The BRIDGE UP program is an effort to improve and expand mental health care options in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Northern Michigan University and Saginaw Valley State University have joined forces to help improve and enhance mental health care in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan through a program called BRIDGE UP. The collaboration involves Saginaw Valley State University providing psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program coursework online to students in the U.P. and Northern Michigan University providing the hands-on portions of training to make an education in psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner more attainable to residents in the U.P., where there is a deficit of this type of healthcare provider.
According to an article on Northern Michigan University’s website, Amy Poirier, who is the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner clinical coordinator at NMU, was quoted as saying of the benefits of this joint effort, “There's an extreme shortage of professionals in the Upper Peninsula who can provide mental health care and addiction treatment or manage medication. Upon completion of this program, graduates will be eligible to take the certification exam and provide all of these services. The program involves online classwork through SVSU, clinical placements with various patient populations in the U.P., and hands-on workshops at NMU to reduce travel requirements.”
The BRIDGE UP program is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources & Services Administration, totalling $2.6 million. That figure will provide training to 31 nurse practitioners in the Upper Peninsula each year. The goal of the program is to expand access to mental health care in the Upper Peninsula and in rural communities, which are experiencing an extreme shortage of this type of care.
Melissa Copenhaver, who is the owner of Suunta Integrative Health in Michigan’s U.P., explained what this shortage means for residents of the Upper Peninsula, saying, “Based on population numbers, it is estimated that the U.P. needs about 75 full-time equivalent (FTE) psychiatrists; however, there are under 10 FTEs available. It's not likely that it will be possible to recruit the additional providers needed. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners can play a key role in improving access to mental health care and health outcomes. The partnership between NMU and SVSU will recruit nurse practitioners from the UP for SVSU's psychiatric nurse practitioner post-master's program, which has a focus on rural health.”
Part of the BRIDGE UP program is the establishment of academic-practice partnerships between Saginaw Valley State University, Northern Michigan University, Suunta Integrative Health, and Great Lakes Recovery Centers. These partnerships will give students the opportunity to get hands-on training in the specialized field of mental health nursing, something that is not always available in rural areas, which will then make it possible for these students to become practicing mental health nurse practitioners in those same areas.
Greg Toutant, the CEO of Great Lakes Recovery Centers, said of the partnership, “Great Lakes is fortunate to be a part of a highly needed community partnership with NMU and SVSU to help advance the development of specialty mental health care through the psychiatric nurse practitioner education program. The Upper Peninsula has a significant shortage of mental health providers and this important project will help to develop added expertise and improved access for integrated avenues of care. Our role as a community preceptor site providing practicum opportunities is a small way we can help to strengthen the future workforce providing a spectrum of behavioral health care services in the U.P.”
An additional aspect of the BRIDGE UP collaboration is the introduction of an interprofessional rural health equity microcredential at Saginaw Valley State University to increase awareness in future healthcare workers of social and societal factors of health.
Kathleen Schachman, who is the Harvey Randall Wickes Endowed Professor of Nursing at Saginaw Valley State University, was quoted as saying, “This innovative collaboration between Saginaw Valley State University and Northern Michigan University brings vital resources and support to underserved populations. By expanding educational opportunities for advanced practice nurses, we aim to bridge gaps in patient care and empower nurse practitioners to meet the specific needs of their communities. … We expect to increase the number, diversity and geographic distribution of nurse practitioners with specialized psychiatric mental health preparation. The impact will be far-reaching, transforming lives and creating a more inclusive and resilient healthcare system for all.”
For more information about Northern Michigan University, visit the school’s website.
More information about Saginaw Valley State University can be found at its website.