Physician Finder

Public Information

Links

MPS Publications

Physician Advocacy

Volunteer Outreach

Calendar of Events

Clinical Updates

Practice Updates

Legislative Updates

MPS PAC

Information for Members

Advertisements

Search the site

Contact MPS

Home

4707 Hwy 61, #232
St. Paul, MN 55110

Phone: 651-407-1873
Fax: 651-407-1754

BRIDGES Project offers access

In June, 2006, Minnesota Psychiatric Society and Minnesota Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry volunteers began traveling to Red Lake to offer outpatient care to the small and isolated community hit so hard by the high school shooting the year before. When the BRIDGES program began, the community had experienced a suicide rate that was approximately ten times the state rate among Native Americans in Minnesota (20 per 100,000) and almost 30 times the rate for non-hispanic Minnesotans (7.6 per 100,000). Since volunteers have been seeing patients in the area, the suicide rate has declined by 80%.

Another benchmark of success is that patient wait times for behavioral health services have been dramatically reduced from six months or longer to only a month. In the first six months, in 14 clinic days, the BRIDGES program provided 85 clinic visits, including 26 child/adolescent evaluations, 39 adult evaluations, 17 adult follow-ups and 3 child/adolescent follow-ups.

BRIDGES Volunteers have the pleasure of working closely with George Aurand, RN who is providing care management and community connections for patients. Through his position with the Indian Health Service Hospital in Red Lake, Mr. Aurand is seeing growing community referrals and notes that patient satisfaction is at the core of the growth.

Another partner, Angel Flight Central, coordinates private pilots who transport volunteers at no cost. The pilots provide their services as volunteers and their contributions are integral to our success thus far.

In March, the BRIDGES program plans to launch telepsychiatry in partnership with the VA. This addition will definitely enhance the volunteer experience and allow us to expand our reach within the Red Lake community.

Volunteers are still needed and MPS is working with the Red Lake IHS to schedule an orientation, so if you are interested in joining the volunteer team or learning more about the BRIDGES project, please contact Read Sulik MD SulikR@centracare.com or Linda Vukelich l.vukelich@comcast.net.