PPCQN: Transformative & Evidence-based Approaches to Mental health & Substance use Screening (TEAMSS)

The AAP Pediatric Primary Care Quality Network will engage pediatricians and multi-disciplinary teams in a virtual learning network to identify, evaluate, and ensure appropriate screening for substance use and mental health concerns in adolescent patients.

Call for Applications!

The project application period will run from February 12 through February 25, 2024. Please click this link to apply. The participation spaces are limited, so apply before the deadline to ensure your practice is considered for enrollment into this project. For additional information, please click this link to register for our promotional webinar on February 15th at 2pm CST. We will provide further project details and hold a Q&A session during the webinar, so bring any questions you have.  In the interim, click this link to see a TEAMSS Project FAQ. 

About the Project

Project core components will include the use of quality improvement methods and clinician training focused on improving provider knowledge and confidence on appropriate screening and follow-up. The Academy will employ the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Model for Improvement framework, and practice sites will conduct Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) rapid cycle testing to assess and implement practice and physician level changes. Additionally, this multidisciplinary approach will include recommended interventions developed by substance use and mental health experts at the AAP and will incorporate recommendations in the AAP Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention.

To learn more about this project and/or be notified when enrollment opens for primary care practices, please join our listserv. 

Project Leadership

Physician Leaders
Cheryl Courtlandt, MD – Quality Improvement Coach
Ulfat Shaikh, MD, MPH, MS – Project Leader

AAP Staff
Anna Correa, MPH 
Jennifer Monti, PhD 
Brittany Jennings, MHA
Jessie Leffelman
Kristie Marcelle, MSW, PMP

Project Time Period 

Fall 2023 - Spring 2025 

Recruitment will begin in February 2024 with a promotional webinar.

Project Aims & Measurement 

The goal of this project is to leverage quality improvement techniques and clinical education to improve substance use screening and appropriate follow-up, as well as improve screening for depression, anxiety, and  suicide risk in adolescent patients. 

• Substance use screening: % of adolescents seen for a well visits who have documentation in their chart that a validated substance use screening tool was administered and scored/interpreted
• Follow-up to positive screening for substance use: % of adolescents with a positive screening for substance use with documentation of receiving brief advice/brief intervention AND/OR referral to treatment and plan for follow up
• Depression screening: % of adolescent well visits with documentation that a validated depression screening tool was administered and scored/interpreted.
• Follow-up to positive screening for depression: % of adolescents with a positive screening for depression with documentation of receiving brief advice/brief intervention AND/OR referral to treatment and plan for follow up
• Suicide risk screening: % of adolescent well visits with documentation that a validated suicide risk screening tool was administered and scored/interpreted.
• Follow-up to positive screening for suicide risk: % of adolescents with a positive screening for suicide risk with documentation of receiving brief advice/brief intervention AND/OR referral to treatment and plan for follow up
• Anxiety screening: % of adolescent well visits with documentation that a validated anxiety screening tool was administered and scored/interpreted.
• Follow-up to positive screening for anxiety: % of adolescents with a positive screening for anxiety with documentation of receiving brief advice/brief intervention AND/OR referral to treatment and plan for follow up

Project Results 

Please check back in Spring 2025 for a comprehensive list of project resources, results, and possible publications.