What does a therapeutic drug monitoring program involve?

A therapeutic drug monitoring program is specifically designed to measure drug levels in the blood to ensure that medication therapy is optimized for the individual patient. By regularly assessing these levels, healthcare professionals can determine whether a patient is receiving the appropriate dosage, which is critical for medications with narrow therapeutic ranges. This monitoring helps in adjusting dosages to maximize therapeutic effectiveness while minimizing potential side effects.

In contrast, although patient education about medications (as suggested by one of the options) is important, it is not the primary focus of therapeutic drug monitoring. Additionally, while side effects are a significant aspect of medication management, a program focused solely on them would not encompass the comprehensive nature of monitoring drug levels. Lastly, assessing patient satisfaction with medication, while valuable for overall care, does not pertain to the specific purpose of monitoring drug concentrations in the blood. Therefore, the correct choice highlights the core function of therapeutic drug monitoring in enhancing medication therapy through precise measurement.