Open enrollment for 2027 health coverage through HealthSource RI runs from Sunday, Nov. 1, through Jan. 31, with a new state subsidy program intended to offset the sharp premium increases Rhode Islanders absorbed this year. When enhanced federal premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025, average premiums across HealthSource RI’s customers rose 101% […]
Environment & Health
Posted inColumns
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about Medicare Part D
Correction: This story was updated at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 19 to correct the headline. It’s Medicare reenrollment time again, which means everyone with Medicare gets to look at how much they’ll spend, what they get and the choices that are available to them for the next year. The money, of course, is crazy. […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Rhode Island reports first West Nile virus case of 2026; infection likely acquired out of state
Rhode Island has recorded its first human case of West Nile virus in 2026, the state Department of Health and Department of Environmental Management announced Wednesday. The patient is a Washington County resident in their 60s whose symptoms began in early September, according to RIDOH. The person has been recovering in the hospital and is […]
Posted inNews
Women’s Resource Center served more than 1,100 survivors last year across Newport and Bristol counties
The Women’s Resource Center served more than 1,100 survivors of domestic violence last year, answered 1,211 hotline calls and provided 1,729 nights of emergency shelter, the organization said as it marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The center is joining domestic violence agencies statewide under this year’s theme, “One of Us.” “The people experiencing abuse are […]
Posted inNews
Prudence Island’s boil water notice lifted after eight years
The boil water notice in place for Prudence Island Water District customers since October 2018 has been lifted, the Rhode Island Department of Health said. The advisory was issued Oct. 5, 2018, after E. coli was found in the water supply. It ends now that permanent chlorination systems at the district’s wells have been installed, […]
Posted inColumns
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about health insurance isn’t just what it costs
Now we have the numbers. The cost of health insurance in Rhode Island is going up again. Health Insurance for small employers is going up an average of 3.8 percent; for individuals, bought through HealthSource RI, an average of 12.4 percent; and for large employers, insurance is going up 9.5 percent. These numbers don’t include […]
Posted inNews
State lifts algae advisory at Lower Melville Pond in Portsmouth
State health and environmental officials have lifted their recommendation to avoid recreational activities at Lower Melville Pond in Portsmouth. The Rhode Island Department of Health and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management said the harmful algae bloom at the pond, caused by blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, has cleared. Recent laboratory results from […]
Posted inCity & Government
Tiverton gets $1 million in federal funding for emergency water line after PFAS contamination
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved $1 million for Tiverton to begin installing an emergency public water line serving homes where private wells have tested above the state’s PFAS limit, Rhode Island’s congressional delegation announced Thursday. The money comes through the USDA’s Emergency Community Water Assistance program and goes to the North Tiverton Fire […]
Posted inNews
URI puts 64 years of beach survey data online
The University of Rhode Island has published six decades of beach measurements online, making one of the longest continuous shoreline survey efforts in the world available to the public. Rhode Island Beach Dynamics Over Decades compiles data collected since 1962 by roughly four dozen students and several scientists from URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography, Environmental […]
Posted inNews
Public panel on kratom set for Oct. 27 in Portsmouth
Strategic Prevention Partnerships and the Newport County Prevention Coalition will host a free public panel on kratom on Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Green Valley Country Club, 371 Union St. Check-in starts at 5. The event arrives amid a sharp split between neighboring states. Rhode Island overturned its ban on […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rhode Island seeing elevated rabies activity this year, mostly in raccoons and bats
Rhode Island has recorded an elevated number of rabid animals this year, most of them raccoons and bats, the state Department of Health said Monday, along with a rabid cat, coyote, skunk and woodchuck. The department marked World Rabies Day by highlighting its exposure assessment program, which operates around the clock and evaluates individual cases […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
State launches men’s mental health campaign aimed at working-age Rhode Islanders
