What is required for proper patient identification in medical settings?

Proper patient identification is essential in medical settings to ensure the accuracy of medical care and to prevent errors that could occur from mistaken identities. Verifying a patient’s name, date of birth, and other identifying information serves as a reliable method to confirm that the right patient is receiving the appropriate treatment and medication. This process reduces the risk of misidentification and enhances overall safety by ensuring that medical professionals are working with the correct patient throughout their care.

The inclusion of additional identifying details, such as an ID number or contact information, further supports the efficacy of this verification process, as it accounts for any potential commonality in names and helps avoid confusion in busy healthcare environments. Recognizing a patient correctly at every stage of treatment—from admission to discharge—ensures that records are managed accurately and that quality care is delivered consistently.

The other options do not directly contribute to the primary task of patient identification. Obtaining a patient's phone number, checking previous medical history, and providing a treatment plan are all important aspects of patient care but do not serve as the main method for identifying patients correctly in a medical setting.