Texas hospital uses quality model to increase depression screenings for cancer patients
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UT Southwestern Medical Center in North Texas reports that it increased depression screenings of oncology patients by 44% in a quality improvement project.
More than 90% of the hospital s oncology patients received a screening and follow-up care, or about 14,000 patients. The findings were published Friday in the Journal for Healthcare Quality from the National Association for Healthcare Quality. Identifying those with depressive symptoms through earlier detection, diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve the quality of life for these patients and their families, and prevent minor symptoms from progressing to severe psychopathology and potential self-harm, said Dr. Jason Fish, chief medical officer at Southwestern Health Resource, a clinically integrated healthcare network with the medical center as its care provider.