Date of Award
Spring 5-27-2017
Document Type
Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscript
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Kathy James, DNS, APRN, FAAN
Abstract
Improving Antidepressant Medication Follow-Up Management
Sophia Lawrence, MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC
Doctor of Nursing Practice Student
Faculty Chair: Kathy James, DNSc, APRN, FAAN
Clinical Mentor: Henry Kane, MD, Psychiatrist
Purpose: The purpose of this evidence-based practice project is to integrate a structured follow-up management protocol for patients prescribed antidepressant in primary care and improve HEDIS antidepressant medication management scores.
Background: Depression is a highly prevalent condition affecting 14 million adults in the United States annually. Antidepressant is an effective treatment. However adherence to antidepressant medication remains a significant problem and treatments have failed to improve in primary care.
Methods and evaluation: Using the Plan-Do-Study-Act method of quality improvement, the standardized was implemented and integrated into practice. Using the project facility’s past HEDIS Antidepressant medication management data as a baseline, data collection points include pre and post intervention to determine project impact on the HEDIS scores.
Outcomes: Data collected demonstrated a 10% increase in HEDIS antidepressant scores for the continuation phase and a 4% increase for the acute phase of treatment.
Conclusions: Organized follow-up care management for patients prescribed antidepressants in primary care that employed the use of a structured protocol delivered by secure e-mail has the potential to improve adherence to treatment, make a profound impact on HEDIS measurements, and patient outcome.
Digital USD Citation
Lawrence, Sophia APRN; James, Kathy DNS; and Kane, Henry S. MD, "Enhancing Depression Care Outcomes in Primary Care Patients through Secure E-mail Structured Follow-Up Monitoring by Mental Health Nurse Practitioner" (2017). Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts. 53.
https://digital.sandiego.edu/dnp/53