The Rhode Island Department of Health is launching Man Therapy, a national campaign aimed at getting working-age men to take their mental health seriously, running through April online, on social media and on gas station ad screens. The campaign centers on a website, mantherapy.org, with resources on depression, divorce and suicide for men and the […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Newport Hospital is first in Rhode Island with the da Vinci 5 surgical robot
Newport Hospital has become the first in Rhode Island to use the da Vinci 5, the newest version of Intuitive’s robotic-assisted surgical platform, after a year of fundraising that covered the full cost through donations. The system will be used for minimally invasive procedures in urology, gynecology, thoracic surgery and general surgery. It translates a […]
Posted inCity & Government
Reed, Whitehouse and Amo ask EPA for help with Tiverton PFAS contamination
Correction: An earlier version of this story said residents had been advised not to use affected water for brushing teeth or washing dishes. The Rhode Island Department of Health says those are not routes of PFAS exposure and that residents can continue both. Rhode Island’s congressional delegation is asking the Environmental Protection Agency to step […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Washington County man is Rhode Island’s third Powassan virus case this year
A Washington County man in his 60s has a confirmed case of Powassan virus, the Rhode Island Department of Health said Monday, the state’s third case of the rare tick-borne disease this year. He began showing symptoms in late August. It is the 11th Rhode Island case since the disease was first reported in the […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island health officials urge flu, COVID and RSV vaccination ahead of respiratory season
The Rhode Island Department of Health is urging residents to get vaccinated against flu, COVID-19 and RSV as those viruses begin their seasonal climb. “Last year, flu, COVID-19, and other respiratory viruses sent hundreds of Rhode Islanders to the hospital,” said Director of Health Jerry Larkin. “Vaccination is your best protection.” During the 2025-26 season, […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
State advises avoiding all contact with Lower Melville Pond in Portsmouth over algae bloom
State health and environmental officials are advising people to stay out of Lower Melville Pond because of a harmful algae bloom, with all recreation — swimming, fishing, boating and kayaking — considered high risk. The Department of Environmental Management collected water samples that were tested at the Department of Health’s state laboratories. The advisory remains […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
This Day In History: August 31, 1881 – Inaugural US Men’s Single Tennis Championships Is Played in Newport
The inaugural U.S. National Championship took place on August 31, 1881 at the Newport Casino in Newport, Rhode Island. In the first year of the tennis championships only clubs that were members of the United States National Lawn Tennis Association were permitted to enter. A Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles competition were played. The first […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health, History, Sports
On This Day In Newport History – August 27, 1995: Tiger Woods Wins 1995 U.S. Amateur Championship in Newport
In celebration of the U.S. Amateur Championship centennial, the Newport Country Club hosted the 1995 U.S. Amateur Championship. At age 19, Tiger Woods became the ninth player to win back-to-back Amateur championships when he defeated Buddy Marucci on August 27th at the 1995 US Amateur at Newport Country Club. Following an outstanding amateur and two-year college golf […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about COVID and flu vaccines in 2026
I got a Pfizer COVID vaccine last night from Walgreens. And no, RFK Jr, I didn’t die. I didn’t feel a thing, and I feel fine now. No magnetic particles are letting extraterrestrials control my thoughts from space, at least not as far as I can tell. We are in the late summer COVID spike, […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
King Park Beach reopens for swimming
The Rhode Island Department of Health is recommending that the swimming area at King Park Beach reopen after bacteria counts returned to safe levels. The beach was closed to swimming last Thursday, Aug. 13, after elevated bacteria counts. RIDOH will continue monitoring beach water quality through Labor Day, and a beach’s status can change as […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Rhode Island says childhood vaccine requirements unchanged despite federal executive order
Rhode Island’s vaccination requirements for children entering child care and schools have not changed, Gov. Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health said Tuesday, responding to an executive order signed by President Trump on Aug. 10 calling for fewer childhood vaccines and changes to when they are administered. State officials said Rhode Island’s […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Health department recommends closing King Park Beach to swimming
