Kristin Gourlay

Fighting Prescription Drug Abuse, One Log In At a Time

Kristin Gourlay — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:00:00 +0000

For Rhode Islanders between 15 and 44 years old, the leading cause of death is accidental drug overdose, usually involving prescription painkillers. State health leaders are calling it an epidemic. There’s growing evidence that tracking the number of pills doctors prescribe to potential abusers might ease the problem. But Rhode Island’s fledgling prescription drug monitoring program is just getting started.

The dark side of opiates

Prescribing Painkillers: What the Health Dept. Recommends

Kristin Gourlay — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:36:52 +0000

Tomorrow on Morning Edition, you can catch my story about Rhode Island's fledgling prescription drug monitoring program. It's a program that's supposed to spot troubling trends in prescription drug misuse. And as you might know, there's plenty of trouble to spot in Rhode Island, where prescription drug overdose death rates have soared along with rates of addiction to narcotic painkillers.

Hittner Nominated as Next Health Insurance Commissioner

Kristin Gourlay — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:20:29 +0000

Governor Lincoln Chafee has nominated Dr. Kathleen Hittner as Rhode Island’s next Health Insurance Commissioner. Hittner must be confirmed by the senate.

Hittner has been tapped to replace outgoing commissioner Chris Koller, who is stepping down to become president of the Milbank Memorial Fund in New York City.

Is Obesity a Disease?

Kristin Gourlay — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:22:23 +0000

Next week is the American Medical Association's annual meeting in Chicago. It's the big deal event for the nation's physicians, residents, and medical students, where, in addition to the speeches and educational sessions, delegates from every state and specialty organizations consider new health policies to adopt. The result is a kind of physician consensus on emerging health issues, and people tend to pay attention.

Officials Seek Input on Alzheimer's State Plan

Kristin Gourlay — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:24:32 +0000

State officials want to make it easier for people living with Alzheimer’s and those who care for them. Nearly 25,000 Rhode Islanders suffer from the disease, and an estimated 60,000 are their unpaid caregivers.

A work group spearheaded by Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts and Division of Elderly Affairs chief Catherine Taylor has issued a set of recommendations in the state’s first comprehensive Alzheimer’s plan.

Thundermist, Kent Partner on Family Medicine Residency Program

Kristin Gourlay — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:37:01 +0000

Kent Hospital and Thundermist Health Center have teamed up to train new physicians in family medicine and a new kind of health care model called a patient-centered medical home. It's the first community health center-based training of its kind in the state

When medical students graduate, they go on to do a residency program for more on-the-job training. Most residencies take place in hospitals. But that’s changing. This new program will place family medicine residents from Kent Hospital in Warwick’s Thundermist community health center.

Preventing Gun Violence in Spotlight Nationally, But in RI?

Kristin Gourlay — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 19:05:25 +0000

As far as I can tell from the Rhode Island General Assembly's online legislation tracker, not a single bill dealing with reducing firearm violence has made it out of committee. Most have been recommended "held for further study," a kind of legislative purgatory, although some bills could be revived at the last minute.

Will National Spotlight on Mental Health Help RI?

Kristin Gourlay — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:32:15 +0000

President Barack Obama kicked off the National Conference on Mental Health yesterday. But can a conference actually accomplish anything? Too soon to tell.

In Newport, A Public Art Project Moves Past Protests

Kristin Gourlay — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The newly redesigned Queen Anne Square officially opened to the public Friday in downtown Newport. The public park’s new look is thanks to well-known artist and architect Maya Lin. But the project faced plenty of protest.

Redesigned Queen Anne Square Opens in Newport

Kristin Gourlay — Fri, 31 May 2013 20:06:58 +0000

A newly redesigned Queen Anne Square opened to the public in downtown Newport today, with much fanfare. But the project nearly divided the city.