Clinical Workflows & Referral
28 articlesReferral pathways, warm handoffs, ICD-10 coding, and integration with obstetric and pediatric care teams.
Billing for Behavioral Health Screening in OB and Pediatric Visits
CPT codes, billing mechanics, and reimbursement guidance for PMAD screening at OB and pediatric visits. Covers EPDS billing, add-on codes, payer-specific considerations, and documentation requirements.
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Therapy for Pregnancy and Infant Loss: What Works and How to Access It
Grief after pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or infant death is a specific kind of loss that requires a specific kind of support. Understanding what therapy approaches exist, which have the strongest evidence, and what to look for in a therapist helps you find effective help rather than generic support.
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Care Coordination and Warm Handoffs in Perinatal Mental Health
How to build referral pathways, execute warm handoffs, and maintain collaborative care for perinatal patients with PMADs. A practical guide for OBGYNs, pediatricians, psychiatrists, and hospital-based providers.
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ICD-10 Codes for PMAD Documentation: A Reference for OBs and Pediatricians
A complete ICD-10 coding reference for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders: diagnosis codes, documentation requirements, Z-codes, and billing context for OB and pediatric settings.
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How to Build a PMAD Referral Pathway in Your OB Practice
A step-by-step framework for establishing a functional PMAD referral infrastructure in obstetric practice: intake protocols, referral workflows, warm handoff execution, and follow-up tracking.
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Documenting PMAD Risk in the EHR: What to Chart and Why
EHR documentation of PMAD risk factors, screening results, and clinical responses serves both clinical continuity and liability purposes. A practical guide for OBGYNs, CNMs, and pediatricians on what to document, when, and how.
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Informed Consent for Mental Health Referrals in OB Settings
Mental health referrals in OB settings involve specific considerations around informed consent, confidentiality, and patient rights. A practical guide for OBGYNs and CNMs on what consent is required, how to document it, and how to handle the most common clinical situations.
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Mandatory Reporting Obligations When a Perinatal Patient Is at Risk
Mandatory reporting in perinatal mental health contexts involves CPS, law enforcement, and clinical duty-to-warn obligations. A practical reference for OBGYNs, CNMs, and hospital social workers on what triggers reporting, what does not, and how to manage safety situations within your clinical obligations.
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How to Build a Postpartum Depression Screening Workflow in Your OB Practice
Step-by-step workflow for PMAD screening in OB and pediatric practices: staff roles, EHR documentation, score triage thresholds, and referral protocols.
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When and How to Refer Postpartum Patients for Mental Health Support
EPDS score thresholds, clinical referral signs, ICD-10 codes, and referral logistics for OBGYNs, midwives, and pediatricians managing postpartum PMAD cases.
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Building a Postpartum Mental Health Workflow in OB Practice
Most OB practices screen for PMADs but stall after a positive EPDS. This guide covers triage by score, staff roles, ICD-10 codes, and referral follow-up.
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When to Refer Postpartum Patients to IOP or PHP Programs
Referral criteria for postpartum patients who need IOP or PHP level of care, with step-up signs and referral logistics for OBGYNs and hospital social workers.
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The Warm Handoff in Postpartum Mental Health Referral
Warm handoffs double or triple mental health referral completion rates. This guide covers the evidence, the practical workflow, and what to say to the patient.
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After the Referral: Co-Managing Postpartum Mental Health
The referral is not the end of the OB's or pediatrician's role. This guide covers follow-up protocols, co-management expectations, and when to reassess if a patient is not improving.
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OB-Pediatrician Coordination for Postpartum Mental Health
OB and pediatric screening workflows share the same patient but rarely communicate. This guide covers how to close the coordination gap and avoid duplicated or missed referrals.
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Embedding Social Work in OB Practice for PMAD Management
Embedded social work transforms PMAD workflow in OB practice. This guide covers which patients to route to social work, intake protocols, and documentation standards.
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Building a Perinatal Mental Health Referral Network for Family Medicine
How family medicine practices can build a reliable perinatal mental health referral network. Specialist types, vetting criteria, and workflow.
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When and How to Refer Pelvic Floor PT Patients to Perinatal Mental Health Care
A practical referral guide for pelvic floor PTs: when to refer, how to have the conversation, what to document, and how to find the right perinatal MH provider.
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Perinatal Mental Health Referral from OT: Scope, Timing, and Documentation
A practical guide for occupational therapists on when to refer postpartum patients to perinatal mental health care, how to have the conversation, and what to document.
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EHR Documentation and Follow-Up Workflow for Perinatal Mood Screening
How to document perinatal mood screening, scores, follow-up, and referrals in the EHR for primary care quality reporting and continuity.
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How to Talk to a Patient About a Mental Health Referral
Clinical scripts and patient communication strategies for initiating a PMAD mental health referral, addressing common objections, and maximizing follow-through across diverse patient populations.
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Step-Down Care: Transitioning Perinatal Patients from IOP to Outpatient Therapy
How to coordinate effective transitions from intensive outpatient programs and partial hospitalization to standard outpatient care for perinatal patients. High-risk transition management, documentation standards, and collaborative handoff protocols.
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Telehealth Referrals for PMADs: What Providers Need to Know
How telehealth mental health care works in the perinatal context, clinical appropriateness criteria, what to communicate to patients, and the specific advantages of telehealth for postpartum and prenatal populations.
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Warm Handoff Protocols: Transferring Perinatal Patients Without Losing Them
Operationalizing warm handoffs for PMAD referrals: scripts, logistics, timing, and follow-up mechanisms that convert positive screens into kept appointments.
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When to Refer vs. Treat PMADs in Primary Care
Clinical decision framework for PCPs, OBGYNs, and midwives managing PMAD presentations in-house versus referring to specialty perinatal mental health care.
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Perinatal IOP and PHP: Intake and Step-Down Protocols
Intake and step-down protocols for perinatal IOP and PHP programs: what referral information to collect, step-down criteria, and how to close the OB communication loop.
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When to Refer vs. Manage: PCP Triage Guide for Perinatal Mood Disorders
A clinical triage framework for primary care: which perinatal mood disorder cases to manage in-house and which to refer to a specialist.
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Integrating PMAD Screening into Prenatal and Postpartum Visits in Family Medicine
A practical workflow for integrating perinatal mood and anxiety screening into prenatal and postpartum visits in family medicine practices.
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