For the prevention of medication errors, what practice is most important?

Verifying patient identity before administering medication is a critical step in preventing medication errors. This practice ensures that the right patient receives the right medication, thereby reducing the risk of serious adverse effects or complications that could arise from administering medication to the incorrect individual. By confirming patient identity—typically through methods such as asking for the patient's name and date of birth or using a unique identification number—healthcare professionals can enhance patient safety.

Maintaining the accuracy of patient information is fundamental to safe medication administration. Errors can occur due to similar patient names, look-alike or sound-alike medications, or even give rise to care delivered to the wrong individual, putting the patient's health at significant risk. Therefore, diligent verification is crucial in a healthcare setting and reinforces the importance of patient-centered care.

Other practices, while beneficial, support the overarching goal of preventing medication errors but do not encompass the critical verification step that directly impacts patient safety.