Capture patient depression scores and action plans in iKnowMed Generation 2 Copied

Screening patients for depression is key to early identification and intervention. We will roll out a new Depression Screening & Plan tab under Patient Hx in iKnowMed Generation 2 for practices to electronically capture and calculate patients’ depression scores.

The Depression Screening & Plan tab will capture this information as structured data – ensuring data completeness and enhancing interoperability with your community partners.

This is an important first step in streamlining depression screening and documenting the plan for Value-Based Care Programs, presenting the opportunity to document electronically instead of using a paper form.

NOTE: At this time, the documentation for MIPS 134 Screening for Depression must continue to be completed in Clinical Profile > Observations to calculate the MIPS measure. In a future release, we will work to decrease the documentation burden by updating the Observations tab when a PHQ2 or PHQ9 is completed electronically in iKnowMed. We will share those updates when they’re ready.

To record a patient’s depression screening:

1. Open a patient chart and go to Clinical Profile > Patient Hx.
2. Click on the new Depression Screening & Plan tab (callout 1).
3. Choose whether the patient was screened using the PHQ-2 or PHQ-9 questionnaire (callouts 2 and 3).
   1. PHQ-2 should be used as a first-step approach to screen for the frequency of depressed mood and anhedonia over the last two weeks.
   2. PHQ-9 should be used for patients with a depressive disorder to screen, diagnose, monitor, and measure the severity of depression over the last two weeks.

   

PHQ-2

To complete this questionnaire:

1. Select an Observation Date using the calendar widget (callout 1). You may select a past date or today’s date, but you cannot select a future date.
2. For the first question, select an answer for whether the patient indicated little interest or pleasure in doing things over the last two weeks (callout 2).
3. Notice that the score box automatically begins calculating a score based on your selection.
4. For the second question, select an answer for whether the patient has felt down, depressed, or hopeless over the last two weeks (callout 3).
5. Depending on your answer, the score box will calculate a final score (callout 4). Any score of 3 or greater indicates that a depressive disorder is likely.

   

6. You may enter any Comments for this patient’s screening (callout 5).
7. If the patient declines the screening, check the box next to the declination statement (callout 6).
8. Use the Depression Plan section (callout 7) to capture the next steps and comments on to move forward with treating the patient, if needed.
   1. A plan can still be captured even if the patient declines the screening.
9. Submit the screening once it’s complete.
   1. Upon submission, any screening with a score of 3 or greater will trigger a notification that the patient should be further evaluated with the PHQ-9. If you choose to switch to the PHQ-9 questionnaire, the system will copy over the answers already entered in the PHQ-2.
   2. Also, any screening submitted with a high score requires a plan of action. If a screening with a high score is submitted without a plan, the system will display a notification that a plan must be completed.

   

10. Previous entries will appear under the Past Assessments & Plans section (callout 8).
11. Under this section, you may view the date, score, plan, comments, and more of previous entries.
12. Any entry marked with a pink color indicates a high score (callout 9).
13. Clicking the Edit button (callout 10) allows you to adjust the answer of previous entries if corrections are needed.
14. In a future release, the Past Assessments & Plans section will include an audit history with complete details regarding changes made to the assessments and plans, such as what sections were updated, what information was added/updated, and by whom.

    

PHQ-9

To complete this questionnaire:

1. Select an Observation Date using the calendar widget (callout 1). You may select a past date or today’s date, but you cannot select a future date.
2. Begin selecting answers for whether the patient has been bothered with the listed problems over the last two weeks (callout 2).

   

3. Notice that the score box automatically begins calculating a score based on your selections.
4. Depending on your answers, the score box will calculate a final score (callout 3). Any score of 15 or greater indicates moderately severe or severe depression.
5. You may enter any Comments for this patient’s screening (callout 4).
6. If the patient declines the screening, check the box next to the declination statement (callout 5).

   

7. Use the Depression Plan section (callout 6) to capture the next steps and comments on to move forward with treating the patient, if needed.
   1. A plan can still be captured even if the patient declines the screening.
8. Submit the screening once it’s complete.
   1. Any selection other than not at all under question 9 for suicide and self-harm will result in a high score. Upon submission, the system will display a notification that action must be taken before the patient leaves the practice.
   2. Also, any screening with a score of 15 or greater will require a plan of action. If a screening with a high score is submitted without a plan, the system will display a notification that a plan must be completed.
9. Previous entries will appear under the Past Assessments & Plans section (callout 7).
10. Under this section, you may view the date, score, plan, comments, and more of previous entries.
11. Any entry marked with a pink color indicates a high score (callout 8).
12. Clicking the Edit button (callout 9) allows you to adjust the answer of previous entries if corrections are needed.
13. In a future release, the Past Assessments & Plans section will include an audit history with complete details regarding changes made to the assessments and plans, such as what sections were updated, what information was added/updated, and by whom.