Formulary

The formulary is the clinic’s list of medications. Find it at Pharmacy → Formulary (/formulary). Each entry is a medication from RxNorm, the standard US drug naming system, so prescribing and stock use the same names and codes.

Who can do this

Doctors and nurses see the search box and the status filter only. Receptionists cannot open the page.

Finding a medication

Type in Search medications… or use the status list (All statuses, Active, Inactive, Entered in error). The table shows Medication, Code (the RxNorm code), Dose form, and Status. Select a row to open its detail page with the name, code, status, dose form, manufacturer, and synonyms.

Adding a medication

1. Select Add medication.
2. Type at least three characters of a generic or brand name, for example lisinopril. Results come from the National Library of Medicine’s RxNav service and show the code as RxCUI.
3. Select a result.
4. Under Medication details, check the Name and Catalog Slug (the lookup key, filled in for you) and enter the Dispensable Unit (for example tablet, capsule, or mL), which is required. Optionally set Status, Dose form, Manufacturer reference, and Synonyms (one per line).
5. Select Create medication.

A coded medication can be added only once. Adding it again is refused with a message that a medication with that code already exists.

Changing a medication

Open the row’s actions menu.

• Edit changes details such as the name or dose form. The code cannot be changed.
• Retire marks the medication inactive so it is no longer offered. Set Active brings it back.
• Delete removes it after you confirm Delete item? (“This action cannot be undone.”). A medication with inventory lots on record cannot be deleted: “Retire it instead to keep movement history readable.”

Related

• Inventory & Stock: the physical stock of each medication.
• Orders & Order Sets: where clinicians choose from the formulary.