Abstract
Discussion Forum (0)
Introduction: Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are common, underdiagnosed, and a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality (McKee et al, 2020). Early identification of PMADs is essential to deploying interventions to improve outcomes. Most-recent HEDIS data (2021) indicates that fewer than 17% of Medicaid patients and fewer than 12% of commercially-insured patients are screened for PMADs. This retrospective study explored the impact of Pomelo Care’s 24/7 virtual maternity care program on screening for PMADs among pregnant and postpartum women.
Methods: Patients (N=222) were included if they met the following criteria: (A) engagement in Pomelo Care’s virtual maternity care program via app-based chat from 7/1/2023 through 9/1/2023, (B) pregnant or postpartum as of 9/15/2023, (C) identified as potentially at risk for PMADs by a clinician based on their perinatal status and risk factors. SQL data analysis determined the rate of PMAD screening during the study period. Screeners included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), GAD-7 (General Anxiety Disorder-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and others. IRB waiver of informed consent was obtained.
Results: 64% (143/222) of patients had completed screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, representing a 276% increase relative to the Medicaid average and 433% increase relative to the commercially-insured average. The majority of completed screenings utilized EPDS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 (88%, 127/143).
Conclusion/Implications: The findings suggest that engagement in Pomelo Care’s virtual maternity program is associated with an increase in screening for PMADs. This highlights the potential of virtual care interventions in promoting behavioral health screening, and improving maternal health outcomes.
Methods: Patients (N=222) were included if they met the following criteria: (A) engagement in Pomelo Care’s virtual maternity care program via app-based chat from 7/1/2023 through 9/1/2023, (B) pregnant or postpartum as of 9/15/2023, (C) identified as potentially at risk for PMADs by a clinician based on their perinatal status and risk factors. SQL data analysis determined the rate of PMAD screening during the study period. Screeners included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), GAD-7 (General Anxiety Disorder-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and others. IRB waiver of informed consent was obtained.
Results: 64% (143/222) of patients had completed screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, representing a 276% increase relative to the Medicaid average and 433% increase relative to the commercially-insured average. The majority of completed screenings utilized EPDS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 (88%, 127/143).
Conclusion/Implications: The findings suggest that engagement in Pomelo Care’s virtual maternity program is associated with an increase in screening for PMADs. This highlights the potential of virtual care interventions in promoting behavioral health screening, and improving maternal health outcomes.
Introduction: Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are common, underdiagnosed, and a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality (McKee et al, 2020). Early identification of PMADs is essential to deploying interventions to improve outcomes. Most-recent HEDIS data (2021) indicates that fewer than 17% of Medicaid patients and fewer than 12% of commercially-insured patients are screened for PMADs. This retrospective study explored the impact of Pomelo Care’s 24/7 virtual maternity care program on screening for PMADs among pregnant and postpartum women.
Methods: Patients (N=222) were included if they met the following criteria: (A) engagement in Pomelo Care’s virtual maternity care program via app-based chat from 7/1/2023 through 9/1/2023, (B) pregnant or postpartum as of 9/15/2023, (C) identified as potentially at risk for PMADs by a clinician based on their perinatal status and risk factors. SQL data analysis determined the rate of PMAD screening during the study period. Screeners included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), GAD-7 (General Anxiety Disorder-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and others. IRB waiver of informed consent was obtained.
Results: 64% (143/222) of patients had completed screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, representing a 276% increase relative to the Medicaid average and 433% increase relative to the commercially-insured average. The majority of completed screenings utilized EPDS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 (88%, 127/143).
Conclusion/Implications: The findings suggest that engagement in Pomelo Care’s virtual maternity program is associated with an increase in screening for PMADs. This highlights the potential of virtual care interventions in promoting behavioral health screening, and improving maternal health outcomes.
Methods: Patients (N=222) were included if they met the following criteria: (A) engagement in Pomelo Care’s virtual maternity care program via app-based chat from 7/1/2023 through 9/1/2023, (B) pregnant or postpartum as of 9/15/2023, (C) identified as potentially at risk for PMADs by a clinician based on their perinatal status and risk factors. SQL data analysis determined the rate of PMAD screening during the study period. Screeners included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), GAD-7 (General Anxiety Disorder-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and others. IRB waiver of informed consent was obtained.
Results: 64% (143/222) of patients had completed screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, representing a 276% increase relative to the Medicaid average and 433% increase relative to the commercially-insured average. The majority of completed screenings utilized EPDS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 (88%, 127/143).
Conclusion/Implications: The findings suggest that engagement in Pomelo Care’s virtual maternity program is associated with an increase in screening for PMADs. This highlights the potential of virtual care interventions in promoting behavioral health screening, and improving maternal health outcomes.
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