Category : Health

By Ken Bredemeier WASHINGTON – Vaccinations against the coronavirus are off to a slow and chaotic start in the United States, but the country’s top infectious disease expert held out hope Sunday that the pace will soon pick up.  “We are not where we want to be, no doubt about it,” Dr. Anthony Fauci told ABC News’ […]Read More

PROVIDENCE, RI (December 21, 2020) –Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) has named Jenny Bautista as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) manager. In this role, Bautista provides leadership and consultation for all company-wide DEI programming, training and education, as well as manages BCBSRI’s Employee Business Resource Groups (EBRGs) and Diversity Council. Bautista […]Read More

Contactless grocery delivery and virtual offerings designed to keep seniors safe and healthy at home PROVIDENCE, RI – Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) is helping older Rhode Islanders stay safe and healthy this holiday season with weekly grocery delivery. This program comes at no cost to certain high-risk Medicare Advantage members. In […]Read More

PROVIDENCE, RI— Lifespan, Rhode Island’s largest health care system, has begun rapidly administering Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to its frontline workers. Today, Lifespan held the first vaccination clinics on the Rhode Island Hospital campus where the highest risk employees were scheduled to receive the vaccine. Christian Arbelaez, MD, Attending Physician and Vice Chair Academic Affairs, Emergency […]Read More

REGION I –Rhode Island will receive $21,703,368 from FEMA to reimburse costs incurred by Rhode Island Department of Administration for construction of three alternative hospital sites to ensure hospital capacity in the wake of COVID-19. The sites, at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, Citizens Bank in Cranston, and former Lowe’s Home Improvement Store in […]Read More

By VOA News Britain has vaccinated its first citizen against the COVID-19 virus. Ninety-year-old nursing home resident Margaret Keenan received the first of two doses of a vaccine jointly developed by U.S.-based pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech.   The vaccination campaign, dubbed “V-Day” by Health Secretary Mark Hancock, began nearly a week after the government’s […]Read More

By VOA News A COVID-19 vaccine developed by U.S. drug maker Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech has moved closer to approval for emergency use in the United States after the Food and Drug Administration disclosed documents Tuesday confirming the vaccine was strongly protective against the infectious disease. The FDA documents were released on the same day that […]Read More

CRANSTON, R.I. – The Rhode Island Department of Corrections Director, Patricia A. Coyne-Fague, Esq., announced today that Dr. Justin Berk will serve as the new acting Medical Director for that agency. In a statement, the Director said: “I am pleased to announce the appointment of Justin Berk, MD. Dr. Berk has been providing medical services […]Read More

By Ken Bredemeier WASHINGTON – Top U.S. health officials told Americans on Sunday they need to remain determined to protect themselves against the coronavirus even as the first vaccines are likely to become available later this month.  “We need people to renew their commitment. Please wear a mask” and avoid crowds of people in bars, restaurants […]Read More