Grants provide $1.1M for health care jobs

PROVIDENCE – Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island and Brown University have received a total of $1.1 million in federal grants to support medical education and training for residents and various health professionals, the state’s congressional delegation announced last week.

Memorial is getting $276,863 to buy equipment for training, and another $272,982 to support residency training in primary care. Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School is getting $260,686 for academic administrative units in primary care, and another $277,769 for residency training in primary care.

The grants are part of a total of $130.8 million awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to focus on health work force training, diversity and disparities. The grants also include $88.7 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“This federal funding will provide a $1.1 million boost to increase Rhode Island’s health work force,” said U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., in a news release. “It will help ensure our doctors and nurses receive the best medical training and patients have access to high-quality, comprehensive primary care.”

“As health care reform moves our country away from the outdated ‘sick-care’ system and places greater emphasis on wellness and prevention, there will continue to be an increased demand for primary care physicians,” said U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, D-R.I. “This federal funding for Brown and Memorial Hospital will help to improve and expand Rhode Island’s primary care physician work force to accommodate that demand.”