The Rhode Island Department of Health is recommending that the swimming area at King Park Beach be closed due to high bacteria counts, the department announced Thursday afternoon. RIDOH will continue monitoring beach water quality through Labor Day, and a beach’s status can change as new samples come in. Current beach information is available on […]
Posted inNews
Newport County man diagnosed with rare tick-borne Powassan virus
A Newport County man in his 70s has been diagnosed with Powassan virus, a rare tick-borne illness, the Rhode Island Department of Health announced Thursday. The man began experiencing symptoms in late July. It is the state’s second confirmed Powassan case in 2026 and the tenth since Rhode Island first reported the disease in 2016. […]
Posted inNews
Newport Mental Health licensed to provide mobile crisis response for children and families across Rhode Island
Newport Mental Health has been officially licensed by the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families to provide Mobile Response and Stabilization Services, expanding access to community-based behavioral health crisis care for children, youth, and families statewide. MRSS provides 24/7 in-person crisis support, with trained clinicians responding wherever a crisis occurs — at home, […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Boil water advisory lifted for Stone Bridge Fire District customers in Tiverton
The Rhode Island Department of Health has lifted the precautionary boil water advisory issued to Stone Bridge Fire District customers, the agency announced Wednesday. The advisory was put in place July 27 following a water main break that risked causing a loss of pressure to multiple areas of the system. Stone Bridge Fire District repaired […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Boil water advisory issued for Stone Bridge Fire District customers in Tiverton
The Rhode Island Department of Health has issued a precautionary boil water advisory for customers of the Stone Bridge Fire District public water system following a water main break Monday on Lawton Ave that caused a loss of water pressure. A drop in pressure can allow bacteria to enter the system. Stone Bridge Fire District […]
Posted inNews
Dr. Michael Fine: Why it’s crazy we don’t have community paramedicine everywhere in Rhode Island
One of the things driving health care cost increases in the US is the way people use emergency rooms for routine medical care. Between 40 and 88 percent of all emergency room visits are for diseases and conditions that don’t require hospitalization – for colds and sore throats and simple sprains, headaches and back pain. […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
State agencies warn against all water contact at Lower Melville Pond in Portsmouth and Tiogue Lake in Coventry due to algae blooms
Rhode Island health and environmental officials are advising the public to avoid all contact with Lower Melville Pond in Portsmouth and Tiogue Lake in Coventry after harmful algae blooms were detected at both locations. The Rhode Island Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Management recommend avoiding swimming, fishing, boating, and kayaking at both […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Rhode Island health officials issue food safety reminder as multistate Cyclospora outbreak is linked to Taco Bell lettuce
The Rhode Island Department of Health is reminding residents to follow food safety practices as federal health officials investigate a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in five states. The CDC and FDA have advised consumers not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell locations in […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Rhode Island is on pace to exceed its annual average for rabid animals, state health officials warn
Rhode Island health and environmental officials are urging residents to avoid contact with wild animals after the state recorded 25 rabid animals in the first half of 2026 — already surpassing the annual average of 24 reported between 2021 and 2025. The Rhode Island Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Management issued the […]
Posted inNews
Air quality alert issued for Rhode Island today as wildfire smoke moves in from Minnesota
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has issued an air quality alert for Wednesday, July 15, as bands of heavy wildfire smoke from fires in northern Minnesota move into the region. Fine particle readings are expected to reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups on the Air Quality Index beginning midday, with elevated readings continuing […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Rhode Island Blood Center declares blood emergency as supply falls below two-day level
The Rhode Island Blood Center has declared a blood emergency after the region’s blood supply dropped below a two-day inventory — well below the five-to-seven-day level considered healthy — as hospitals enter the height of summer trauma season. The shortage is part of a broader national crisis. America’s Blood Centers has issued a statement warning […]
