What is one key reason for double-checking high-risk medications?

Double-checking high-risk medications is primarily aimed at reducing medication errors and increasing patient safety. High-risk medications, which include those with narrow therapeutic indices, can cause significant harm if administered incorrectly. By verifying dosages, routes, and patient details, healthcare providers can catch potential errors that could lead to adverse effects or complications. This practice is a critical component of safe medication administration and reinforces the importance of vigilance in clinical settings, as it ultimately protects patients from serious harm and enhances the overall quality of care.

While compliance with hospital policies, speeding up the administration process, and ensuring medications are not expired are important aspects of healthcare practice, they are secondary to the primary goal of safeguarding patient health through meticulous checking of high-risk medications.