencing a Patient by name instead of a Reference. subject needs { "reference": "Patient/id" }.

FHIR Toolbox is a free, privacy-first collection of HL7 FHIR utilities by Omindra Labs. Every tool performs zero-server processing — your health data never leaves your device.