About New Mexico Bridge
New Mexico Bridge is a New Mexico Behavioral Health Services Division initiative.
The New Mexico Bridge Project is a state-funded initiative which seeks to support hospital-based EDs across the state in establishing Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs for opioid use disorder in the acute setting (ED, hospital) with a bridge to community partners to continue treatment (medication and therapy).
This project is led by experts at the University of New Mexico and Presbyterian Health System and under the guidance of New Mexico’s Behavioral Health Services, to expand access to buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder in the acute care setting, with a focus on hospital emergency departments.
The New Mexico Bridge Project is based on an Implementation Team which is comprised of addiction trained specialists, nursing educators, billing expertise, and grants support. Our team works collaboratively with hospital and ED leaders to establish a state-funded budget to support the project, develop an implementation plan, establish protocols, provide education (e.g., X-Waivers, stigma/harm reduction training, nursing-specific training), and support the hospital and ED leaders every step of the way. Through the NM Poison Center, we also offer 24/7 addiction medicine telephone support in which you can contact an addiction specialist with clinical or technical questions.
Contact Us: newmexicobridge@gmail.com
Meet Our Implementation Team
Brandon Warrick, MD
Director for Statewide Infrastructure Development; Co-Director of Clinical Implementation
Cindy M. Ketcham, RN, EdD, MSHE, BSN, NEA-BC, LNCC, HACP, CARN, CCHP
Director of Nursing Education
Donald Hume
Eric Ketcham MD, MBA, FACEP, FASAM, FACHE
Director of Clinical Implementation; Co-Director for Statewide Infrastructure Development
James Cotton, MD
Engagement and Dissemination Director
Julie Salvador, PhD
Principal Investigator; Project Director
Leslie Hayes, MD
Clinical Director of Women’s Health and Obstetrical Care
Margaret Greenwood-Ericksen MD, MSc
Co-Engagement and Dissemination Director
Rachel Abeyta, BFA
Program Coordinator
Sally Wait, BSN
Director of Community Outreach
Snehal Bhatt, MD
NM Bridge Media & Press
National Recognition
National Governors Association August 2023
“Implementing Best Practices Across the Continuum of Care to Prevent Overdose: A Roadmap for Governors” (pg.60)
Webinar Presentation
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration June 2023
Article Publication
ACEP Now: The Official Voice of Emergency Medicine March 2023 | Vo. 42 | No. 3
“The New Mexico Bridge Program: Implementation of medication for opioid use disorder in rural emergency departments” (pg.6-7)