WEEK IN REVIEW

Week of May 5 - May 11, 2008

May 7
CARCIERI NAMES DR. ELLEN NELSON SPECIAL ADVISOR ON HOSPITAL MERGERS
Governor Donald L. Carcieri today announced that Dr. Ellen Nelson, Director of the Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals (MHRH), has been assigned to the temporary role of Special Advisor to the Governor on Hospital Acquisitions and Mergers.

As special advisor, Dr. Nelson will act as the Governor’s representative on hospital mergers – particularly the proposed Lifespan/Care New England merger. Reporting directly to the Governor’s office, she will receive day-to-day operational support from the Office of Health and Human Services.

A new director will not be named while the state undertakes a review of the possible reorganization of the five health and human service departments. In the meantime, Craig Stenning will oversee the Divisions of Developmental Disabilities and Behavioral Health. He will report to the Deputy Secretary of the Office of Health and Human Services, Adelita Orefice.

“I’m pleased that Dr. Nelson has agreed to take on this special role, working with the state’s hospital system and serving as my office’s point person on hospital mergers,” Governor Carcieri said. “Rhode Island’s health care system is at a critical juncture. The state’s system of hospitals is facing dramatic changes. In particular, the proposed merger between Lifespan and Care New England poses a number of opportunities and concerns. As this and other potential hospital mergers are considered, it is important that someone is overseeing the process for the state.”

“I want to thank Ellen for all she has accomplished at MHRH in recent years,” the Governor continued. “While this is not a permanent position, I believe it is important that while the potential merger between Lifespan and Care New England is considered, the state provide high-level, day-to-day oversight of that process. As a result, I’m confident this new role will enable Ellen to continue to play an important part in steering Rhode Island’s hospital system through this period of change.”

Dr. Nelson boasts thirty years of experience in the health care field in top executive positions in Rhode Island and other states. From 2004 to 2006, Dr. Nelson served as Associate Commissioner of Massachusetts Department of Public Health, where she was responsible for the public health hospital system in Massachusetts. From 1987 to 1993, she served as President and Chief Executive Officer for Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital. Previously, Dr. Nelson was Vice President of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island, where she led start-up design, planning and implementation of Blue Cross’s first Health Maintenance Organization.

Dr. Nelson has served on the boards of directors for numerous local and national organizations, including Bradley Hospital, the Hospital Association of RI, United Way of Southeastern New England, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, the RI Anti-Drug Coalition, National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems. Health Advantage Corporation – Hospital Network, and PsychAdvantage, Inc.

She received her Ph.D. from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. She also holds a Masters in Social Work from the School of Social Welfare at Stony Brook University, and a B.A. from Fairfield University.

In over two years as MHRH Director, Dr. Nelson achieved a number of important successes. She completed a comprehensive departmental assessment and developed a master plan for the department including a plan for the future of Eleanor Slater Hospital including a facility plan (2007 to 2012). She initiated contemporary management practices and budgetary controls, convened Statewide Substance Abuse Planning Task Force charged with developing a comprehensive five year substance abuse plan for Rhode Island (2009 to 2014). She also secured increased funding to for substance abuse services, including $8.1 million in federal funds.

May 9
GOVERNOR LAUNCHES 6-MONTH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY CHALLENGE TO HELP RHODE ISLANDERS GET ACTIVE AND HEALTHY
Challenge is Part of Carcieri’s “Healthy Weight in 2008” Campaign.

As part of his continuing effort to improve the health and quality of life of all Rhode Islanders, Governor Carcieri today kicked off a physical activity challenge designed to educate Rhode Islanders about the importance of physical activity for good health, disease prevention, and well-being. The “Millions of Minutes” program encourages Rhode Islanders to walk or exercise 30 minutes a day 5 days a week, while allowing them to track their progress on Governor Carcieri’s “Healthy Weight in 2008” website (www.healthyweightin2008.ri.gov). Individual number will be automatically added to a running statewide total of exercise time that is expected to total millions of minutes by November.

The kick-off event included a speaking program at Rhode Island College’s Recreation Center, followed by a community walk around the indoor track at 10:15 a.m. Governor Carcieri was joined at the kick-off by special guest speaker Gary Marino, the Massachusetts resident and healthy weight advocate who started a 2004 Florida-to-Boston “Million Calorie March” at 397 pounds and crossed the finish line 150 pounds lighter. Gary has since kept the weight off the old-fashioned way: by exercising regularly and changing his eating habits. National coverage of his walk was seen by an estimated 70 million viewers and inspired hundreds of thousands of Americans to set and achieve their own weight management and exercise goals. His personal crusade turned into a full-time mission to draw attention to our nation’s growing epidemic of obesity and overweight. Director of Health Dr. David Gifford also spoke at the kick-off, and Shape Up RI founder Rajiv Kumar presented Governor Carcieri an award for his leadership on the issue of obesity prevention. Groups represented at the event included the State Alliance of YMCAs, UnitedHealthcare of New England, the AARP, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, classrooms from the Henry Barnard School, and individuals from government, health and fitness organizations.

“Rhode Island is not immune from the growing epidemic of obesity and overweight in our nation. This has become an urgent public health problem that must be addressed as a community,” said Governor Carcieri. “Even for those who are not overweight, however, lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating are contributing to chronic disease and higher health care costs. The medical community is now saying that the present generation of children could be the first to have a shorter life span than their parents.”

According to recently updated statistics from the Centers for Disease Control’s Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System from 2006, 61% of Rhode Island’s adult population is overweight or obese.

