Implementation of routine postpartum depression screening and care initiation across a multispecialty health care organization: an 18-month retrospective analysis Journal Article uri icon
Overview
abstract
  • 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 time frame, 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.

  • Link to Article
    publication date
  • 2017
  • published in
    Research
    keywords
  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Depression
  • Drugs and Drug Therapy
  • Postpartum Period
  • Pregnancy
  • Quality of Health Care
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Screening
  • Additional Document Info
    volume
  • 21
  • issue
  • 6