I’m a big fan of prevention, understanding that everyone dies of something, and not all health problems are preventable. That said, it’s crazy how our fears about illness and death overwhelm our better judgment from time to time, and how people with a service to sell sometimes let their ambition get in front of the […]
Environment & Health
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Boil water notice lifted for Stone Bridge Fire District customers in Tiverton
The precautionary boil water notice issued last week to Stone Bridge Fire District customers has been lifted, the Rhode Island Department of Health announced. The advisory was issued April 24 after a water main break threatened to cause a loss of pressure across multiple areas of the system. The Stone Bridge Fire District, which serves […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island confirms second measles case of 2026 in patient seen at Middletown urgent care
A woman in her 20s has tested positive for measles after being treated at Brown University Health Urgent Care in Middletown, marking the second confirmed case of the highly contagious illness in Rhode Island this year, state health officials announced Saturday. The Rhode Island Department of Health said the patient had recently traveled from outside […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Six animals test positive for rabies in Providence County, health officials warn
At least six animals in Providence County have tested positive for rabies over the past six weeks, the Rhode Island Department of Health said Friday, prompting a renewed warning to residents to steer clear of wildlife and keep pet vaccinations current. Since March 12, three raccoons in Burrillville, one bat and one coyote in Lincoln, […]
Posted inColumns
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about what insurance companies want – and a little about our politics
I was asked to look at a few bills about primary care that were presented this week for hearing in the legislature. One of these bills allows physicians to charge administrative or operational fees to support their overhead. Another allows physicians to charge optional fees for non-covered services. Another keeps insurers from requiring physicians to […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Beyond the Labels: How the Rhode Island state Ombudsman helps keep the person at the center of care
Person-centered care is in the headlines a lot. But before we had that language, care was often designed around tasks and diagnosis. Necessary, but incomplete. Over time, something important can get lost and a person’s identity can quietly be replaced by a label, shrinking the value of the individual and what matters to the person. […]
Posted inCity & Government
EPA honors Rhode Island drinking water project among nation’s best
A drinking water infrastructure project in Scituate that brought safe, reliable water to 23 elderly residents has earned national recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA this week named the consolidation project at the Scituate Housing Authority’s Rockland Oaks Senior Housing Community, Scituate High School and Scituate Middle School as one of five […]
Posted inCity & Government
Sen. Euer’s bill to protect contraceptive coverage regardless of federal law heard in committee
Legislation that would require Rhode Island health insurers to cover contraceptives at no cost, independent of federal law, was heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee Tuesday. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Dawn Euer, who represents Newport and Jamestown, is aimed at preserving contraceptive coverage for Rhode Islanders even if the Affordable Care […]
Posted inCity & Government
DEM to resume prescribed burns across Rhode Island state lands this week
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management plans to resume prescribed burns on state lands this week, with low-severity fires planned at locations across seven communities, weather permitting. DEM’s Forest Fire Program is targeting parcels at Durfee Hill Management Area in Glocester, Arcadia Management Area in Exeter, Nicholas Farm Management Area in Coventry, Big River […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rhode Island Department of Health launches “Better State of Healthy” campaign during National Public Health Week
The Rhode Island Department of Health has launched a new public awareness campaign called “Better State of Healthy,” timed to coincide with National Public Health Week. The campaign features stories from public health professionals about the scope of RIDOH’s work and how to access the department’s resources and services. Materials include videos, social media content […]
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Expecting a baby? South County Health has you covered with free classes
These free classes are one of the many ways South County Health supports the health and well-being of mothers, babies, and families throughout the region. Classes fill quickly and are open to all participants—including those who are not South County Health patients, and regardless of where you plan to deliver. Newport sessions will be held […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island sees spike in drug overdoses, health officials issue statewide alert
Rhode Island health officials are warning the public after a spike in non-fatal drug overdoses last week surpassed a statewide threshold for the first time since 2023. The Rhode Island Department of Health reported 55 people received care at emergency departments for suspected drug overdoses between March 10 and March 16 — exceeding the state’s […]
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How doula support enhances the pregnancy journey
