Kristin Gourlay

RI's Latest Health Care Merger: Good for You and Your Bottom Line?

Kristin Gourlay — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:24:22 +0000

The Lifespan hospital system’s recent acquisition of Gateway, a mental health care network, may be a sign of more to come. But it could be too soon to tell what it means for a patient’s pocketbook.

RI Health Dept. Encourages Hep C Testing for Boomers

Kristin Gourlay — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:53:24 +0000

The Rhode Island Dept. of Health estimates nearly 11,000 Rhode Islanders are infected with the Hepatitis C virus but don’t know it. That’s why the department is encouraging testing.

A Year of Future Docs, In One Documentary

Kristin Gourlay — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:28:27 +0000

Throughout the school year, we've been following two bright, young, future doctors. Now, we're wrapping up the journey with a one-hour documentary about the crucible of medical school, set against the backdrop of some of the most dramatic changes in health care in a generation. Listen to the full hour or individual segments online, below, or download and listen on the go.

Online Health Insurance Marketplace to Offer 28 Plans

Kristin Gourlay — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:44:46 +0000

Rhode Island’s online marketplace for health insurance is taking shape in preparation for October 1^st. That's the date the exchange is scheduled to be up and running with a variety of new health plans to choose from.

Drug Overdose Deaths; Tracking Opioid Prescribers

Kristin Gourlay — Mon, 13 May 2013 20:03:36 +0000

Opioids are narcotic painkillers, and they include popular drugs with brand names like OxyContin, Vicodin, and Demerol. Heroin is another. And while the former have eased the pain of many, all of these drugs are potential killers. They're incredibly addictive. And prescription drug overdose deaths, according to what many health care providers and experts tell me, have reached epidemic status in Rhode Island.

Women & Infants Researcher Counters Critics of Premature Baby Study

Kristin Gourlay — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:13:35 +0000

Women and Infants Hospital is responding to allegations that a research study of premature babies in which it participated didn’t properly inform parents of the risks.

Future Docs 10: Good Luck, Sarah and Peter

Kristin Gourlay — Fri, 10 May 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Throughout the school year, we’ve been documenting the experiences of two Brown University medical students. They’ve begun their careers at a time when health care is changing dramatically – from where we get care to who provides it and how we pay for it. But our Future Docs Sarah and Peter are ready to dive in. They’re about to begin their third year in medical school, leaving behind the familiarity of the classroom for the new world of the hospital wards.

Newport Drinking Water Exceeds Safety Standard

Kristin Gourlay — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:20:31 +0000

Newport residents received notice this week that levels of some cancer-causing chemicals in their water have exceeded what’s allowed by the federal government. It’s no emergency, but the city is upgrading its treatment facilities to prevent possible long term health effects.

New Hospital Price Data Helps, But What About Quality?

Kristin Gourlay — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:08:29 +0000

You may have heard news yesterday that the federal government has released a greater level of detail on the prices hospitals charge for a list of common procedures and how widely those prices vary - not only from state to state but within states, and even within the same city. The data comes from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (or CMS), from 3000 hospitals nationwide.

Med School Enrollment Up 30% by 2017. Will It Help?

Kristin Gourlay — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:14:12 +0000

New data from the Association of American Medical Colleges shows med school enrollment is on track to reach a 30% increase by 2017. That's over enrollment numbers in 2002.

Rhode Island's own Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University is no exception, with record enrollment numbers.

What's most interesting about the data is that a good number of the new med school slots are in newly accredited or in-the-process-of-becoming accredited medical schools. There's one in our own backyard that fits that bill, Quinnipiac.