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San Diego Family Care

Karen Macauley

Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science

This is a continuation of last year's ILVI initiative to adopt and use the Edinburgh
Postpartum Depression Screening (EPDS) instrument to screen postpartum mothers who
seek pediatric primary care services at San Diego Family Care (SDFC) in Linda Vista.
SDFC has partnered with the Hahn School of Nursing to implement this vital screening to
counteract the low rate of detection among mothers, thereby preventing long lasting
childhood complications in our communities. Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student
Margo Cohen, Faculty Advisor Dr. Karen Macauley, PhD, SDFC Medical Director Dr.
Aaron Zaheer, MD, and Dr. Susan Instone, PNP have begun maternal depression
screening at 1-week, 1-month, and 4-month well-baby checks and have educated
providers on the importance of early detection of maternal postpartum depression along
with community resources for treatment and support. In order to ensure sustainability, the
EPDS instrument results have been integrated into the mandatory electronic health record
field requiring all providers to complete in the periodical well baby checks. Provider
educational sessions have been offered focusing on the impact of maternal postpartum
depression on the developing child and on how to screen, detect, and refer depressed
mothers for appropriate services and support.

Contact: macauley@sandiego.edu