Abstract

This quality improvement project aimed to identify and treat patients at risk for depression and anxiety, facilitating earlier entry into treatment through increased screenings during routine primary care visits. Utilizing screening tools such as PHQ-9, GAD-7, and C-SSRS ensured comprehensive mental health assessments. Implementation of the Collaborative Care Model at Priority Family Medical Clinic improved patient outcomes, satisfaction, and reduced healthcare costs, addressing disparities in access to behavioral health services. The project enhanced identification and management of depression and anxiety, leading to increased referrals to CoCM, psychiatric services, and medication initiation, highlighting the effectiveness of integrating mental health screenings for early intervention. Sustainable integration of behavioral health in primary care transformed practice, improving outcomes, satisfaction, and resource utilization.

Sarah Claussen

Author Details

Sarah Claussen, DNP, FNP-C

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Lead Author Affiliation

Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA

Type

DNP Capstone Project

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Quality Improvement

Research Approach

Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice

Keywords:

Adults, Mental Health, Primary Care, Depression, Anxiety

Advisor

O'Haver, Judith

Second Advisor

McManis, Beth

Degree

DNP

Degree Grantor

Northern Arizona University

Degree Year

2024

Rights Holder

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All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

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