Medication6 min read24 February 2026

Electronic MAR Charts Explained

Everything you need to know about electronic MAR charts for domiciliary care — what they are, why they matter, and how to choose the right system.

Electronic MAR (Medication Administration Record) charts are replacing paper-based medication records across UK domiciliary care. Here's everything you need to know.

What is a MAR chart?

A MAR chart records every medication administered to a service user — what was given, when, by whom, and at what dose. It's a legal record and a critical part of CIW and CQC compliance.

Problems with paper MAR charts

Paper MAR charts have been the standard for decades, but they come with significant risks:

Illegible handwriting — Carers signing under time pressure often produce entries that can't be read

Missing entries — Blank spaces could mean the medication wasn't given, or the carer forgot to sign

No real-time visibility — Managers only see the MAR chart when it comes back to the office

Damage and loss — Paper gets wet, torn, lost in transit

No audit trail — If someone amends an entry, there's no record of the original

How electronic MAR charts work

With an electronic system like CareCallAI:

1. Medications are set up with name, dose, frequency and time of day (Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Night, As Needed) 2. Carers open the MAR chart on their phone during a visit 3. They record each medication as Given (G), Refused (R) or Destroyed (D) with their digital signature 4. The record is instantly visible to managers and pharmacists 5. The audit trail is automatic — every action timestamped and immutable

Key features to look for

When choosing an electronic MAR chart system, look for:

PRN support — As-needed medications must be tracked separately

Pill pouch tracking — For pre-packaged medications

Refused and destroyed recording — Not just "given"

Dose and timing visibility — Carers need to see what to give and when

Mobile-friendly interface — Carers complete MAR charts on their phones

Integration with care logs — MAR chart should be accessible during care logging

Audit trail — Every entry timestamped and attributed

The compliance benefit

CIW and CQC both require accurate medication records. Electronic MAR charts provide:

Complete, legible records for every medication round

Instant visibility of missed or refused medications

An immutable audit trail that inspectors can review

Reduced medication errors through clear prompts and alerts

CareCallAI's MAR chart includes all of these features and integrates directly with care logging — carers can open the MAR chart as a popup during a visit and return to their care log with a single tap.

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