title: A pharmacist-guided protocol for improved monitoring of patients on antidepressants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Local guidelines recommend that patients treated for depression receive 3 follow-ups within 12 weeks of antidepressant initiation; however, this is often not achieved in practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A monitoring protocol was implemented as a quality improvement project at Wingra Access Medical Center in which patients treated for anxiety or depression received a follow-up phone call 1 to 2 weeks after starting an antidepressant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A retrospective chart review demonstrated the percentage of patients achieving 3 follow-ups within 12 weeks significantly increased from 7% to 24% following implementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest the protocol is a feasible method to improve antidepressant followup in primary care. Confounding factors including cohort dissimilarities and introduction of a behavioral health service should be considered.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy, Madison, Wis., USA. cgallimore@pharmacy.wisc.edu
authors.forename: Casey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gallimore
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kushner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010595:Pharmacists; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents