"Mary" was listless after the birth of her first child. She even thought of hurting her baby. A call from a nurse at her clinic helped Mary identify her emotions as postpartum depression and get help.

In 2007, Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists and Associates in Women's Health, both divisions of Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates, PA, received a $9,810 Fairview Physician Associates (FPA) grant to identify and intervene in cases of depression in women who had just given birth or had a hysterectomy. During a pilot for the program, triage nurses called women two weeks after delivery or surgery. The nurses administered the PHQ-9 questionnaire, a tool used to measure symptoms of depression. Of 75 patients contacted, 2.7 percent required immediate intervention.

Full implementation of the program started in January 2008. "Most patients have been receptive to answering the questionnaire," says Barb Cookas, clinical services manager, Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates. "They've appreciated our proactive approach."

Depression may be one of the most common complications to occur during and after pregnancy but often goes undetected, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

"Programs like this are the

reason FPA awards annual grants," says William Nersesian, MD, chief medical officer, FPA.

In 2008, eight FPA clinics received grants designed to improve clinical care or the patient experience, including:

• Bloomington Lake Clinic, Helping Everyone Learn the Process (clinical outcomes)
• Fairview Eagan Clinic, Motivational Interviewing Techniques for Smokers
• France Avenue Family Physicians, Advanced Healthcare Directives
• Minnesota Orthopaedic Specialists, Total Knee Arthoplasty-Functional Outcomes
• Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates, Shared Decision-Making Tool
• Paul Larson OB/GYN, Depression Screening
• Richfield Medical Group, Disease Registry for Cardiovascular Disease
• Southdale Internal Medicine, Diabetic Improvement Program

FPA clinics may submit grant proposals; applications for 2009 grants are due in March 2009. Award amounts may cover up to 50 percent of project cost or a maximum of $10,000.

For more information, contact Kim Thompson, FPA, 952-928-1830, kthomps1@fairview.org.

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