Quality assurance program for a clinical pharmacokinetic service.

The development and implementation of a quality assurance program for a clinical pharmacokinetic service is described. The goal of the pharmacokinetic use review program is to assure the quality and consistency of pharmacokinetic monitoring by all pharmacists within the institution. Criteria were formulated as specific indications for pharmacokinetic monitoring of four drugs. The review process consists of: (1) an initial screen of a randomly selected sample of patient charts to determine if patients meeting predetermined criteria were actually pharmacokinetically monitored; (2) a peer review committee review to specify the appropriateness of monitoring; and (3) a reporting process to the pharmacists responsible for the service regarding their performance. The quality assurance program allows documentation and improvement of the quality of a clinical pharmacokinetic service and assures a consistent level of service.