R.I. leaders see proposed URI med school as a ‘distraction' from state's immediate primary care crisis
A few days later, my colleague Ed Fitzpatrick
reported that the Tripp Umbach consulting firm
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'With over 300 additional primary care providers needed statewide, and nearly half of the current physicians nearing retirement, the situation has reached a tipping point,' the report states.
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The panel was dismissive of the idea.
'In terms of the problem we face today, that won't fix it,' Neronha said. 'As the head of Anchor [Medical Associates] said to me when I talked to him, that's like telling the patient that the inexperienced doctor will be with you in a decade.'
Fernandez called health care 'the greatest team sport ever,' but said the state needs to provide more financial support 'so the team can take care of the patients.'
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'I'd let the commission do their work, but it's a clear distraction,' he said.
Iversen called a medical school a 'very long-term solution,' but said there are faster ways to address the primary care provider shortage.
'My emphasis would be on engaging more of the physician extenders within the healthcare,' Iversen said.
You can read the full feasibility study on a URI medical school
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Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Boston Globe
R.I. leaders see proposed URI med school as a ‘distraction' from state's immediate primary care crisis
A few days later, my colleague Ed Fitzpatrick reported that the Tripp Umbach consulting firm Get Rhode Island News Alerts Sign up to get breaking news and interesting stories from Rhode Island in your inbox each weekday. Enter Email Sign Up 'With over 300 additional primary care providers needed statewide, and nearly half of the current physicians nearing retirement, the situation has reached a tipping point,' the report states. Advertisement The panel was dismissive of the idea. 'In terms of the problem we face today, that won't fix it,' Neronha said. 'As the head of Anchor [Medical Associates] said to me when I talked to him, that's like telling the patient that the inexperienced doctor will be with you in a decade.' Fernandez called health care 'the greatest team sport ever,' but said the state needs to provide more financial support 'so the team can take care of the patients.' Advertisement 'I'd let the commission do their work, but it's a clear distraction,' he said. Iversen called a medical school a 'very long-term solution,' but said there are faster ways to address the primary care provider shortage. 'My emphasis would be on engaging more of the physician extenders within the healthcare,' Iversen said. You can read the full feasibility study on a URI medical school This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you'd like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, . Dan McGowan can be reached at
Boston Globe
3 days ago
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Rhode Island DMV warns of surge in fraudulent text messages
Officials shared an example of one of the messages, which states the alert is a 'final notice' from the 'Department of Motor Vehicles.' Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up 'Enforcement Penalties Begin on May 30,' the message reads. 'Our records indicate that you currently have an unpaid traffic violation… Please pay immediately before enforcement to avoid license suspension and further legal disputes…' According to the DMV, the messages cite 'fictitious legal code and link to fraudulent websites.' The agency said it does not send requests for payments or threats through text messages – the DMV sends information through the US Mail – and emphasized the public should not click on any suspicious links, as doing so could expose 'individuals to identify theft, malware, or financial fraud.' 'Scammers are continually preying on people's fears to manipulate them into revealing personal and financial information,' DMV Administrator Walter R. Craddock said in a statement. 'We encourage all Rhode Islanders to stay alert and verify their driving privileges only through reliable, official sources.' Advertisement Officials said fraudulent messages can be reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at 'Rhode Island residents who have concerns about their DMV records should utilize our Online DMV Customer Portal at Christopher Gavin can be reached at
Yahoo
30-05-2025
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Report: Benefits outweigh hurdles in creating a public medical school at URI
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A new report said the University of Rhode Island is 'strategically positioned' to expand the state's primary care physician workforce by developing a public medical school, though there are still unanswered questions about how it would work. The overview, authored by medical education consulting firm Tripp Umbach, was presented on Friday to the R.I. Senate's special legislative commission to study the state's health care workforce. Founder and president Paul Umbach said Friday's report was a 'concept overview' and that a draft feasibility report would be done sometime this summer. The Senate passed a resolution in June that created the 21-member panel, which is also tasked with analyzing the potential of establishing a medical school at URI. 'With over 300 additional primary care providers needed statewide, and nearly half of the current physicians nearing retirement, the situation has reached a tipping point,' the report said. RELATED: Hundreds more physicians needed to address RI primary care shortage While Rhode Island has been home to Brown University's Alpert School of Medicine since 1972, no other medical schools have been established in the state. The report noted that Brown's medical graduates also 'primarily pursue specialties rather than primary care.' A study published last year in the Rhode Island Medical Journal also found that out of 106 medical students who did their residencies in primary care during the 2022-23 academic year, just 15 planned to practice primary care in Rhode Island after graduating. The consultants said if the school were to have a program that emphasized primary care and community-based training, it would not only help to retain more graduates in the state, but 'would also generate economic growth, research activity, and healthcare access improvements.' 