What happens if signed and held orders are released without confirming the patient's arrival?

When signed and held orders are released without confirming the patient's arrival, it can lead to a scenario where medications are dispensed to the wrong location. This is particularly important in a hospital setting where multiple patients might be in different areas. If there isn’t a clear confirmation of the patient’s presence, the system might proceed with the treatment orders, resulting in medications being sent to a location where the intended patient is not present, which can create confusion and potentially put patient safety at risk.

The release of these orders without the verification step fundamentally disrupts the intended process of ensuring that treatments correctly correspond to the right patients and their specific care pathways. Maintaining accuracy in medication administration is critical in providing safe and effective patient care.