After receiving a new medication order, what information do you need to verify?

Verifying the physician's information is crucial after receiving a new medication order because it ensures that the medication is prescribed by a licensed and qualified healthcare provider. This step is essential for maintaining patient safety, as it confirms the legitimacy of the order and the treatability of the patient's condition. Ensuring that the physician is authorized to prescribe medications helps prevent potential medication errors and provides a point of reference for future communication regarding the patient's treatment plan.

In this context, while other pieces of information may be relevant in different scenarios, they are not as critical at the moment the medication order is received. The patient's social security number does not impact the safe administration of the medication, the medication expiration date is important for the medication’s efficacy but does not relate directly to the order verification process, and the medication's color and shape are not necessary for confirming the order's authenticity or appropriateness.