INITIATING A DRUG BLOOD LEVEL MONITORING PROGRAM THROUGH CQI

A blood level monitoring program developed at St. James Hospital and H ealth Centers-a 472-bed community hospital located in Chicago Heights, IL. The primary goal of the program was to improve patient care by en suring that drug levels were within their target range SOT the conditi on being treated. Additional benefits obtained from the program includ ed meeting Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizatio n's standards medication monitoring and generating additional revenue Sor the institution from pharmacokinetic consults. Highlights of the s ervice and its implementation are presented in this article.