The purpose of this study is to evaluate financial and clinical data of patients within a selected DRG. The data obtained from such analysis will be used to design a system whereby clinical pharmacists may improve the hospital's reimbursement potential. Based upon Upton's proposed plan, this study is designed to evaluate all DRGs in a community hospital in an attempt to focus on those DRGs which represent the greatest financial pressure to the pharmacy department and, therefore, to the institution. Clinical and financial data of patients within the expensive DRG, will be collected from their medical and financial records for subsequent statistical analysis with special consideration to pharmacy charges. The ultimate objective of this study, though, is to provide a list of measures or parameters that may affect the patient's hospital charges. Using these parameters, the clinical pharmacists will be able to intensify their monitoring of patients with high pharmacy charges in an attempt to reduce their impact on patients' charges. This study was designed to review and analyze DRGs at St. Joseph's Hospital, in Stockton, Californias. The main objective was to determine the relationship between clinical and financial data for patients within a DRG. The second objective was to identify patient-specific information that may reflect high pharmacy charges and the need for clinical pharmacy intervention. The third objective was to propose criteria that may predict which patients need to be monitored in an attempt to control pharmacy charges within a selected DRG category.