Focus on ME
Behavioral health conditions are prevalent in the United States with anxiety and depression as the most common disorders. Women are twice as likely as men to develop these conditions. Among women of reproductive age, untreated anxiety and depressive disorders increase the risk of pregnancy-related complications, preterm birth, and postpartum chronic diseases.
Safe and effective treatments are available for depression and anxiety. Yet, fewer than half of women who experience clinically significant depression or anxiety receive care. Primary care practices are ideal settings to identify and address mental health conditions among women of reproductive age, since women in this age group are likely to have periodic contact with primary care providers. Increasing timely diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions benefits women and their children.
Who We Are
Focus on ME, a quality improvement project comprised of primary care providers across Ohio, is dedicated to improving care related to depression and anxiety for women of reproductive age by focusing on utilizing evidence-based behavioral health screening tools and treatment interventions.
The participating sites involved in this quality improvement initiative will utilize the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Model for Improvement to complete small tests of change via plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles. To achieve the project aims and support PDSA cycles, electronic health record queries are developed, and baseline and implementation period data are collected and analyzed. The project aims to:
- Increase the percent of women of reproductive age screened for anxiety and depression.
- Initiate appropriate care for 80% of women who screen positive.
Resources
The following resources are available for download:
- Provider Toolkit (PDF)
- Patient Brochure - English (PDF)
- Patient Brochure - Arabic (PDF)
- Patient Brochure - Dari (PDF)
- Patient Brochure - Kinyarwanda (PDF)
- Patient Brochure - Nepali (PDF)
- Patient Brochure - Pashto (PDF)
- Patient Brochure - Russian (PDF)
- Patient Brochure - Somali (PDF)
- Patient Brochure - Spanish (PDF)
- Patient Brochure - Swahili (PDF)
- Patient Brochure - Tigrinya (PDF)
- Patient Brochure - Turkish (PDF)
- Anxiety and Depression Resources (PDF)
- Frequently Asked Questions for patients experiencing anxiety or depression (PDF)
- Breathing Handout (PDF)
Partners
Focus on ME is funded by the Ohio Department of Children and Youth and the Ohio Department of Medicaid and administered by the Ohio Colleges of Medicine Government Resource Center.
Clinical experts include:
1 Dr. Seuli Bose-Brill
Dr. Brill is a primary care physician with dual board certification in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and a Professor at the Ohio State University (OSU) College of Medicine. She serves as Chief of the Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Section in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Director of the Center for Health Outcomes in Medicine Scholarship and Service (HOMES). She also holds appointments as the Director of Primary Care Research and the Associate Program Director for the Primary Care Research Fellowship. She is passionate about breaking down barriers to healthcare innovation and high value care delivery in real world clinical settings.
2 Dr. Lisa M Christian
Dr. Christian is a Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health at the Ohio State University (OSU) College of Medicine. She also serves as Director of the Stress, Health, and Aging Lab within the Institute of Brain, Behavior and Immunology, where she has been a member since 2008. Her clinical work focuses on cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders, particularly in women. In addition to these roles, she serves as the Medical Student Advocate within the College of Medicine, helping to advance a positive learning environment.
3 Dr. Bethany Panchal
Dr. Panchal is the Program Director of The Ohio State University Family Medicine Residency Program, Director of Maternity and Women’s Health, and a Professor of Family and Community Medicine at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
4 Dr. Colleen Waickman
Dr. Waickman is board-certified psychiatrist and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. She is a member of multiple state and national committees through the Ohio Psychiatric Physicians Association and the American Psychiatric Association.
5 Dr. Rachel Gordon
Dr. Gordon is a primary care physician treating adults and pediatric patients at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and is an Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine. She specializes in women’s health and reproductive care. Her mission is to empower each patient to live the healthiest and happiest life possible.
