Procedure documentationCalculating Doses for Standard Drugs

 

You can have the system propose the dose of a standard drug based on the duration of the order or the patient's body weight. You can transfer the proposal into the order, discard it, and adjust it there, if necessary.

Prerequisites

The order has the internal status Saved.

Procedure

Call the Dose Calculation dialog box using one of the following alternatives:

  • In the compressed view of the order, choose Dose Calculation (Dose Calculation).

  • In the order detail dialog, choose Calculation (Calculation).

Note Note

For orders with a sliding dose, you perform the dose calculation for each entry of the sliding dose on the Sliding Dose tab page in the order detail dialog or in the enhanced view of the order.

End of the note.

You can have the system calculate the the dose proposal in three ways:

Calculation Using Single Dose

  1. Choose Individual Dose and specify which ingredient you wish to use for the calculation.

    Note Note

    You can use the dose calculation for single ingredients of mixed drugs. The following options are available:

    • The drug itself with the alternative reference dose

    • All agents with the agent role

    • Agent equivalents

    End of the note.

    In the Dose/Quantity fields, the system displays which dose of the selected ingredient is contained in the reference quantity.

  2. Enter the planned dose of the selected ingredient of the standard drug.

    The system uses the ratio between dose and reference quantity to calculate the total quantity to be administered.

    You can also calculate the dose using the weight of the patient (per kg) or the patient’s body surface area (BSA). In the Per Unit field, specify whether the system is to perform the calculation based on the weight or body surface area. You can enter the reference value quantity at your own discretion.

    Note Note

    When calculating, the system takes into account whether the administrable drug is defined as divisible in the drug master data. The system uses the specified denominator in the drug master data to calculate the quantity and round it up to the next possible dose, taking into account whether it can be divided.

    End of the note.

    Example Example

    You wish to order a dose of 4 mg of agent A per kg body weight for a patient who weighs 50 kg. The drug contains 250 mg of agent A per tablet and cannot be divided. As a result the system rounds up the planned dose to 5 mg per kg (4 mg multiplied by 50 kg = 200 mg; rounded up to 250 mg; 250 mg divided by 50 kg = 5 mg).

    You wish to calculate a dose for a small child. You choose to calculate the dose based on the child’s body weight in grams.

    End of the example.

  3. To display the calculated values, choose Subtotal (Subtotal). If you choose Calculate and Transfer Values (Calculate and Transfer Values) the system transfers the calculated dose into the order. You discard the dose proposal by choosing Cancel (Cancel).

    Note Note

    If you have entered simplified dose information, the system changes the dose to the calculated individual dose for all times with a dose not equal to 0.

    End of the note.

  4. If required, adjust the dose in the compressed view or in the order detail dialog.

Calculation Using Daily Dose

This type of dose calculation is only suitable for daily regular cycles, such as three times daily for the entire order duration.

  1. Choose Daily Dose and enter the planned daily dose and the cycle. If you have selected a day cycle, also enter the dose information.

    The system uses the daily dose, the dose information, and the cycle times and quantities to calculate the individual dose or, if you use a day cycle, the simplified dose definition of the administrable drug.

    Example Example

    You wish to administer a daily dose of 750 mg of agent A to a patient. You select the desired agent as the ingredient for calculation and enter the daily dose. You have also selected a day cycle and dose information of 1-0-2. A tablet contains 500 mg of the agent and can be divided into 2. You receive 0.5-0-1 as the calculated dose.

    End of the example.

  2. To display the calculated values, choose Subtotal (Subtotal). If you choose Calculate and Transfer Values (Calculate and Transfer Values) the system transfers the calculated dose into the order. You discard the dose proposal by choosing Cancel (Cancel).

  3. If required, adjust the dose in the compressed view or in the order detail dialog.

Calculation Using Total Dose

  1. Choose Total Dose and enter the planned total dose, the duration of the order and the cycle. If you have selected a day cycle, also enter the dose information.

    Using these entries the system calculates the dose per administration.

    Note Note

    When calculating, the system takes into account whether the administrable drug is defined as divisible in the drug master data. The system uses the specified denominator in the drug master data to calculate the quantity and round it up to the next possible dose, taking into account whether it can be divided.

    End of the note.

    Example Example

    You wish to prescribe a patient 10 tablets in 3 days with the cycle twice daily. The drug cannot be divided. The system therefore rounds up the total quantity to be administered to 12 tablets.

    However, you can change either the duration of the order or the cycle in order to achieve an order of 10 tablets.

    End of the example.

  2. To display the calculated values, choose Subtotal (Subtotal). If you choose Calculate and Transfer Values (Calculate and Transfer Values) the system transfers the calculated dose into the order. You discard the dose proposal by choosing Cancel (Cancel).

  3. If required, adjust the dose in the compressed view or in the order detail dialog.