Posted inColumns
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about health care in Lithuania
I’ve just returned from a brief research trip to Lithuania, which wasn’t focused on health care. But while I was there, I had the opportunity to discuss the Lithuanian health care system with a colleague who runs the district health center of a small Lithuanian city. I learned that Lithuania, like most of Europe and […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Sandy Point Beach in Portsmouth reopens after bacteria levels return to safe levels
The Rhode Island Department of Health has cleared Sandy Point Beach for swimming after bacteria counts returned to safe levels, the agency announced Thursday. Third Beach in Middletown and City Park Beach in Warwick remain under swimming advisories due to high bacteria counts. Beach status may change as new water quality data becomes available. Up-to-date […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Health department recommends against swimming at Third Beach, Sandy Point, and City Park Beach
The Rhode Island Department of Health is recommending that swimmers avoid three local beaches due to high bacteria counts: Third Beach in Middletown, Sandy Point Beach in Portsmouth, and City Park Beach in Warwick. Beach status may change as new water quality data becomes available. Up-to-date information is available through RIDOH’s beaches telephone line at […]
Posted inNews
Free skin cancer screenings coming to Easton’s Beach and other Rhode Island beaches this summer
Rhode Island beachgoers will have the chance to get a free skin cancer screening this summer, with dermatologists from Brown Health Dermatology setting up at Easton’s Beach and four other locations across the state between mid-July and mid-August. The first local stop is Easton’s Beach in Newport on Friday, July 10, from 1:30 to 3:30 […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
State agencies advise avoiding contact with three Rhode Island waterbodies over algae blooms
The Rhode Island Department of Health and Department of Environmental Management are advising people to avoid contact with three waterbodies, including Upper Melville Pond in Portsmouth, because of harmful algae blooms. The advisory also applies to Wenscott Reservoir in North Providence and Wilson Reservoir in Burrillville. Water samples were collected by DEM and tested by […]
Posted inColumns
Involuntary: The independence we struggle to protect
On June 12, at CCRI, there was a free, invitation-only, screening of Involuntary, a 13-minute, short film followed by a moderated panel discussion featuring award-winning filmmakers, Dana White and Chris Knoblock; Rhode Island State Representative Lauren Carson; Elizabeth Shields,MD, a family medicine physician in private-pay practice; Partanja Spann, Director of Rhode Island Outreach for Newport […]
Posted inInstagram
RIDOH recommends reopening swimming areas at Hazards and Gooseberry beaches in Newport
The Rhode Island Department of Health is recommending that the swimming areas at Hazards and Gooseberry beaches in Newport reopen after bacteria counts returned to safe levels. The recommendation comes days after the department advised closing the swimming areas at both beaches, along with several others in Jamestown and Tiverton, because of high bacteria counts. […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
RIDOH recommends swimming advisories at five beaches in Jamestown, Newport and Tiverton
The Rhode Island Department of Health is recommending the closure of swimming areas at five beaches in Jamestown, Newport and Tiverton because of high bacteria counts. The recommended closures apply to Mackerel Cove Beach in Jamestown, Hazards Beach and Gooseberry Beach in Newport, and Fogland Beach and Grinnell’s Beach in Tiverton, the department said. State […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
RIDOH recommends reopening swimming at Easton’s Beach in Newport
The Rhode Island Department of Health is recommending that the swimming areas at Easton’s Beach in Newport and Briar Point Beach in Coventry reopen after bacteria counts returned to safe levels. The recommendation comes two days after the department advised closing the swimming areas at both beaches, along with Oakland Beach in Warwick, because of […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
RIDOH recommends closing swimming areas at three Rhode Island beaches, including Easton’s Beach
The Rhode Island Department of Health is recommending the closure of swimming areas at three beaches, including Easton’s Beach in Newport, because of high bacteria counts. The recommendation also applies to Oakland Beach in Warwick and Briar Point Beach in Coventry, the department said. State health officials will continue to monitor and review beach water […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Rhode Island issues another air quality alert for Thursday