The Rhode Island Department of Health’s Initiative for a Healthy Weight reports that 37% of children and adolescents aged 6 – 17 are overweight or at risk for overweight, and 51% of Rhode Island adults do not exercise regularly. According to the RI Immunization Program, 18.8% of Rhode Island kindergarten students in 2006-07 met the criteria for obesity.

"After years of being sedentary, I finally embraced the fact that our bodies were meant to move everyday no matter what,” said Gary Marino of the Million Calorie March, the featured speaker for the kick-off. “At 397 pounds, I began walking, weight lifting and eating right and have managed to lose over 150 pounds so far. However, beyond the sheer weight loss my blood pressure is perfect, my doctor calls my cholesterol "unheard-of good", and my once life-threatening sleep apnea has dissolved away into a mild state. I've achieved a measurable degree of health from just walking and eating right, and that's what I want for the people of Rhode Island."

“We need to come together and urge all of our citizens to become more active,” said the Governor. “The growth of Shape Up RI’s team-based program over the last three years has shown that Rhode Islanders are increasingly concerned about their health and lifestyle choices. We must engage all Rhode Islanders - adults and children – in an effort to get everyone more active.”

Throughout the community-wide challenge, Rhode Islanders will have an opportunity to set goals and track their minutes of physical activity through an online tracker on the Healthy Weight in 2008 website (www.healthyweightin2008.ri.gov); log minutes with a tracking sheet that can be printed off of the website; or by recording results through participating YMCAs or community organizations.

“Whether you are seeking to lose weight, hope to maintain a healthy weight as you age, or just want to improve your health and well being, there is no substitute for incorporating physical activity into your life,” said Governor Carcieri. “Everyone can start by taking small steps and working their way up to 30 minutes a day,” the Governor added. “Even walking for 10 minutes a day, and adding 5 minutes to your walking time each week, can put you on the path to good health.”

Director of Health Dr. David Gifford pointed out that lifestyle choices are the greatest single factor determining a person’s health status and longevity. Governor Carcieri often cites a 2004 University of Tennessee study of Amish adults from Ontario that demonstrates the value of physical activity in maintaining good health. The Amish met the Center for Disease Control’s criteria for 30 minutes of physical activity 30 minutes a day most days of the week, with men recording over 18,000 steps daily and women recording 14,000 daily. Their obesity rate was 4% and the overweight rate was 26%. These numbers were much better than rates in the United States, where most adults do not get enough exercise and the average number of daily steps is far below the recommended 10,000 steps a day. In 2004, 31 % of the American adult population was obese and 64.5 percent of adults were overweight.

The Millions of Minutes challenge is an initiative of Governor Carcieri’s Healthy Weight in 2008 campaign, a year-long effort to promote healthier weights, increased physical activity and healthier eating while uniting organizations with a common interest in encouraging those health goals. The growing list of partner organizations include: the RI Department of Health, Shape Up RI, Neighborhood Health Plan of RI, UnitedHealthcare of New England, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island’s Health & Wellness Institute, RI Medical Society, RI Kids First, RI Department of Environmental Management, RI Department of Elderly Affairs, RI Department of Education, YMCA of Greater Providence and the State Alliance of YMCAs, the Worksite Wellness Council of RI, the RI Hospitality and Tourism Association, the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, and Preventure.

Participants in the recently-completed Shape Up RI challenge are invited to continue their progress by joining the Millions of Minutes challenge. YMCA members are also urged to ask their local YMCA for information about tracking their exercise.

The Governor encourages Rhode Islanders to use the resources on the Healthy Weight in 2008 website for tips on how to take steps toward a more active lifestyle. Information, tools, and tips for adults, children and families, individuals with disabilities, diabetics, older adults, worksites, and schools are included on the site, along with information about recreational resources, physical activity, and nutrition. A calendar lists upcoming events linked to the goals of the Healthy Weight in 2008 campaign.

“Rhode Island has a rich network of resources to help our citizens develop good health practices. Just as we are uniting those resources through the Healthy Weight in 2008 campaign, the Millions of Minutes challenge seeks to unite Rhode Islanders in a community effort to improve their health through one of the surest ways to increase our longevity: by becoming more physically active,” said Governor Carcieri.

May 9
GOVERNOR CARCIERI STATEMENT ON NEW STATE REVENUE PROJECTIONS
Governor Donald L. Carcieri today issued the following statement regarding the Revenue Estimating Conference’s revised projection of the state revenue shortfall for the coming fiscal year.

“Like most states, Rhode Island is suffering the impact of the national economic slowdown,” Governor Carcieri said. “As a result, it is now clear that state revenues will fail to meet the projections made last November, and the estimated deficit will be an additional $50 to $55 million.”

“In January, I submitted to the legislature budget proposals to resolve the state’s fiscal crisis in the current year and in the year that begins in July,” Carcieri continued. “My budget proposals included significant reductions in the three major areas of state spending: personnel costs, grants to cities and towns, and social welfare expenditures. Though difficult, these spending reductions were necessary to balance the budget over the course of two fiscal years.”

“I was pleased when the General Assembly largely accepted my spending reduction proposals for the current fiscal year,” the Governor said. “Unfortunately, these new projections leave us with much more work to do. In the coming weeks, I will be meeting with the legislative leadership to jointly develop plans that will resolve the expanded deficit.”

“Whatever course we take, we must avoid raising taxes to solve this problem,” Carcieri continued. “Rhode Islanders already bear one of the highest total tax burdens of any state in the nation. They are also dealing with dramatic increases in the price of fuel and food. This is not the time to ask Rhode Island families to pay even more of their hard-earned dollars to state government.”

“Instead, we must make the hard choices necessary to live within our means,” Governor Carcieri concluded. “I look forward to working with the General Assembly to accomplish that important goal.”

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