Cost-saving impact of pharmacist-calculated i.v. aminophylline dosing schedules

To determine pharmacy impact on hospital costs, a retrospective chart review of IV aminophylline dosing requirements for 43 patients was undertaken. Aminophylline dosing requirements (loading and maintenance doses, dosage adjustments, serum level monitoring) were made solely by physicians for 22 patients and solely by pharmacists for 21 patients for two selected DRGs (96 and 97). Average length of stay was studied for both groups. The length of stay was decreased by a mean of 1.96 days when aminophylline was dosed by pharmacists (p less than 0.05). This corresponded to a savings of $490 per patient for room and board charges alone. Age and the severity of disease appeared to have no affect on outcome. The results of this study support the use of clinical pharmacy services. These services are potentially cost saving, improve patient care (by providing patients with state-of-the-art dosing techniques), and allow physicians to concentrate more of their efforts on patients' medical care rather than on time-consuming dosage calculations.