Verifying patient identity serves what primary purpose in medication dispensing?

Verifying patient identity is a critical step in the medication dispensing process primarily to prevent medication errors. Ensuring that the right medication is given to the right patient is essential for patient safety and the effectiveness of therapy. Accurately identifying patients helps to confirm that prescriptions are filled correctly and that they align with the patient's medical records and history. This practice minimizes the risk of mix-ups or dispensing the wrong medication, which could lead to adverse reactions and compromised health outcomes.

While other aspects such as billing, pharmacy operations, and feedback collection are important in their own ways, they do not directly address the fundamental goal of enhancing patient safety and ensuring that patients receive the correct medications.