Building a System of Perfect Depression Care in Behavioral Health

This sustained reduction in suicide rate suggests that the process improvements implemented as part of the Perfect Depression Care initiative substantially improved the care of persons with depression. The initiative is the prototype for a comprehensive redesign of behavioral health care. Work is under way to “perfect” the care of persons with anxiety or psychotic disorders, and similar care systems are being developed for violence prevention and medication safety, with a particular focus on perfecting communication between providers. Pursuing perfection is no longer a project or initiative but a principle driving force embedded in the fabric of our care.