To the Editor: For more than 70 years, my family has dedicated their lives to taking care of family pets in Rhode Island. From grooming and day care to veterinary services and boarding, we have devoted our expertise and our passion to pets. Those of us who work at the Rhode Island Animal Medical Center and Four Paws Resort, do what we do for the love of animals. It’s not just the family business – it’s a “calling.” more

With the creation of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Future of Nursing, we are witnessing the power that collaboration can have to solve problems in the 21st century. more

After developing a chest cold and breathing problems last year, Susan Alexander went to First Choice ER, an independent emergency room in League City, Texas, drawn by its motto: “Real ER. Real Fast.” more

Many of the top supporters of health care reform in Rhode Island joined in a Providence Business News-sponsored panel discussion on “Health Care Reform and the Insurance Exchange,” held March 28 at the Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick. more

The CEOs of three commercial health insurers in Rhode Island joined the leaders of Lifespan, the state’s largest hospital network, and Coastal Medical, one of the state’s largest physician-run primary care practices, for a March 28 discussion on “Health Care Reform and the Insurance Exchange.” more

If all goes as expected, Westerly Hospital’s sale for $69 million to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital of New London, Conn., will be approved by Rhode Island state regulators this month, W. Mark Russo, the court-appointed special master, told Providence Business News. more

Joe Dziobek, president and CEO of Fellowship Health Resources, has, in his nearly 40-year career there, helped the nonprofit behavioral health care agency grow from $1 million to $33 million in annual revenue, and established several departments, including the Office of Peer Recovery Services, and Studio 35, a healing arts and recovery program. more

Dr. Donald Berwick, the former head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, brought a message of quality improvement to the sixth annual Lifespan Patient Safety Symposium held Thursday evening at the Crowne Plaza hotel. more

One of the first multi-payer patient-centered medical home demonstration projects in the nation, the Rhode Island Chronic Care Sustainability Initiative announced plans Friday to add up to 20 new primary care medical practices in 2013, increasing coverage from about 86,000 to 190,000 Rhode Islanders. more

Through both the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust and corporate coffers, the retail pharmacy and pharmacy benefit management giant reported giving more than $5.6 million in grants to programs across the country in 2012. more