Home Medications 3. Setting a dose schedule

3. Setting a dose schedule

Last updated on May 08, 2026

After adding a medication, set its schedule so the system can show staff a daily checklist of what's due. PRN ("as-needed") medications skip this step entirely.

Where to set the schedule

  1. Sign in at app.behca.com (US) or au.behca.com (Australia).
  2. Open MAR for the profile.
  3. Open the medication.
  4. Click Schedule (or Add/Edit Schedule).

Choosing the schedule type

BEHCA supports two schedule patterns:

Pattern A: Times and days

Use this when the medication has fixed times (e.g. 8 AM and 8 PM every day):

  • Times — add one or more clock times (e.g. 08:00, 20:00).
  • Days of week — pick which days the schedule is active (default: every day).
  • Date range — optional Start Date and End Date if the medication is short-term.

Example: Antibiotic, 8 AM and 8 PM, Monday through Sunday, 2025-01-12 to 2025-01-19.

Pattern B: Repeat every N hours

Use this when the medication is "every X hours" rather than fixed clock times:

  • Repeat interval — e.g. every 6 hours.
  • Anchor time — when the first dose of the day is given.
  • Date range — optional start and end.

Example: Pain medication, every 6 hours starting at 6 AM.

PRN medications

For "as-needed" medications, don't set a schedule. Instead:

  • Toggle PRN on the medication record.
  • Skip the schedule step.
  • The medication appears as available but not scheduled.
  • Staff record an administration whenever they actually give it.

Date ranges

  • No end date — medication is ongoing until manually stopped.
  • Specific end date — medication automatically stops appearing after that date. Useful for short courses (antibiotics, post-op pain meds).
  • Future start date — medication appears in the schedule starting on that date. Useful for medications that are ordered now but begin later.

Editing the schedule

To change a schedule:

  1. Open the medication.
  2. Click Edit Schedule.
  3. Update times, days, dates, or interval.
  4. Save.

The change creates a new MAR version. Past doses keep the schedule that was in effect at the time; future doses use the new schedule.

Tips for clean scheduling

  • Match the prescription label exactly. Don't round or simplify times.
  • For meds that say "twice daily", pick specific times. "Twice daily" is open to interpretation. Pick specific times that fit your team's routine.
  • Use end dates for short courses. Letting an antibiotic auto-stop is safer than relying on memory.
  • Add notes for special instructions. "Give 30 minutes before meals" goes in the medication's Notes field, not the schedule.

Common questions

  • My schedule is more complex than these patterns. — Combine multiple medications. For example, "every other day" can be done by listing the specific days. Talk to support if your scenario doesn't fit.
  • What if a dose is missed because no one was on shift? — Staff records it as Skipped with a reason. The schedule itself doesn't change.
  • Can I set different schedules for weekdays vs. weekends? — You can pick which days the schedule applies to. For different times on different days, set up two medication entries, each for its set of days.
  • Does the schedule respect time zones? — Yes. Schedules use the profile's timezone, set on the profile's location.

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