Views construction site, discusses rural health with the Board
from wood river HEALTH
During the meeting, Senator Whitehouse inquired about the recent accomplishments of Wood River Health, which serves as the largest outpatient primary care provider in southern Rhode Island. A lively discussion ensued about health care and how to overcome barriers to access.
Discussion topics included the current challenges in delivering medical, dental and behavioral health care in a rural setting; the importance of equalizing health care reimbursement rates; the benefits of delivering a value-based system of care, the rise in popularity of telehealth, and the increase of behavioral health symptoms in patients as a direct result of COVID-19.
“Throughout the pandemic,
community health centers have served as a lifeline for thousands of Rhode
Islanders,” stated Alison L. Croke, President and CEO of Wood River
Health. “We are grateful to Senator Whitehouse for his ongoing support of their
mission to increase access to high-quality healthcare, often for underserved
communities.”
Attendees included Board Chair Regan Pennypacker and Board Members Christine Bedoya, Susan Brough, Francis Hinteregger, MD, and Frank Hopkins. Representatives of Wood River Health’s leadership included President and CEO Alison L. Croke; Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Gates, MD; Chief Dental Officer Tiffanie Waldeck, DMD; and Director of Development and Communications Sarah Channing.
Local members of the community included Shawn Lacey, Manager of the Town of Westerly; Melissa Davy, Assistant Manager of the Town of Westerly, and Elena Nicolella, President and CEO of the Rhode Island Health Center Association.
During his visit, Senator
Whitehouse participated in a hard hat tour of Wood River Health’s 9,000 square
foot expansion that is under construction by A/Z Corporation. In 2022, Wood
River Health partnered with Vision 3 Architects to develop a state-of-the-art
facility that will enable it to expand its programs and services, increase its
patient capacity, and foster an environment that is reflective of the
high-quality health care services it delivers.
Construction of Wood River Health’s new facility remains on time and on budget. It is expected to be completed in September 2023. Individuals may visit https://woodriverhealth.org/support-us/capital-campaign to see progress photos of the construction, which are updated on a weekly basis.
About Wood River Health
Since 1976, Wood River
Health has delivered medical, dental and social services to the communities of
southwestern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut. Its mission is to
provide its patients with high-quality and affordable health care services
through a compassionate, team-based approach. Its vision is for every member of
its community to experience physical, emotional and social well-being.
A private, non-profit
Community Health Center, Wood River Health is devoted to providing quality
patient care to over 8,600 patients. It is recognized by the National Committee
for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Patient-Centered Medical Home. As a Federally
Qualified Health Center (FQHC), Wood River Health receives funds from the HRSA
Health Center Program to provide primary care services in underserved areas.
