What is the purpose of affixing required prescription labels?

Affixing required prescription labels primarily serves to ensure proper identification of filled prescriptions. These labels contain essential information such as the patient's name, medication name, dosage instructions, and the prescribing physician, which help in clearly identifying the specific medication meant for the patient. This is critical in promoting safe medication use, avoiding medication errors, and facilitating adequate patient counseling about their therapy.

While state requirements are certainly an important aspect of why labels are used, the foundational purpose is much more about ensuring that each prescription is accurately identified and matched to the correct patient. Additionally, while inventory control and expedited delivery are relevant business practices in a pharmacy setting, they are not the primary focus of affixing these labels. The safety and accuracy of medication dispensing hinge significantly on the correct identification of the medication, thereby highlighting the importance of these labels in promoting effective patient care.