URI, South County Health sign MOU to improve community health, education for health care workers

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – Formalizing a previous relationship between South County Health and the University of Rhode Island, the Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds initiative, the two entities have signed a memorandum of understanding designed to enhance education for health professionals and to advance local communities’ well-being, according to a statement from URI on Tuesday.

“The university’s academically robust programs related to health and health care make it a uniquely qualified partner for South County Health as we work to advance our common goals of educating highly skilled health care professionals and improving the health of the communities where we live and work,” Bryan Blissmer, acting director of URI’s Institute for Integrated Health and Innovation, said in a statement.

In 2016, URI created the Academic Health Collaborative, which is comprised of the colleges of Health Sciences, Nursing and Pharmacy, to push innovation across disciplines in the rapidly changing landscape of population health and health care. The Institute for Integrated Health and Innovation, which serves as the Health Collaborative’s community engagement and research arm, will engage in joint initiatives with South County Health, which includes South County Hospital and three additional community health entities.

URI and South County Health already collaborate on the Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds initiative, which South County Health launched to diminish disparities and improve the overall health of local residents via education, health care and social service. The new MOU formalizes this relationship and offers additional opportunities for collaboration.

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The new partnership is designed to:

  • Design and implement student experiences that advance the education of health professionals while providing service to the community;
  • Seek funding for innovative community health programs that build on collaboration among URI, South County Health and community partners;
  • Enhance educational opportunities for South County Health employees who seek to build additional skills and knowledge in their professions;
  • Identify and pursue clinical research opportunities that engage South County Health patients and the expertise of URI faculty.

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