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has issued a statewide air quality alert for Thursday, June 11, forecasting ground-level ozone that will reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups. It is the third such alert the department has issued in under a week, as a stretch of warm summer weather continues to drive elevated ozone. […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Officials warn against contact with Newport’s Almy Pond over algae bloom
The Rhode Island Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Management are advising people to avoid all contact with Almy Pond in Newport because of a harmful algae bloom. The agencies said all recreation at the pond, including swimming, fishing, boating and kayaking, is high risk and should be avoided. The bloom is caused […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
RIDOH recommends reopening swimming area at Easton’s Beach
This story was originally published at 5:01 p.m. on May 29. It has been updated with news of the reopening. The Rhode Island Department of Health is recommending that the swimming area at Easton’s Beach reopen after bacteria counts returned to safe levels, the agency said Monday. The recommendation reverses a closure issued late last […]
Posted inCity & Government
DEM reopens 462-acre Portsmouth shellfishing area for first time since 1975
A 462-acre shellfishing area along the Portsmouth shoreline just south of the Mount Hope Bridge will reopen for the first time since 1975, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management announced. The area has met water quality and shellfish sanitation criteria and will be upgraded from prohibited to approved for harvest on May 23. DEM […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Rhode Island Department of Health reminds residents to take precautions during extreme heat
The Rhode Island Department of Health is reminding residents to take safety precautions during the ongoing heat. When it is very hot and humid, sweating isn’t enough to cool the body, and body temperature can rise quickly, the department said. High temperatures can cause heat stroke, heat exhaustion or heat cramps. Certain populations are at […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
RI health officials urge tick and mosquito bite prevention as warmer weather arrives
With warmer weather settling in across the state, the Rhode Island Department of Health is reminding residents to take steps to prevent tick and mosquito bites when spending time outdoors. State officials said avoiding bites is the most effective way to prevent the spread of tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and babesiosis, […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
DEM closes Lower Providence River shellfish area after 800,000-gallon sewage discharge in East Providence
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has closed the Lower Providence River conditional shellfish area, known as Area 16E, after a break in an East Providence sewage line discharged roughly 800,000 gallons of untreated sewage into the river. The closure took effect immediately and will remain in place until further notice, DEM said in […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about dental cleanings and prevention
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 […]
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 […]
Sponsored
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 […]
Sponsored
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. […]
Sponsored
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, […]
Sponsored
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 […]
Sponsored
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 […]
Sponsored
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 […]
Posted inArts & Culture
New docuseries exploring Rhode Island’s coastal ecosystem premieres Friday
A new documentary series celebrating Rhode Island’s coastal wildlife and conservation efforts premieres Friday on Ocean State Media. “Ocean State: Rhode Island’s Wild Coast” debuts with its first episode, “Secrets of the Seagrass,” at 8 p.m. Jan. 9 on WSBE. The episode will be followed by a re-run of “Chasing Fins,” a short documentary about […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Brown University Health moves to respiratory virus status red across all facilities
Brown University Health will require masking at all facilities in Rhode Island and Massachusetts starting Tuesday due to high community transmission of influenza and other respiratory viruses. The red status designation applies to all Brown University Health hospitals and affiliates, including Newport Hospital, Rhode Island Hospital, The Miriam Hospital, Bradley Hospital, Gateway Healthcare, Saint Anne’s […]
Posted inCity & Government
URI and local colleges seek hunter-harvested ducks for groundbreaking microplastics study
Local duck hunters have a unique opportunity to contribute to scientific research this month as University of Rhode Island researchers and their colleagues from three other Rhode Island institutions launch a study examining microplastic contamination in Narragansett Bay waterfowl. Postdoctoral fellows Tori Mezebish Quinn and Dylan Bakner, along with Professor Scott McWilliams from URI’s Department […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Charlotte, Noah top Rhode Island’s most popular baby names in 2025
