TY - JOUR PY - 2022// TI - Depression Screening and Behavioral Health Integration in Musculoskeletal Trauma Care JO - Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma A1 - Secrist, Eric A1 - Wally, Meghan K. A1 - Yu, Ziqing A1 - Castro, Manuel A1 - Seymour, Rachel B. A1 - Hsu, Joseph R. SP - e362 EP - e368 VL - 36 IS - 9 N2 - OBJECTIVES: To report our experiences in implementing a behavioral health integration pathway, including a validated depression screening and referral to care.

DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Single surgeon's musculoskeletal trauma outpatient practice during calendar year 2019. PATIENTS: All patients presenting to the practice during 2019 were included (n = 573). INTERVENTION: We piloted the usage of Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-2 and PHQ-9 screening. An evidence-based, real-time treatment protocol embedded in the electronic health record was triggered when a patient screened positive for depression including an automated behavioral health integration pathway. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The percentage of patients screened, the results of the PHQ screening, and the number of patients referred and enrolled in behavioral health programs were collected.

RESULTS: Of the 573 patients, 476 (83%) received the PHQ-2 screening, 80 (14%) had a current screening on file (within 1 year), and 17 (3.0%) were not screened. One hundred seventy-two patients (36%) had a PHQ-2 score of 2 or greater and completed the PHQ-9; of them, 60 (35% of patients screened with full PHQ-9, 13% of patients screened) screened positive for symptoms of moderate depression (PHQ-9 score ≥10), and 19 (4.0%) reported passive suicidal ideation (PHQ-9 item 9). Fifty of these patients were referred to behavioral health through the pathway, and 8 patients enrolled in the program. Ten patients were not referred because of a technical error that was quickly resolved. Patients reporting suicidal ideation were managed with psychiatric crisis resources including immediate virtual consult in the examination room.

CONCLUSIONS: This case series demonstrates the feasibility of screening patients for depressive symptoms and making necessary referrals to behavioral health in outpatient musculoskeletal trauma care. We identified 50 patients with depression and appropriately triaged them for further care in our community.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0890-5339 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/BOT.0000000000002361 ID - ref1 ER -