Postpartum Depression (PPD) occurs in 10-20% of new mothers. PPD can lead to serious health risks to both the mother and infant, increase the risk of complications during birth, and cause lasting effects on the development and wellbeing of the child. Many mothers suffering from PPD do not receive treatment due to fear of being stigmatized, lack of education, or not being able to access mental health services. High prevalence of PPD, along with the negative and lasting effects it can cause point to the importance of developing an effective and feasible method of assessing and treating this disorder. A pediatric primary care office may be an opportune setting to screen for PPD since mothers often accompany their children to regularly scheduled well child visits. While some studies have examined PPD screening within the pediatric primary care setting, few have explored the addition of an on-site Behavioral Health Consultant to provide brief interventions for depressed mothers as part of a stepped care model. The primary aim of the current study is assess the feasibility of implementing a stepped care protocol that assesses PPD and provides brief interventions and referrals for depressed mothers within a pediatric primary care clinic. The protocol consists of several phases including: 1) distribution of the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Screener to every mother arriving for a well child visit during the first six months of their child’s life; 2) appropriate documentation in the clinic’s electronic health record (EHR) of the Edinburgh score and resulting plan of action; 3) a brief same day intervention by the on-site Behavioral Health Consultant and referral to outside provider, if applicable; and 4) phone call follow up with the mother and referred provider, if applicable. Research assistants will monitor the EHR to determine the clinic’s fidelity to the protocol (e.g., if the Edinburgh is being administered properly). Data will also be collected from the EHR to determine if a correlation exists between Edinburgh scores and number of Emergency Room visits made by the child, immunizations administered to the child, and number of well child checks the child attended. Data collected throughout the month of March showing the Edinburgh uptake, consistency with protocol, and any correlation between Edinburgh scores and other variables will be presented.

Postpartum Depression (PPD) occurs in 10-20% of new mothers. PPD can lead to serious health risks to both the mother and infant, increase the risk of complications during birth, and cause lasting effects on the development and wellbeing of the child. Many mothers suffering from PPD do not receive treatment due to fear of being stigmatized, lack of education, or not being able to access mental health services. High prevalence of PPD, along with the negative and lasting effects it can cause point to the importance of developing an effective and feasible method of assessing and treating this disorder. A pediatric primary care office may be an opportune setting to screen for PPD since mothers often accompany their children to regularly scheduled well child visits. While some studies have examined PPD screening within the pediatric primary care setting, few have explored the addition of an on-site Behavioral Health Consultant to provide brief interventions for depressed mothers as part of a stepped care model. The primary aim of the current study is assess the feasibility of implementing a stepped care protocol that assesses PPD and provides brief interventions and referrals for depressed mothers within a pediatric primary care clinic. The protocol consists of several phases including: 1) distribution of the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Screener to every mother arriving for a well child visit during the first six months of their child’s life; 2) appropriate documentation in the clinic’s electronic health record (EHR) of the Edinburgh score and resulting plan of action; 3) a brief same day intervention by the on-site Behavioral Health Consultant and referral to outside provider, if applicable; and 4) phone call follow up with the mother and referred provider, if applicable. Research assistants will monitor the EHR to determine the clinic’s fidelity to the protocol (e.g., if the Edinburgh is being administered properly). Data will also be collected from the EHR to determine if a correlation exists between Edinburgh scores and number of Emergency Room visits made by the child, immunizations administered to the child, and number of well child checks the child attended. Data collected throughout the month of March showing the Edinburgh uptake, consistency with protocol, and any correlation between Edinburgh scores and other variables will be presented.

