The Perinatal Guideline Summary is a new comprehensive resource
available for our OB/GYN and primary care
providers. The Summary outlines perinatal care from preconception care through
postpartum care with an emphasis
on patient and family counseling, and laboratory work and testing. It also
details perinatal care throughout each stage
of pregnancy from the patient?s initial OB/GYN visit through subsequent visits
over 40 weeks. Risk factors to pay close
attention to throughout each trimester are also identified.
For providers located in New Jersey
New Jersey law mandates that health care providers include family members,
as appropriate, in prenatal and
postpartum counseling, especially as it relates to postpartum depression. It
also mandates that new mothers be
screened for postpartum depression symptoms prior to discharge from the
birthing facility and at the first few
postpartum check-up visits. Although the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
is the most commonly used
postpartum screening method, the New Jersey law does not specify which
screening tool should be used for the
screening.
To assist providers, Independence has identified a variety of depression
screening tools available, which is included
within the Perinatal Guidelines Summary. Information provided includes
the number of items in the survey, time to
complete, and sensitivity and specificity for each screening tool.
You can access the Perinatal Guidelines Summary on our website. Paper copies can be ordered by submitting an online request or by calling the Provider
Supply Line at 1-800-858-4728.