The format and schedule for the Depression Care Manager (DCM) contacts were standardized across both interventions. Enrolled patients were contacted by their DCM within a week of the baseline telephone interview for a 45-minute initial needs assessment. Follow-up calls at one-, two- and four-to six-weeks assessed each patient’s depression symptom level by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score. The schedule for subsequent follow-up calls was dependent on each patient’s depression symptomotology: patients in acute phase were called weekly; those in continuation phase called every eight weeks; those in the maintenance phase were called every 12 weeks. The total intervention period lasted 12 months.

During every follow-up call DCMs documented patient’s depression symptoms; clinician and or specialty mental health provider’s treatment plan; medication name, dosage, adherences to guideline concordant treatment, any adverse effects; patients’ concerns, preferences and attitudes about depression and its treatment; and perceived barriers to treatment in a secure database. A sample screen of the database is presented here. At the end of each phone call, DCMs printed and sent a summary of the call notes to the patient and their clinician.