A Multi-Stakeholder Process to Transform a Community-based Screening and Referral Program to Implement Evidence-Based Depression Care

Abstract

Background Screening and referral for geriatric depression by service agencies is associated with poor treatment engagement indicating the need to transform services to directly provide depression care. Objective To describe a multi-organization workgroup implementation planning process used to transform a community-based screening and referral program to provide a brief evidence-based intervention for older adults with depressive symptoms. Methods An iterative implementation procedure use by a multi-stakeholder group that selected an evidence-based practice, planned implementation rollout, planned counselor training, and designed an implementation evaluation. Results The workgroup successfully followed the implementation procedure and developed a plan for the implementation of an evidence-based intervention. Overall, the workgroup prioritized decisions that favored feasibility and low implementation burden. Conclusion A multi-organization workgroup can benefit from a semi-structured implementation planning procedure because it provides all stakeholders with a shared roadmap for implementation planning.