Considering Doula support for your pregnancy journey? Join us for Meet the Doulas at South County Health. Register Today > For many expectant parents, preparing for birth involves choosing an obstetric provider, attending prenatal visits, and creating a plan for delivery. Increasingly, families are also considering the support of a doula—a trained professional who provides […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island conserves 70 acres at Gull Cove in Portsmouth using oil spill settlement funds
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has conserved 70 acres of coastal land at Gull Cove in Portsmouth, using $880,000 in funding from the Bouchard B-120 oil spill settlement. The property includes significant salt marsh habitat and coastal uplands along the northwestern shoreline of Gull Cove, an intertidal estuary adjacent to the Sakonnet River. […]
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How Midwives support women through the reproductive years
At South County Health’s Center for Women’s Health, Certified Nurse Midwives are among the providers caring for patients with clinical expertise and compassion, empowering women to make informed choices about their health. When people hear the word midwife, they often think of childbirth. While midwives are experts in pregnancy, labor, and postpartum care, their role […]
Posted inOpinion
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about paying for medical school
Before I describe the incredible cost of medical school, I want to mention how I paid for my medical education. I didn’t. You did, and I am very grateful for that. Like about 1800 other American medical students in 1979, I was lucky enough to get a National Health Corps Scholarship, which paid my tuition, […]
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When your period is disrupting your life, it’s time to talk about it
For many women, heavy or irregular menstrual cycles are often brushed off as “normal”—something to endure quietly while juggling work, family, and daily life. But changes in menstrual bleeding can be a sign that it’s time for a closer look—and effective treatment options are available. Heavy Bleeding Is Common — But Not Normal At the […]
Posted inNews
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about getting into medical school. Part 1.
Ok. We are somewhere between 50,000 and 300,000 doctors short. Probably more, given our current approach to immigration, because 25 percent of all doctors in the US come from other countries – because we don’t send enough of our own students to medical school. Instead, we import our doctors from elsewhere, from places who need […]
Posted inColumns
Caught off guard: Involuntary discharge and why it belongs in your aging plan
Recently, I was working with The Edward King House Senior Center, The Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island (SACRI) and Age-Friendly Rhode Island to bring an invitation-only screening of the film Involuntary and a panel discussion to Newport. While this screening has been postponed, one thing became clear to me: many people don’t know what […]
Posted inColumns
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about keeping Roger Williams and Fatima Hospitals alive?
We are now seeing the predictable twisting in the wind as our state leadership struggles with what to do about Roger Williams and Fatima Hospitals, which are bankrupt. Nobody in state government likes to see hospitals close, in part because people work at hospitals and those people vote, and their unions have lobbying power. That […]
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Menopause and Beyond: Whole-person care for every stage of a woman’s life
For many women, menopause marks a turning point—but not an endpoint. It’s a phase that can bring physical changes, emotional shifts, and new questions about long-term health. Yet too often, women feel unprepared for what’s ahead or unsure where to turn for guidance. At the South County Health Center for Women’s Health—now welcoming patients in […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rhode Island recommends AAP vaccine schedule following CDC changes
The Rhode Island Department of Health and the Northeast Public Health Collaborative are recommending families follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ vaccine schedule in the wake of recent changes to federal childhood immunization guidance. On Jan. 5, Acting Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed a decision memorandum that reduced the […]
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The Unique Role of a Women’s Health Provider
Supporting Health Through Every Chapter At South County Health’s Center for Women’s Health, providers take a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to supporting women’s health through every stage of life. As care needs evolve, providers including OB-GYNs, physician assistants, and certified nurse midwives offer expertise designed to meet women where they are in each chapter. Care That […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about medicine
This week’s column is about two apparently unrelated events: my re-reading of The Citadel, by AJ Cronin, a classic novel/tearjerker about a British General Practitioner, written in 1937, and the new nutrition guidelines from HHS put forward by RFK Jr. There is a common thread, I promise, which is that medicine and health are not the […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Rhode Island urges vaccinations as flu, COVID-19 hospitalizations climb
Health officials are urging Rhode Islanders to get vaccinated and take precautions as respiratory virus activity reaches high levels across the state. This flu season, 496 people have been hospitalized with influenza and seven have died from flu-related causes, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health. An additional 297 people have been hospitalized with […]