Charlotte and Noah were the most popular baby names in Rhode Island in 2025, according to preliminary data released Monday by the Rhode Island Department of Health. Charlotte topped the list for girls for the second consecutive year, with 51 babies given the name. Noah led the boys’ list with 63 babies, jumping from third […]
Posted inNews
Brown University Health moves to ‘Status Yellow,’ requiring masks at all facilities
Brown University Health will require masks at all of its facilities in Rhode Island and Massachusetts starting Thursday due to high community transmission rates of influenza and other respiratory viruses. The move comes as Rhode Island Department of Health data shows respiratory virus activity increasing sharply across the state. Flu-related emergency department visits have surged […]
Sponsored
South County Health offers free childbirth classes to support growing families
Preparing to welcome a new baby is one of life’s most exciting—and sometimes overwhelming—moments. To help parents feel confident, supported, and ready for their childbirth experience, South County Health offers free childbirth education classes, now available in Newport. Newport area courses are held at the Newport County YMCA in Middletown and led by Victoria Gatling, […]
Posted inColumns
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about the Hepatitis B Vaccine and SNAP
This has been two weeks of particular craziness in health care, in which everyone, on all sides, did their level best at missing the boat. First, our friends at CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices went ahead and changed the recommendation for Hepatitis B vaccine for newborns, a crazy change if ever there was one. […]
Posted inColumns
The Doctor’s In Your House: How at-home urgent care is changing the visit
Getting urgent or emergency care when you need can be a stressful ordeal. When someone is sick or injured, it could mean reshaping daily life to get care, and for some, that simply isn’t doable. At best, the disruption is temporary. But for older adults, busy families, people with mobility limitations, or those who are […]
Posted inColumns
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about vaccines and RFK Jr., redux
First, now is the time to get a flu shot if you haven’t gotten one already. Flu is spreading in some southern and western states. Holiday travel will bring it here. Don’t delay. That said, I got the bill for the COVID-19 shot I had last month. Or rather, I got a record of the […]
Posted inBusiness
CVS Health tops Q3 forecasts but absorbs hefty charge for struggling clinic business
By TOM MURPHY AP Health Writer CVS Health rode double-digit sales growth from drugstores and its pharmacy benefits management business to a better-than-expected third quarter. The health care giant also hiked its 2025 forecast well above Wall Street estimates. But it booked a nearly $6-billion charge in the quarter for scaling back a care delivery […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health, News
State officials warn public to avoid Upper Melville Pond due to harmful algae bloom
State health and environmental officials are urging the public to stay away from Upper Melville Pond after confirming a harmful cyanobacteria bloom in the Portsmouth waterbody. The Rhode Island Department of Health and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management issued the advisory Monday, warning that swimming, fishing, boating and kayaking pose health risks at the […]
Posted inColumns
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about COVID-19 and the flu vaccine now
I had a COVID-19 vaccine last week. I’m traveling in 10 days and wanted to make sure I don’t get sick when I’m traveling. Better safe than sorry – better jabbed than stuck in a hotel room for five extra days, unable to go out. Or hospitalized. The COVID-19 vaccine was easy to get and […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
UPDATE: Newport’s Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 25 canceled due to government shutdown
Newport’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, scheduled for Oct. 25, has been canceled due to the federal government shutdown, according to the Newport Prevention Coalition. Melanie Saunders, coordinator of the Newport Prevention Coalition, confirmed the cancellation in a message sent Thursday morning. “I was informed on Tuesday that Drug Take Back Day, originally scheduled […]
Posted inColumns
Dr. Michael Fine: Three things that are smart, not crazy, about health care
Three logical, smart, and hopeful things happened in health care in the past few weeks. I’m glad to be able to tell you about them. The first good thing is that the Rhode Island Department of Health joined Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York to form the Northeast Public Health […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health, News, People & Profiles
Breast cancer cases increase, while the death rate decreases
