Des Moines, IA
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased the need for highly skilled healthcare professionals while also limiting access to traditional learning solutions.OpusVi and Mercy College PLUS (MercyPLUS), the newly launched online education expansion of the renowned Mercy College of Health Sciences, are aiming to address these problems by launching a suite of co-created programs.
The partnership completely reimagines healthcare workforce development by deploying a robust online learning platform that enables students to earn healthcare credentials in high-demand fields. The partners are also in discussion with large employers to help displaced workers transition into healthcare.
“Bringing together MercyPLUS and OpusVi creates a best-in-class offering for nurses and aspiring healthcare professionals,” says Andrew Malley, CEO of OpusVi. “MercyPLUS is a high-quality, regionally accredited, not-for-profit school and OpusVi excels in providing a world-class online education platform.”
"The pandemic continues to highlight the critical need for qualified, compassionate healthcare professionals. This partnership is designed to make a Mercy College education available to everyone,” explains Mercy College of Health Sciences President Doug Fiore, PhD.
A shared affiliation and a shared vision
“The partnership has been a natural fit from the start. OpusVi and MercyPLUS share an affiliation with one of the largest not-for-profit health systems in the U.S., CommonSpirit Health, which means that we can offer an industry-backed, affordable, world-class education, as well as a pathway to employment with career options,” continues Fiore.
Even though the programs are being developed with expertise from CommonSpirit Health, they will be open to workers in all health systems or those new to healthcare.
“This partnership is an opportunity for MercyPLUS to expand the reach of our educational offerings. Developing a remarkable student experience that supports learning is at the center of our work,” says Matt Romkey, Mercy College of Health Sciences Executive Vice President and Chancellor of MercyPLUS. “Our shared vision with OpusVi creates an opportunity for students who are normally restricted by commitments to families, jobs, and other responsibilities to join a community where they can learn and prepare for professional practice. We provide an environment of support and enable students to support each other, which is critical now, more than ever.”
Launching an innovative online RN to BSN Completion program to kick off the partnership
The first initiative is the launch of an online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) Completion program. This curriculum is tailored to real-world applicability and employability while meeting accreditation requirements. The content is presented through a full suite of cutting-edge learning technologies. Students will be able to engage in a highly modern and social learning platform throughout the program, learn via simulations, make use of OpusVi’s digital credentialing infrastructure, and work on projects that will make a direct impact on their careers and communities. This high-quality education is offered at an affordable price point, allowing students to take up to 12 credits per quarter for a price of $2,500. Students can complete their degree in one year, part-time, for just $10,000.
“This all falls within the tuition reimbursement model offered by many health systems,” explains Malley. “Nurses can get a great education and not have to compromise quality for cost. We are reimagining nursing credentials!”
“The RN to BSN Completion program is just the starting point of our partnership with OpusVi,” Fiore explains. “We are continuously identifying more educational opportunities spanning the entire healthcare continuum, not just by broadening our co-created portfolio, but also through finding innovative approaches to healthcare education.”
“In partnership with OpusVi, we will revolutionize the healthcare workforce through online education,” Romkey concludes.
