Section 2110.80  Visits to Pediatric Providers

Licensed health care professionals providing pediatric care to an infant shall:

a)         Invite the infant's mother to complete a questionnaire at least once 6 weeks post-delivery to screen for risk of perinatal mental health disorder. This should occur prior to the infant's first birthday, unless the mother states that she has already completed the questionnaire during the post-partum period.  The questionnaire may be offered earlier or more frequently, based on the licensed health care professional's clinical judgment.  In deciding on the timing or frequency of any additional screenings, the licensed health care professional may consider the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Report Incorporating Recognition and Management of Perinatal and Postpartum Depression into Pediatric Practice found at http://www.pediatrics.org.

b)         Review the completed questionnaire in accordance with the formal opinions and recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics or the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, found at www.acog.org., with respect to perinatal mental health disorders.

c)         Document the offer of the questionnaire to the mother in the infant's or the mother's record, if available.

d)         Obtain the mother's consent to share the results of the questionnaire with the mother's primary licensed healthcare professional, if indicated.  If the mother is determined to present an acute danger to herself or someone else, consent is not required.

e)         Document actions taken if the questionnaire indicates that the woman is experiencing symptoms of perinatal mental health disorders.