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Monthly News & Updates | February 2026 | | |
Elaine Fontaine is a healthcare quality and data strategy consultant with deep experience in clinical measurement, governance, and value-based care. She presented at a recent HIT Steering Committee meeting on how CTC-RI is supporting the state’s transition to ECDE for quality reporting. Drawing on a national literature review and interviews with providers, HIE leaders, and stakeholders across New England, she pointed to key readiness factors: strong data governance, reporting-ready EHR configurations, consistent data mapping and validation, advancing interoperability, and the resource constraints facing many practices.
To translate these insights into action, CTC-RI developed readiness assessments for both Accountable Entities and practices. These tools help identify needs and guide tailored support—from shared education to more intensive technical assistance—so partners across RI can strengthen data quality and reporting infrastructure as ECDE implementation advances, with support from the RI EOHHS.
Read more here.
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Local data governance is foundational to ECDE success. Practices should start by asking: Who owns data quality decisions? How are codes mapped to measures? When were key data—like blood pressure or HbA1c—last validated from encounter to report?
According to Elaine Fontaine, reporting often breaks down because EHRs are optimized for workflow and billing, not measurement. A practical first step: convene clinical, IT, and quality teams quarterly to trace one measure end-to-end and document roles. Looking ahead, reducing burden may require stronger HIE data-sharing policies and targeted infrastructure funding to help practices improve data quality.
Read the full Q&A here.
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🗓️ Upcoming CTC-RI Meetings & Learning Opportunities
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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.
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🗓️ March 17, 2026 | 8:00–9:00 AM | Virtual (Zoom)
The March Best Practices in Team-Based Care learning session will highlight our Optimizing Team-Based Care Initiative. This 12-month pilot worked with nine primary care practices across the state to strengthen collaboration using an inclusive, equity-focused leadership approach.
Led by Kristin David, Psy.D., the session will share practical lessons on building high-functioning care teams, improving communication, and fostering inclusive leadership.
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ECHO® Learning Series:
Caring for Older Adults
🗓️ March 26–May 21, 7:30–8:30 AM
Register by March 20, 2026.
Join the upcoming ECHO® Learning Series focused on geriatric assessment and caring for high-risk patients with dementia using the 4M framework. Hosted in partnership with CTC-RI and the University of Rhode Island, the free, bi-weekly virtual sessions combine expert presentations with case discussions.
Open to multidisciplinary healthcare teams, participants can join individual sessions or enroll for full participation, which includes a potential $250 incentive and continuing education credits (pending).
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📢 Updates, Successes, & Developments
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CTC-RI has launched a new Meeting Idea Submission Form to make 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.
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We’re Hiring: Program Coordinator
CTC-RI is seeking a full-time, hybrid Program Coordinator to help plan, implement, and evaluate healthcare improvement initiatives across the state. This role is ideal for a highly-organized professional who enjoys managing projects, working with data, and collaborating with diverse partners.
Join a mission-driven team and play a key role in advancing quality and innovation in RI's healthcare system.
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Asthma CHW Training Underway:
Submit Your Interest and Sign Up for Future Trainings
Thank you to our trainees in the February 2026 Asthma Community Health Worker training cohort for their commitment to advancing health equity, to our partners at the RI Department of Health, and to our trainers, June Tourangeau and Ámbar Delgado.
Future cohorts are currently being planned—interested individuals and organizations are encouraged to submit their interest for consideration.
| | | | The February 2026 Asthma Community Health Worker training cohort | | 📰 Partners' News & Resources | | | | |
Op-Ed Spotlight: Addressing RI's Primary Care Crisis
Two RI healthcare leaders, Dr. Amy S. Nunn and Dr. Philip A. Chan, outline urgent steps to strengthen the state’s primary care system. In their recent commentary to the Boston Globe, they highlight the need to increase reimbursement rates, expand in-state training and residency programs, reduce administrative burdens, and preserve telehealth parity.
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Investing in RI's Workforce
Brown University is committing $50 million over 10 years to support workforce development in RI, with a focus on healthcare, education, advanced manufacturing, and trades.
Brown will fund Anchor Grants (up to $1.5M) to expand established programs and Innovation Grants (up to $200K) for promising new initiatives.
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New BRIDGES for Older Adults Training
Free BRIDGES for Older Adults training modules are now available! These modules help professionals and community partners recognize early warning signs, respond with care, and connect older adults to the right supports without overstepping professional roles. Build confidence in supporting older adults while ensuring they get the services they need.
Access the training modules at lecomhealthbridges.org.
| | | 💻 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.
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