# Indications Overview

The Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) enables providers placing medication or prescription orders to enter an indication for use. For example, the indication for Coumadin might be blood thinning.

Indication is now a required field for medication orders in CPRS. It is not a required field for Non-VA documentation nor Supply orders. An indication identifies the main reason that the medication is being given. The Indication entered can also be included on the medication label if the pharmacist elects to put it there.

CPRS works with the Pharmacy package to enable set up of indications in Pharmacy that will then display in CPRS for a provider to select when ordering. The set up enables sites to designate a primary and secondary indications.

## New Field on Medication Order Dialogs

Once indications have been set up, the primary indication and secondary indications will display in a drop-down box on appropriate CPRS order dialogs. When the provider places an order or takes an action, such as transferring, the provider can select one indication for the order. The primary indication as shown, displays first, then there is a separator line, and then the secondary indications display below the line and are sorted in alphabetical order. The provider can also type in an Indication if they so choose.

Example of an Indication field with a primary and secondary choices for the indication for use.

CPRS dialogs that have the Indication field include the following:

1. Inpatient Medications
2. Outpatient Medications
3. Clinic Medications
4. Clinic Infusions
5. Non-VA Documentation (not a required field)
6. Supply Items (not a required field)

## Indications on Order Details

Once the order has been placed, the indication will show on the Order Details.

This screen capture shows where the Indication is displayed on the order details.

## Indication Displays on Reports where SIG Is Displayed

The Indication displays on reports where the SIG is displayed. There is an example below.

This is an example of a report showing the indication.

Specific instructions for adding indications for an order are included under specific instructions for each kind of order.

Related Topics

Ordering Inpatient Medications (Simple Dose)

Ordering Inpatient Medications (Complex Dose)

Ordering Outpatient Medications (Simple Dose)

Ordering Outpatient Medications (Complex Dose)

Documenting Non-VA Medication Information

Ordering Simple Clinic Medications

Ordering Complex Clinic Medications

Ordering Continuous Clinic Infusions

Ordering Intermittent Clinic Infusions