Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression in Primary Care

Physicians and Advanced Practice Professionals are in an excellent position to make a significant positive impact on their patients’ behavioral health. Unfortunately, there are patient safety and liability risks associated with treating depressed patients in a primary care setting. This article examines issues within NORCAL Group recently closed claims, and provides tools and recommendations to create a process for screening, diagnosing, treating, co-managing, and referring depressed and/or suicidal patients. Having systems in place and appropriately documenting the various elements of each treatment encounter can both reduce liability and improve patient outcomes.