Committed to the mission of care

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In the midst of a dramatically changing and evolving health care landscape, Care New England (CNE) is working hard to provide excellent health care services today, while readying ourselves to respond to what tomorrow brings for our patients and the community. This requires us to be bold and passionate about our work.

This is one reason why we have pursued partnership with Partners HealthCare in Massachusetts. We recently announced we would be moving forward with the execution of a definitive agreement. This is exciting news that will have a tremendously positive impact in Rhode Island.

It is true, our work has been difficult and challenging for our employees and, in some cases, those of you who have come to trust and rely upon our clinical expertise. This includes closure of the emergency and inpatient services at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket, a difficult but necessary step. Let me assure you that CNE remains committed to your health care needs – including the people of Blackstone Valley – and to ensuring access to unparalleled care for you and your loved ones.

How are we doing this? We are engaging our staff from leadership through the frontline employees in pursuit of continuous improvement. Our system - Butler, Kent, and Women & Infants hospitals, Care New England Medical Group, The Providence Center, and VNA of Care New England - is more aligned than ever and is emerging stronger, more integrated, and more focused on comprehensive health care delivery.

This is due in large part to the incredible staff that is the foundation of CNE. I cannot overstate my tremendous appreciation and respect for this talented and dedicated team of professionals. Even with the financial and operating challenges of recent years and this past year’s uncertainty, our team has remained committed to the mission of care, with the Memorial employees particularly steadfast in this effort. We are beginning to see results! I have spent my entire career in health care, and am proud of and impressed by everyone who makes CNE not just run, but excel in the care we provide.

Consider these examples:

l Butler is conducting more than 20 clinical studies as part of an international effort to better understand and prevent Alzheimer’s disease, just one segment of more than $11 million in grant funded research underway. l Butler, The Providence Center, and the emergency departments at Kent and Women & Infants continue to be on the frontline of the opioid crisis deploying a multi-faceted attack on this deadly epidemic, including its Recovery Stabilization Program recognized as a Center of Excellence by our state.

l Women & Infants continues to lead the way as one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious research and treatment facilities in obstetrics, gynecology, and newborn pediatrics. Women & Infants was recently awarded its second $12.2 million National Institutes of Health Center of Biomedical Research Excellence grant. The newest award will boost interdisciplinary research related to women’s reproductive health, preterm birth, and preeclampsia.

l Kent recently implemented an emergency 24/7 angioplasty program which minimizes the time to lifesaving  treatment for those in South and Kent Counties who suffer life-threatening heart attacks.

l VNA of CNE Hospice scored in the top percentile, scoring 100 percent for all seven measures currently being monitored by CMS Hospice Compare.

l Integra Community Care Network, the accountable care organization we belong to, is outperforming similar programs nationwide while providing concierge nursing support for our most complicated and sick patients.

It is these types of programs, services, and advancements that our community needs, deserves, and demands. Our goal is to preserve health care services in Rhode Island, improve access to care, and strengthen the academic and research missions of CNE, and we have dedicated ourselves to be the best and preferred source for care in the region. Thank you for placing your trust in CNE and its many talented caregivers and staff, now and in the years to come. I could not be more honored to be part of this organization or its critical mission.

James E. Fanale, MD is president and CEO of Care New England.

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