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Improving Mental Health Access Through Primary Care: Implementation Of A Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screening And Specialist Referral Protocol​, Sydney L. Halliday, Jeremy Mills, Ashley Vasilik

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Abstract

Background: One in five rural residents experience anxiety. Specialty mental health services are often scarce in these communities, leading primary care providers (PCPs) to manage and treat these symptoms. This poses barriers to care, such as time constraints that delay the identification of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and referrals to mental health services.

Local Problem: This project aimed to address this high prevalence of anxiety among patients at a Tennessee primary care clinic without a GAD screening and referral process. The GAD Screening and Specialty Referral Toolkit was created with the aim to screen 60% of patients presenting for …

Implementation Of An Evidence-Based Diabetic Screening Tool In Rural Belizean Communities, Morgan Lee Taylor, Annelyse Caffrey

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Significance/Background: Type II Diabetes Mellitus (TIIDM) is a growing epidemic in Belize. The prevalence is increasing yearly, responsible for considerable health complications and deaths. Rates are much higher in Belize than in any other developing Central American country, and many rural citizens are undiagnosed and untreated. Access to healthcare is complex, and travel is often required in rural areas. Primary care visits in Belize are significantly less than in surrounding North and Central American countries. As a result, chronic illnesses such as TIIDM often go undiagnosed among children, adolescents, and adults- leaving TIIDM a leading cause of death in Belize. …