More than 1,100 women in Rhode Island and more than 316,000 women nationally will be diagnosed by the end of this year with breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. That diagnosis will present what will seem for many insurmountable physical and emotional challenges. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we caught up […]
Posted inColumns, Environment & Health
Helen Hames: Access to quality care, a shared responsibility
Today, more than 24,00 Rhode Islanders over the age of 65 are living with some form of dementia. That’s one in eight older adults. The BOLD Act, signed into law in 2018, positioned Alzheimer’s disease and dementia as a public health issue, not just a private family struggle. It provided states like Rhode Island with […]
Posted inColumns
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about public health and gun violence
Crazy might not be the right word. Heartbreaking or heartrending would be better. But even heartrending isn’t strong enough. In these United States, our rate of gun death is 4.42 deaths per 100,000 population, the sixth highest in the world – but many times the rate in other developed nations. Of developed nations, only Greece, Austria, […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health, News
RIDOH issues 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine recommendations
The Rhode Island Department of Health has recommended the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine for most Rhode Islanders 6 months of age and older to protect against serious illness from COVID-19, according to a department announcement. “COVID-19 vaccine can help prevent serious illness and hospitalization, and it is an important tool to support our healthcare system as […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health, News
Trump has crushed offshore wind plans, but states haven’t quite given up hope
by Alex Brown, StatelineSeptember 16, 2025 As President Donald Trump wages an all-out assault on offshore wind projects, state leaders face a dilemma: Do they pull the plug on offshore wind and look for other ways to meet their fast-growing energy needs? Or do they double down on their investments, in hopes of helping the […]
Posted inColumns
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about COVID-19 in the fall of 2025
We are in the middle of a COVID uptick. These upticks now happen a few times a year. It will likely be a few more years before COVID-19 infections settle into a more stable pattern, like influenza, so it is worth commenting when an uptick happens, so people know what to expect and how to plan. […]
Posted inCity & Government, Environment & Health
McKee ensures COVID-19 vaccine access as federal guidance shifts
Gov. Dan McKee announced immediate measures Thursday to guarantee continued access to COVID-19 vaccines for all Rhode Islanders over 6 months old, responding to federal policy changes that have created uncertainty around vaccine availability. The governor directed the Rhode Island Department of Health and Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner to issue a bulletin requiring […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health, News
State health officials issue advisory for Portsmouth pond due to toxic algae bloom
State health and environmental officials are advising residents to avoid all contact with Lower Melville Pond after confirming the presence of a harmful cyanobacteria bloom that can cause serious health problems in humans and pets. The Rhode Island Department of Health and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management issued the advisory Friday, warning that swimming, […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport to host third community forum on state’s coastal resilience plan
Newport will serve as the venue for the third community forum dedicated to Rhode Island’s statewide coastal resilience plan 2025, offering residents a chance to help shape the state’s response to rising seas and extreme weather. The forum is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 10, from 5:30-7 p.m. at Newport Library, located at 300 Spring St. […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health, News
Scientists tap ‘secret’ fresh water under the ocean, raising hopes for a thirsty world
By CALVIN WOODWARD, CAROLYN KASTER and RODRIQUE NGOWI Associated Press ABOARD LIFTBOAT ROBERT, North Atlantic (AP) — Deep in Earth’s past, an icy landscape became a seascape as the ice melted and the oceans rose off what is now the northeastern United States. Nearly 50 years ago, a U.S. government ship searching for minerals and […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health, News
Rhode Island health officials close two Middletown beaches due to high bacteria levels
The Rhode Island Department of Health on Tuesday recommended closing swimming areas at two Middletown beaches due to elevated bacteria levels that pose health risks to swimmers. Third Beach and Peabody’s Beach were added to the state’s beach closure list after water samples showed bacteria counts exceeding safe swimming standards, according to a RIDOH press […]