Victoria Soltis-Jarrett | Partners in Practice, Engagement, and Education in Rural NC: Preparing Nurse Practitioners for Behavioral Health Integration in Primary Care
Visit the Carolina Nursing Excellence in Whole Health Care website to learn more.
Funded by: Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA)
Studies show that 70% of people who go to primary care facilities for treatment present witha mental health or substance abuse issue, but they don’t receive adequate assessment or treatment for those issues. With a declining number of rural primary care physicians, and a lack of accessible behavioral health and substance use disorder services in rural regions, the need for comprehensive, whole health care has become urgent.
Dr. Victoria Soltis-Jarrett has developed a network of practice partners across North Carolina in rural and/or medically underserved as clinical training sites for primary care and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner students. The BHI Traineeship trains and educates NP students, upon graduation, to fill the gaps in the shrinking rural healthcare workforce; while also preparing them to provide culturally sensitive, whole health care to some of the most vulnerable individuals and families in rural and underserved regions across North Carolina. Through the support of HRSA funding awarded to Dr. Soltis-Jarrett, the traineeship provides training, education, support and tuition assistance primary care and PMHNP students during their time in graduate school.
