I am delighted to share a new partnership with the Medibank Better Health Research Hub, supporting smarter prescribing in mental health care. Through this collaboration, our partner Outcome Health has been awarded nearly $100,000 to enhance antidepressant prescription in general practice through the development of a Clinical Antidepressant Recommendation Engine (CARE) tool.
Depression is one of Australia’s leading health burdens. With GPs prescribing more than 80% of antidepressants, they play a pivotal role in treatment—but face immense challenges including short consultations, diverse patient needs, and the complexity of navigating more than 250 depression subtypes and hundreds of medication options.
The CARE tool is designed to change this. By drawing on patient history, diagnoses, and previous medications, CARE provides real-time, guideline-based recommendations tailored to each individual. The tool has the potential to reduce trial-and-error prescribing, improve patient outcomes, and restore confidence for both clinicians and those living with depression.
This project exemplifies how data-driven, patient-centred innovation can transform care—empowering GPs with the right information at the right time, and giving patients the best possible chance at recovery.
We extend thanks to the Medibank Better Health Research Hub for their support in making this work possible.
Read our Monash Partners Connections Newsletter September issue.
