What must a pharmacist do after preparing an order in a hospital before delivery to the patient?

After a pharmacist prepares an order in a hospital, it is essential for them to inspect and verify the order's accuracy before delivering it to the patient. This step ensures that the medication prescribed is appropriate for the patient's condition, that the dosing is correct, and that there are no potential drug interactions or contraindications.

Verifying the accuracy includes checking the medication name, dosage, route of administration, and the patient's details to ensure that nothing has been overlooked, which could result in a medication error. This critical step is aligned with the pharmacist's responsibilities to safeguard patient health and comply with both legal and ethical standards in medication management.

While notifying the physician, labeling the medication, and packing the medication securely are important tasks, they come after the verification process. Ensuring the order's accuracy is paramount to preventing adverse events related to medication errors, making this the most critical action the pharmacist must take before delivery to the patient.