Target drug monitoring: a cost-effective service provided by staff pharmacists.

A concurrent drug use evaluation program that improves patient care while meeting JCAHO requirements was designed and implemented. Integration of staff pharmacists into the program has been an important component. The net annual savings of the program for H2 antagonists and cephalosporins was $16,756. The net annual cost of the program if all drugs were studied throughout each quarter would be $1,336. The program essentially pays for itself, meets medication use standards for JCAHO, and may save significant healthcare costs if potential drug misadventures are avoided.