What is the importance of checking the patient's allergy history before medication administration?

Checking the patient's allergy history before medication administration is crucial primarily to prevent administering medications that may cause allergic reactions. Allergies can result in serious, sometimes life-threatening responses when certain drugs are given to patients who are hypersensitive to them.

By understanding a patient's allergy history, healthcare providers can make informed decisions about which medications are safe to prescribe and which ones should be avoided. This process involves reviewing any documented allergic reactions the patient may have had to medications, food, or other substances, which helps in minimizing the risk of adverse effects and ensuring patient safety.

The other options, while important aspects of patient care, do not directly address the significance of allergy history in the context of medication administration. For instance, faster recovery from illness relates to overall treatment efficacy but does not consider safety. Maintaining a log of past medications is more about tracking treatment history rather than focusing on individual safety concerns associated with allergies, while verifying the patient's identity is a critical safety protocol that ensures the right patient receives the right medication, separate from allergy considerations.