What is the primary purpose of a Medication Administration Record (MAR)?

The primary purpose of a Medication Administration Record (MAR) is to track the administration of medications. The MAR serves as a vital tool for healthcare providers, as it provides a detailed and systematic record of each medication given to a patient, including the specific time and dosage. This helps ensure that medications are administered consistently and safely, reduces the risk of medication errors, and aids in maintaining accurate health records for each patient.

While documenting patient medical history, recording side effects, and scheduling medication refills are all important components of patient care, they fall outside the specific function of the MAR. The MAR focuses exclusively on the documentation of medication administration, thereby enabling effective monitoring of a patient’s treatment regimen.