Providence Community Health Centers is now home to its first-ever full-time pediatric hospitalist, a physician dedicated to visiting newborns and parents in the hospital in the days following birth. Dr. Lori Marion joined PCHC in June, assuming this role to ensure newborns and families have the best possible care.

As PCHC has grown, so has the number of children delivered into our care. Dr. Marion joins June Carrara, RN, and community health advocate Yohana Sosa, PCHC staff that has been providing newborn education, recording prenatal histories, and performing other important functions for new families at Women & Infants for years.

Prior to joining PCHC, Dr. Marion held a variety of inpatient and outpatient pediatric roles, most recently as an Associate in General Pediatrics with Palmetto Pediatric of the Low Country in Hilton Head Island, SC, where she worked in an outpatient pediatrics clinic and rounded on newborns in the nursery daily. She completed her Residency in Pediatrics at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA.

In a short period of time, Dr. Marion has learned the special bond between PCHC staff and the families in our care. “Collectively, our patients are so kind and appreciate receiving care delivered with respect,” said Dr. Marion. “I’m proud to be part of a team that strongly believes that everyone deserves great care.”

As the number of deliveries of PCHC babies grows, it has become more challenging for pediatricians to round (visit the hospital to see newborns and mothers) every day while also caring for a growing number of patients in our health centers. While our pediatricians still round, it is reassuring to families knowing that Dr. Marion, June, and Yohana are there to support them.

“Hiring Dr. Marion demonstrates our commitment to the whole care of families by assuring that our newborns have quality pediatric care from the start of life,” said Dr. Beth Toolan, Chair of Pediatrics at PCHC.

Providence Community Health Centers is excited to announce LGBTQ Safe Zone recertification for our Chafee and Randall Square sites. The recertification from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island follows a rigorous application process that ensures we are providing safe, affirming, and inclusive care to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) community.

Our Safe Zone certification for these two health center sites was first awarded in 2019. As a member of the Safe Zone network, PCHC staff is encouraged to discuss and promote health equity for all people, particularly members of the LGBTQ community, through dialogue around reducing health disparities and upholding best practices for LGBTQ care within the provider community.

To earn this designation, providers must have: staff training specific to the care of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people; protection for patients and staff from discrimination based on gender identity or expression; gender neutral bathrooms; inclusive forms and procedures; and a public commitment to connecting with and serving the LGBTQ community. Our goal is to certify additional PCHC Health Centers as Safe Zones in the coming years. Thank you to all our team members who made this certification possible as we continue to welcome all people as patients of our health centers.

The Residency in the Community Health Optometry program at Providence Community Health Centers has been approved for reaccreditation for eight years. Our program is affiliated with the New England Col­lege of Optometry.

The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education conducted a virtual evaluation visit (due to COVID-19) on March 26, 2021. The evaluation is a comprehensive one, with reviews of the program’s mission, goals, ob­jectives, policies, curriculum, administration, faculty, resources, and facilities.

The classification indicates that the program has no deficiencies or weaknesses that compromise the ed­ucational effectiveness of the total program. PCHC is home to the only health center-based optometry residency program in Rhode Island. Congratulations to David Mills, OD, program director, and the entire optometry team for a successful accreditation. Dr. Mills is pictured here with Megan Lusignan, OD, (center) and optometry resident Jennifer Kim Hsiao-Fang-Yen, OD.

The July 29th edition of the Providence Journal featured a front page story about the swimming program for inner-city youth that is organized by Providence Community Health Centers and held at Pods Swimming in East Providence. The program is supported by a grant from the USA Swimming Foundation.

In these classes, children learn the elementary backstroke, how to float, and other valuable water safety skills. There are two four-week sessions of classes, held in July and August. This year, more than 40 children have registered for the classes.

The Providence Journal story, which is subscription only, is linked here: https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2021/07/28/some-providence-children-learning-swim-some-arent/5391533001/

A May 20th groundbreaking ceremony at our Capitol Hill Health Center marked the kickoff of renovations that will allow us to care for another 4,000 patients. At the event, Merrill Thomas, President and CEO, shared his thoughts on what expanded medical services will mean for the community. He also discussed the legacy of the late Dr. John Moran, a pediatrician who joined PCHC in 1973 as our first full-time physician and spent much of his career at Capitol. A dedication ceremony will take place later this year in memory of Dr. Moran.

A number of Dr. Moran’s friends and relatives were in attendance at the ceremony including his sisters Patricia Moran Bombardier and Mary Moran. They are pictured in the groundbreaking photo along with Merrill Thomas, Capitol Hill’s longest serving employee Alex Balon, Health Center director Patricia Terceira, and Dr. Beth Toolan. The new space will add 3,616 square feet to the already existing 8,649 square feet of clinic space and will provide 10 exam rooms (including a negative pressure room with direct access to the outside), a waiting room, team space, a provider room, and restrooms. Renovations are expected to be completed by December 2021.

After 13 months and nearly 10,000 COVID tests, Providence Community Health Centers has wound down opera­tions of the state’s first drive through and walk up COVID testing site. With dozens of locations around the state providing testing, PCHC can now fully focus on vaccinating people in the community.

On May 5th, the testing site’s final day, Dr. Jennifer Hosmer shared about what the experience has meant for the community as well as her colleagues.

This is the first in a new 90 second video series called "PCHC in 90" detailing the people and programs of Providence Community Health Centers.