Implementation of Routine Postpartum Depression Screening and Care Initiation Across a Multispecialty Health Care Organization: An 18-Month Retrospective Analysis.
Objectives Postpartum depression (PPD) affects approximately 10-20% of all mothers after giving birth. Adequate screening and follow-up care for the postpartum mother with depression is an essential component of quality care in this population. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the quality and quantity of a postnatal PPD screening program and the subsequent initiation of needed PPD treatment in an integrated health system. Methods After implementing a standardized PPD screening process, we conducted an 18-month retrospective study of patient visits that required a PPD screen. Data were abstracted from medical records and analyzed to determine if postnatal PPD screening occurred, what quality of the screening was, and what follow-up measures were taken. Results Within the study timeframe, 28,389 postpartum and well-child visits were eligible for PPD screening. PPD screening occurred at 88% of eligible visits for approximately 5000 unique women. PPD was identified in 8.1% of screened women. Conclusions Of women with PPD, at least 44.8% were prescribed an SSRI and 21.4% attended a visit with a mental health professional, which is consistent with other studies. Screening can be successful through collaboration, although ongoing evaluation and process modification are necessary.
Park Nicollet Health Services, 15800 95th Ave. N., Maple Grove, MN, 55369, USA. April.Lind@parknicollet.com.
April
0000-0002-1898-4429
A
Lind
Park Nicollet Institute, 3800 Park Nicollet Boulevard, St. Louis Park, MN, 55416, USA.
Sara
S
Richter
Park Nicollet Institute, 3800 Park Nicollet Boulevard, St. Louis Park, MN, 55416, USA.
Cheryl
C
Craft
Park Nicollet Institute, 3800 Park Nicollet Boulevard, St. Louis Park, MN, 55416, USA.
Alice C
AC
Shapiro
D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000592:standards*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
EPDS; Postpartum depression; Screening