Cette étude de cas vise à comparer le modèle de soins implanté sur le territoire d’un centre de santé et des services sociaux (CSSS) de la région de Montréal aux modèles de soins en étapes et à examiner l’influence de facteurs contextuels sur l’implantation de ce modèle. Au total, 13 cliniciens et gestionnaires travaillant à l’interface entre la première et la deuxième ligne ont participé à une entrevue semi-structurée. Les résultats montrent que le modèle de soins hiérarchisés implanté se compare en plusieurs points aux modèles de soins en étapes. Cependant, certains éléments de ces derniers sont à intégrer afin d’améliorer l’efficience et la qualité des soins, notamment l’introduction de critères d’évaluation objectifs et la spécification des interventions démontrées efficaces à privilégier. Aussi, plusieurs facteurs influençant l’implantation d’un modèle de soins hiérarchisés sont dégagés. Parmi ceux-ci, la présence de concertation et de lieux d’apprentissage représente un élément clé. Néanmoins, certains éléments sont à considérer pour favoriser sa réussite dont l’uniformisation des critères et des mécanismes de référence, la clarification des rôles du guichet d’accès en santé mentale et l’adhésion des omnipraticiens au modèle de soins hiérarchisés. En somme, l’utilisation des cadres de référence et d’analyse peut guider les gestionnaires sur les enjeux à considérer pour favoriser l’implantation d’un modèle de soins basé sur les données probantes, ce qui, à long terme, devrait améliorer l’efficience des services offerts et leur adéquation avec les besoins populationnels. / The purpose of the present study was to compare the care model of one Montreal local territory to the stepped-care model and to investigate factors influencing the implementation of this model. A qualitative case-study approach was employed involving 13 semi-structured interviews with services providers and managers from primary and specialist mental healthcare. Results showed that the hierarchical care model in place in this territory is compared in several points with the stepped-care model. However, some elements of these models have to be integrated to improve efficiency and quality of care, including the introduction of objective evaluation criteria and the specification of evidence-based interventions. Furthermore, some factors influenced the implementation of this hierarchical care model. Thus, the presence of collaborative working and learning strategies were identified to be a key condition. However, some elements must be considered to facilitate its success like the standardization of the referral criteria and process, the clarification of the mental health guichet d’accès (centralized access point) roles and the general practitioners' adherence to the care model. In conclusion, the use of the reference and analysis frames of this study may guide managers on issues to be considered to support the implementation of an evidence-based care model which may facilitate mental healthcare efficiency and its adequacy with the population needs.

Cette étude de cas vise à comparer le modèle de soins implanté sur le territoire d’un centre de santé et des services sociaux (CSSS) de la région de Montréal aux modèles de soins en étapes et à examiner l’influence de facteurs contextuels sur l’implantation de ce modèle. Au total, 13 cliniciens et gestionnaires travaillant à l’interface entre la première et la deuxième ligne ont participé à une entrevue semi-structurée. Les résultats montrent que le modèle de soins hiérarchisés implanté se compare en plusieurs points aux modèles de soins en étapes. Cependant, certains éléments de ces derniers sont à intégrer afin d’améliorer l’efficience et la qualité des soins, notamment l’introduction de critères d’évaluation objectifs et la spécification des interventions démontrées efficaces à privilégier. Aussi, plusieurs facteurs influençant l’implantation d’un modèle de soins hiérarchisés sont dégagés. Parmi ceux-ci, la présence de concertation et de lieux d’apprentissage représente un élément clé. Néanmoins, certains éléments sont à considérer pour favoriser sa réussite dont l’uniformisation des critères et des mécanismes de référence, la clarification des rôles du guichet d’accès en santé mentale et l’adhésion des omnipraticiens au modèle de soins hiérarchisés. En somme, l’utilisation des cadres de référence et d’analyse peut guider les gestionnaires sur les enjeux à considérer pour favoriser l’implantation d’un modèle de soins basé sur les données probantes, ce qui, à long terme, devrait améliorer l’efficience des services offerts et leur adéquation avec les besoins populationnels. / The purpose of the present study was to compare the care model of one Montreal local territory to the stepped-care model and to investigate factors influencing the implementation of this model. A qualitative case-study approach was employed involving 13 semi-structured interviews with services providers and managers from primary and specialist mental healthcare. Results showed that the hierarchical care model in place in this territory is compared in several points with the stepped-care model. However, some elements of these models have to be integrated to improve efficiency and quality of care, including the introduction of objective evaluation criteria and the specification of evidence-based interventions. Furthermore, some factors influenced the implementation of this hierarchical care model. Thus, the presence of collaborative working and learning strategies were identified to be a key condition. However, some elements must be considered to facilitate its success like the standardization of the referral criteria and process, the clarification of the mental health guichet d’accès (centralized access point) roles and the general practitioners' adherence to the care model. In conclusion, the use of the reference and analysis frames of this study may guide managers on issues to be considered to support the implementation of an evidence-based care model which may facilitate mental healthcare efficiency and its adequacy with the population needs.