|
Monthly News & Updates | May 2026 | | |
Primary care clinicians spend nearly as much time on administrative work as they do with patients. At a recent Clinical Strategy Committee session, Dr. Jane Fogg shared new data and practical solutions to reduce burden and improve sustainability.
Key takeaways: not all administrative work adds value, many burdens are internally created, and meaningful change is possible through redesign, delegation, automation, and team-based care. The conversation is already informing Rhode Island’s ongoing work to advance high-functioning primary care systems.
| | |
📢 Call for Applications: Adult Immunization Quality Improvement Program
| | |
Applications are now open for the Adult Immunization Quality Improvement Program. Selected practices receive coaching, workflow support, peer learning, and up to $17,000 in funding to strengthen adult flu vaccination efforts.
Apply by June 3, 2026.
Review call for applications.
| | |
🗓️ Upcoming CTC-RI Meetings & Learning Opportunities
| | |
CTC-RI Clinical Strategy Committee: Implementing AI in Primary Care: Recording Now Available
Attendees recently joined Implementing AI in Primary Care: Evidence-Based, Actionable Insights, presented by Dr. Atin Jindal, Director of Medical Informatics & Academic Hospitalist at Brown University Health.
The session explored emerging evidence, high-value AI applications in primary care, and practical strategies for building informatics capacity and governance.
Missed the session or want to revisit key takeaways? View the recording and slides here.
| |  | |
Best Practices in Team-Based Care:
Age-Friendly Care and the 4Ms in Primary Care
📅 Tuesday, June 16, 2026 8:00-9:00AM | Zoom
Join the next Best Practices in Team-Based Care session on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 (8:00–9:00 AM) featuring Dr. Mike Ross and CTC-RI practice facilitators Suzanne Herzberg, Christine Ferrone, and Jayne Daylor.
This discussion will explore lessons from Rhode Island’s Age-Friendly Health Systems QI Collaborative and how care teams are integrating the 4Ms: What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility, into everyday workflows to strengthen care for older adults and their care partners.
Registration details coming soon.
| | | |
Free Workforce Training: Tobacco & Nicotine Dependence
CTC-RI is offering a free two-part, in-person training series designed to help healthcare and community professionals confidently address tobacco and nicotine use. Participants will build practical skills in screening, counseling, nicotine dependence, and motivational interviewing strategies with special attention to supporting pregnant and postpartum individuals.
Trainings include CEU/CME opportunities, a $50 participation stipend, and are limited to 25 participants per session.
Questions? Contact Der Kue at dkue@ctc-ri.org.
| | |
Part 1: Nicotine Dependence Overview: What You Need to Know to Help People Quit
This foundational session explores the health impacts of tobacco and nicotine use, nicotine dependence, emerging products, pharmacotherapy options, and cessation resources. Participants will gain practical knowledge to confidently support patients across care settings, including pregnant and postpartum populations. Register here..
Session dates: July 15 - 10AM-1PM | July 29, 2026 - 10AM-1PM at CODAC Behavioral Healthcare in Providence.
| | | |
Part 2: Nicotine Dependence Practicum: Communication Skills for Cessation Conversations
This interactive practicum focuses on real-world communication strategies using Motivational Interviewing techniques to support behavior change. Participants will strengthen skills for addressing ambivalence, reducing stigma, and supporting patients—including pregnant and postpartum individuals—in a variety of care settings. Completion of Part 1 is strongly recommended. Register here.
Session dates: July 22 - 10AM-1PM | August 5, 2026 - 10AM-1PM at CODAC Behavioral Healthcare in Providence.
| | | |
Stay Connected: Best Practices in Team-Based Care
Help CTC-RI keep you in the loop! We’re refreshing our contact list for the Best Practices in Team-Based Care Learning Series. Confirm your information through the quick sign-up form to continue receiving session announcements, materials, and calendar invitations. Those who don’t update their details may stop receiving future communications. Thank you for staying engaged in this learning community.
| | |
CTC-RI's Meeting Idea Submission Form makes it easy to suggest speakers, panels, and topics for our committees and Annual Conference.
We welcome your ideas! The short form takes just a few minutes and asks for your name, email, topic title, focus area, and a brief description.
| |
📢 Updates, Successes, & Developments
| | |
CTC-RI in the Rhode Island Medical Journal: Primary Care Transformation in Action
CTC-RI was proud to be featured in a special behavioral health edition of the Rhode Island Medical Journal highlighting what primary care transformation looks like in Rhode Island.
- From Dr. Nelly Burdette, we see that Rhode Island’s decade of early investment in Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) has demonstrated improved outcomes and stronger team-based care, while underscoring the risk to system sustainability when primary care is under-resourced. Read more.
- From Dr. Liz Cantor, Linda Cabral, Dr. Pat Flannigan, and Dr. Beth Lange, we learn how pediatric practices are evolving through team-based IBH models, expanded roles, and shared learning to improve access, reduce stigma, and respond to rising behavioral health needs. Read more.
- From Dr. Cantor, Linda Cabral, Phos Ivestei, and Brown University Health contributors, we explore how an ECHO® model focused on pediatric sleep is building practical, evidence-based skills and expanding capacity through targeted training and quality improvement. Read more.
| | |
Optimizing Team-Based Care: New Learning Collaborative Highlights
CTC-RI recently led nine primary care sites through a 12-month Optimizing Team-Based Care Quality Improvement Learning Collaborative, funded by UnitedHealthcare. Designed to move beyond traditional leadership models, the initiative engaged entire care teams in structured, practical approaches to strengthen collaboration and drive meaningful practice transformation.
Explore the white paper and infographic.
| | | 📰 Partners' News & Resources | | |
Rhode Island Department of Health Breastfeeding Conference
📅 Thursday, August 6, 2026 8:30AM-3:00PM | Bryant University
Join the annual Rhode Island Department of Health Breastfeeding Conference for a day of learning, collaboration, and connection focused on strengthening support for breastfeeding families.
This year’s program will feature sessions on complex breastfeeding cases, the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, and interdisciplinary collaboration, along with a keynote from Diane DiTomasso. Designed for healthcare professionals, lactation support providers, WIC and family visiting staff, doulas, and advocates, attendees can network, connect with exhibitors, and earn CEUs/CMEs while celebrating World Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Month.
| | |
Nominate a Champion for the Breastfeeding Community Impact Award
Nominations are now open for the Breastfeeding Community Impact Award, recognizing Rhode Islanders who are making a meaningful difference in breastfeeding and lactation support.
This award honors lactation professionals, doulas, peer counselors, advocates, and community allies whose leadership and service strengthen outcomes for families across the state. Nominees exemplify compassion, equity, cultural humility, and a commitment to elevating family voices.
Submissions are open through June 26, 2026.
Award recipients will be recognized at the Rhode Island Breastfeeding Conference on August 6.
| | 💻 Missed It? Recent CTC-RI Learnings! | | |
Your hub for recent CTC-RI programs, learning sessions, and highlights!
Find recaps and links to presentations, resources, and recordings from our most recent work.
Click here to catch up on missed content or revisit a session.
| | | | |
