Evidence-based care for depression in managed primary care practices

This paper evaluates whether externally designed, evidence-based interventi ons for improving care for depression can be locally implemented In managed care organizations. The interventions were carried out as part of a random ized trial involving forty-six practices within six diverse, nonacademic ma naged care plans. Based on evaluation of adherence to the intervention prot ocol, we determined that local practice leaders are able to implement prede signed interventions for improving depression care. Adherence rates for mos t key intervention activities were above 70 percent, and many were near 100 percent. Three intervention activities fell short of the goal of 70 percen t implementation and should be targets for Future improvement.