Risk Management Snapshot

Current issues and hot topics
in healthcare risk management.

Managing Mental Illness in Pregnancy and Postpartum

A woman struggling with postpartum depression while holding a newborn. Women who manage depression or other psychological disorders with prescribed medication often discontinue meds while pregnant, which can lead to significant adverse consequences.

In the article, Managing Mental Illness in Pregnancy and Postpartum: What to Know, Medscape reports, “For women with, or at a risk for, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or other psychiatric conditions, managing mental health during pregnancy and postpartum presents unique challenges. For physicians, understanding the latest research and clinical guidance is essential for managing these patients effectively.”

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) offers Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment and Management of Mental Health Conditions During Pregnancy and Postpartum.

This article falls underClinical/Patient Safety in the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) risk domains.
Risks associated with the delivery of care to patients, residents and other health care customers. Clinical risks include failure to follow evidence-based practice, medication errors, hospital acquired conditions (HAC), serious safety events (SSE), health care equity, opportunities to improve safety within the care environments, and others.