What We Do

License, certify, and discipline many Rhode Island healthcare professionals, facilities, and organizations.

Monitor the prevalence of infectious diseases in the community and investigate, control, and prevent outbreaks.

Provide adult and childhood vaccines to healthcare providers.

Promote and support the use of health information technology.

Facilitate the collection and appropriate sharing of child health data.

Place parent consultants in child healthcare practices to assist physicians in serving children with special healthcare needs and their families.

Review and approve J-1 visa waiver applications for foreign physicians.

News for Healthcare Providers

02/06/2013 13:09 EST

March 13 Continuing Education Webinar (Free): CDC Hepatitis C Testing Recommendations, Be a Part of the 'Action' in the Viral Hepatitis Action Plan

The Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School will present this free webinar on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, from 12 to 1:30 P.M. to review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) testing birth cohort guidelines. Key points will also be covered from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Viral Hepatitis Action Plan, "Combating the Silent Epidemic of Viral Hepatitis: Action Plan for the Prevention, Care and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis." How to register: Visit ri.train.org, log in under your TRAIN account, and select Course ID 1041975. There is no deadline to register. Need help with registration? Send an email to Bradford_Briggs@brown.edu or Anjuli.Bodyk@yale.edu. CME information: This webinar is free to all learners. Applications will be made for CMEs, Nursing CEUs, Social Worker CEs, and National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors CEUs. The Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School cannot guarantee acceptance of any continuing education credit until notified by the issuing organizations. Visit ri.train.org, Course ID 1041975, to view the status of your CE application. Please note: When this webinar will be archived for viewing at a later date, continuing education credits will not be available for the archived webinar. This webinar is recommended for MD/DO, clinical supervisors, drug addiction counselors, RN, PharmD/RPH, social workers, community health workers, and any interested party.

02/06/2013 12:49 EST

Feb. 19 Continuing Education Webinar (Free): Reducing the Burden of HPV-Associated Cancer and Disease through Vaccination in the US

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends this live webcast for physicians, nurses, epidemiologists, pharmacists, veterinarians, certified health education specialists, laboratorians, and others. Continuing education hours for CDC Public health Grand Rounds are issued through the CDC/ATSDR Training & Education Online System.

Previous Announcements +

01/17/2013 11:19 EST

CDC HAN Advisory: Notice to Clinicians: Summary of CDC Recommendations for Influenza Antiviral Medications

CDC continues to recommend antiviral medications for treatment of seasonal influenza and annual vaccination as the best tools for prevention. Evidence from past influenza seasons and the 2009 H1N1 pandemic has shown that treatment with antiviral medications can have clinical and public health benefit in reducing severe outcomes of influenza when initiated as soon as possible after illness onset.

12/21/2012 10:06 EST

CDC Update: Multistate Outbreak of Fungal Infections among Persons Who Received Injections with Contaminated Medication

New information from diagnostic imaging of patients exposed to contaminated methylprednisolone acetate (MPA1) from the New England Compounding Center (NECC) in Framingham, Mass., demonstrates the need for assertive clinical evaluation of these patients for the possibility of an unrecognized, localized spinal or paraspinal infection. This Health Alert Network (HAN) notice provides updated guidance and information about the ongoing multistate outbreak of fungal infections. Click on the link above.

12/19/2012 09:46 EST

Free CME Asthma Webinar from RI Public Health Grand Rounds Now Available to View

"Quality Improvement of Asthma Care in Pediatric and Family Practice Medical Homes," presented by guest lecturers Christopher Campanile, MD, PhD and Ailis Clyne, MD, MPH, is now available to view online as an archived webinar for free Continuing Medical Education credit. This Public Health Grand Rounds session was presented on December 14, 2012 by the Rhode Island Department of Health and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Office of Continuing Medical Education.

12/06/2012 16:24 EST

Healthcare Workers Requirements During Widespread Flu

New regulations enacted in October 2012 require healthcare workers who do not get a flu vaccine to wear a surgical face mask during direct patient contact if the Director of Health declares flu to be widespread, which he did on December 5, 2012. When the period of widespread flu is declared to be over, the masking requirement will no longer be in effect, unless a new declaration is made at a later time.

12/06/2012 10:32 EST

Declaration of Widespread Flu Incidence Statewide as of Dec. 5, 2012

Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws 23-17-21 and -36, and, R-23-17-HCW Rule 5.3 of the Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Immunization, Testing, and Health Screening for Health care Workers, the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health hereby declares that the incidence of influenza is widespread in the State of Rhode Island as of December 5, 2012. The following actions are ordered. (See complete declaration at http://www.health.ri.gov/publications/guidelines/DeclarationOfWidespreadFluIncidenceStatewideAsOfDecember52012.pdf)

11/27/2012 11:41 EST

Nov. 28 CME Opportunity: "Important Prevention Practices for HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases"

Healthcare professionals in Rhode Island are invited to attend this presentation for AMA PRA Category 1 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits. The presentation will address stopping the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and will focus on certain risk groups. Speakers include: Erica J. Hardy, M.D., M.M.Sc, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Clinical), Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Obstetric Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and Nicole E. Alexander, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Medical Director, Division of Infectious Disease and Epidemiology, Rhode Island Department of Health. This event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 P.M.on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Room 280, 222 Richmond St., Providence, RI. For information/registration or to host this presentation at your group/practice, contact the Alpert Medical School CME Office at (401) 863-2871 or send an email to CME@Brown.edu

11/21/2012 10:01 EST

CDC Update: Multistate Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis and Other Infections Associated with Contaminated Steroid Medication

Distributed via Health Alert Network, November 20, 2012, 15:00 ET (3:00 PM ET), CDC HAN-00335-2012-11-20-ADV-N: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to work closely with state public health departments on a multistate investigation of fungal meningitis and other infections among patients who received a methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) injection prepared by the New England Compounding Center (NECC) in Framingham, Mass. This HAN notice provides updated information on the following: (1) epidural abscess and other clinical syndromes being diagnosed in exposed patients, and (2) diagnostic and treatment recommendations for clinicians.

11/02/2012 09:53 EDT

Roll-out of new vaccine ordering and management system delayed

The roll-out of the Ocean State Management of State-Supplied Immunizations System (OSMOSSIS) has been delayed one week. OSMOSSIS, HEALTH's new system for vaccine ordering and management, will be live on November 13, not November 5, as had been scheduled. Healthcare providers who participated in an OSMOSSIS training session between October 15 and October 24 will be able to use OSMOSSIS on November 13. Healthcare providers who attended a training session between October 26 and November 2 will be able to access the system as of November 20. An online training will be available in December for healthcare providers who did not attend an in-person training. These healthcare providers will have access to OSMOSSIS in January, 2013. As of January 1, 2013, HEALTH will no longer accept paper vaccine orders.

11/02/2012 09:53 EDT

Influenza vaccine deliveries held

Due to damages and power outages that are preventing the safe delivery and storage of vaccine in areas of the state, HEALTH will be holding deliveries of influenza vaccine this week. Practices that reported influenza immunizations and requested vaccine for the reporting period ending on Monday, October 29, 2012 should resubmit those requests on Monday, November 5, 2012 before 11:59 am.

11/02/2012 09:52 EDT

Support for healthcare providers

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) is working with healthcare providers in the hardest hit areas of the state to ensure that they are able to again provide care as soon as possible. If you have an immediate need at your facility as a result of the storm and have not yet been contacted by HEALTH, please write to website@health.ri.gov

State of Rhode Island: Department of Health

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