'URI offers a strong foundation for a new school of medicine through its existing pharmacy,nursing, and health sciences programs, which provide infrastructure, interprofessional education opportunities, and established clinical partnerships,' the report said. 'These programs offer existing infrastructure such as simulation labs, research facilities, and experienced administrative teams, which can be shared to reduce startup costs and streamline operations.' The report also highlighted how URI's 'existing clinical partnerships and rotation sites developed for nursing and pharmacy students' could accelerate the development of clinical trainingplacements for medical students. 'These programs also help establish academic pipelines, encouraging students from related fields to pursue medical education through pre-med tracks and early assurance programs,' the report added. In February, the university announced that it earned an 'R1 designation' in the latest Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The university said the designation 'signifies that URI has achieved the highest level of research activity,' which was measured by the number of doctoral degrees awarded, in addition to the amount of spending dedicated to research and development. Tripp Umbach said that designation 'significantly enhances its capacity to attract top-tier faculty, research funding, and high-caliber students.' 'With strong stakeholder support and backing from the state government, URI is strategically positioned to lead a transformative effort to expand the physician workforce and improve healthcare equity across Rhode Island,' the report said. Still, the report noted that 'critical challenges remain,' like securing funding, expanding clinical training capacities, and managing potential resistance from existing institutions. The authors said incentives like loan forgiveness and tuition reimbursement would help attract more applicants. 'The long-term benefits of addressing Rhode Island's physician shortage outweigh these hurdles,' the report's authors added. 'No time not to act': Neronha unveils plan to confront RI health care crisis The report also pointed out that creating a medical school at URI would 'yield substantial economic benefits, including job creation, research funding opportunities, and advancing Rhode Island's biomedical sector.' 'Typically, the annual operations of a public medical school in the early years of development have an economic impact of approximately $150 million and supports approximately 1,000 jobs directly and indirectly,' the report said. The firm concluded that each physician who's trained, completes residency, and remains in the community has 'an annual $2.2 million economic impact and supports 15 jobs directly and indirectly.' The report's authors said that what remained unclear is how the state would secure clinical training sites, attract local students, and establish 'sustainable financial and legislative support' for the proposed school. The report said in order to ensure there are clinical training sites, URI has to secure partnerships with 'a broad array of health care providers' across the state. 'These institutions can serve as anchor institutions for clerkships, residencies, and potentiallyfaculty recruitment,' the report said. ALSO READ: What to do if Brown Health, UnitedHealthcare don't strike a deal Additionally, Tripp Umbach recommended that URI should try to leverage both community hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers across the state to fulfill rural and primary care training requirements. The report's authors said they believe 'there is sufficient training capacity' in the state for a medical school class of 100 students. The report suggested that the school should use 'a multi-faceted, mission-driven recruitment strategy,' in addition to emphasizing a 'strong commitment to training physicianswho will serve within the state, particularly in rural and underserved communities.' One way the school could attract students is with tuition incentives or offering student loan repayment for graduates who practice in Rhode Island post-residency. Tripp Umbach said the estimated capital costs to create a school would be approximately $125 million. The firm said its projection was based on 'recent benchmarks from comparable institutions,' including the University of Central Florida, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. In an effort to manage both cost and efficiency, the authors said URI should consider locating the new school within the existing health science infrastructure at the university or designing a phased construction plan. Tripp Umbach concluded that start-up costs to launch the school, like curriculum development, accreditation, recruiting founding faculty and marketing, were projected to be about $90 million. 'A private lead donor will be instrumental in generating momentum and credibility for the campaign, catalyzing broader philanthropic support,' the report said. Additionally, the report said to 'ensure long-term financial sustainability and quality programs,' the school would need $20 million in annual state operating revenue, plus a recurring state budget line item for operational support, with a recommended annual appropriation of $25 million. In all, the report concluded a new school would cost $225 million in the first 10 years of development and operation, but noted that financial figures may change after a final analysis. The commission is scheduled to issue its own recommendations to the Senate by the end of the year. NEXT: Mediated talks between Butler Hospital, striking staffers stall again Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@ is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
