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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Closing the postpartum care gap with a simple scheduling fix. A new JAMA Network Open study found that having ob/gyn practices automatically book primary care appointments for pregnant patients with anxiety or depression significantly increased mental health screenings, counseling, and specialist referrals. The intervention is low-cost and highly feasible — but it requires action well before the 6-week postpartum visit.
New moms with anxiety or depression often fall off a "postpartum cliff" — transitioning from frequent prenatal visits to near-zero follow-up just when mental health needs are highest. A study published in JAMA Network Open tested a straightforward fix: having ob/gyn practices automatically schedule a primary care visit on the patient's behalf, with optional text reminders about the importance of reconnecting with a primary care clinician.
The secondary analysis of a clinical trial across six clinics included 266 pregnant patients already diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or both. Roughly half were enrolled in the default-scheduling intervention, while the control group was left to book their own appointments.
Why it matters: Postpartum depression and anxiety affect roughly 1 in 7 women, yet care continuity routinely breaks down after delivery. This low-cost intervention — bookable as an insurance-covered annual physical — offers a scalable model for ob/gyn practices to bridge that gap before patients slip through the cracks.
