South County Health

11/25/2025

This Thanksgiving, we’re grateful for our community, staff, patients, volunteers — and especially for the dedicated caregivers who never stop showing up. South County Health Primary, Express Care, and Specialty Care services will be closed Thursday so our teams can enjoy the holiday, except for our Emergency Department, open 24/7 to keep you safe whenever you need us. Wishing everyone a healthy, happy Thanksgiving!

https://www.southcountyhealth.org/services-care/specialty-care/emergency-department

11/21/2025

Please join us in welcoming James Williams, MD to the Emergency Department Team at South County Hospital!

https://www.southcountyhealth.org/doctors/james-williams-md

11/20/2025

South County Health Center for Women's Health - now in Newport. From GYN care and annual exams to prenatal and postpartum care, The Center for Women’s Health in Newport is here for every stage of life.
Book your appointment at 38 Powel Avenue today!

https://www.southcountyhealth.org/services-care/specialty-care/center-for-womens-health/contact-locations-center-for-womens-health

11/20/2025

South County Health’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that, while a definitive agreement has not been signed, the Board has secured sufficient commitments to sign a Letter of Intent (LOI) and enter a 120-day exclusive diligence period to explore a transformational partnership. Though specific details and the names of the strategic, AI, digital, and clinical partners remain confidential at this time, the Board believes that this partnership would be revolutionary, bringing, among other things, the following significant benefits to South County Health and our community:

・The opportunity to remain a non-profit, independent healthcare system in Rhode Island, while gaining access to national-scale capabilities and innovation.
・Clinical and digital relationships with a top ten national healthcare system, providing Rhode Islanders with access to world-class clinical expertise.
・ Digital modernization through implementation of Epic – an electronic health record system that is compatible with other major RI and New England health care systems.
・Deployment of advanced digital and Artificial Intelligence-enabled clinical tools to accelerate quality, enhance patient experience, and personalized medicine through accessible genomics and expansive databases of best-in-class patient treatment protocols, allowing providers and nursing staff to more fully focus on the patient.

◉ Significant long-term capital infusion to assure modern facilities equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
◉ The assurances that existing and future funds raised in South County will remain in South County permanently.

Many of these benefits are unique to this particular opportunity - a model that is focused on bringing long-term resources, digital modernization, and clinical innovation to South County Health — without changing our non-profit status or local governance.

As with all of our partnership conversations, discussions are contemplated through the lens of benefit to the community. Over the next 120 days, South County Health will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of this transformational opportunity to properly assess its potential impact on our patients, caregivers, and community. The parties have executed confidentiality agreements to facilitate the thorough diligence process but are committed to providing further details as they become available.

11/19/2025

November is Diabetes Awareness Month!
Diabetes is a long-term condition in which the body has difficulty using glucose (sugar) from food for energy, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. This occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin— the hormone that helps glucose enter the cells— or when the body cannot use insulin effectively. If not well managed, diabetes can gradually cause serious complications involving the heart, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.

Common Signs and Symptoms:
Frequent urination
Extreme thirst
Unexplained weight loss
Fatigue or irritability
Blurred vision
Increased hunger

When to Seek Medical Help:
If a person shows multiple symptoms above, contact your provider immediately.
If a person is vomiting, has rapid breathing, fruity-smelling breath, or appears very ill, seek emergency care immediately.

Have questions? Speak with your provider today! https://www.southcountyhealth.org/services-care/primary-care

11/19/2025

Lace up, South County! 🏃‍♂️
We’re proud to once again partner with our friends at Mews Tavern for the annual Gear ‘N’ Beer 5K Road Race on Sunday, November 23, 2025.

With more than 2,000 runners, families, and supporters expected, this community favorite fills up fast — and Friday is the LAST DAY for online registration! Don’t miss your chance to secure a spot, your race shirt, and access to the post-race buffet, beer & cider, and an incredible raffle.

👉 Online registration closes Friday, 11/21.
👉On-site Registration & Bib Pick up - Saturday, November 22nd 12:00-3:00pm
👉 No day-of registration will be available.

We look forward to cheering you on for another fun, energetic, and meaningful race day. See you at the starting line! 🏅

We are getting dangerously close to selling out our road race! Get yours today or chance missing out on this great event!! There will be no additional bibs available once we hit our limit so don’t say we didn’t warn ya!

11/19/2025

Looking back on National Nurse Practitioner Week, South County Health thanks and celebrates our Nurse Practitioners (NPs) for their essential role at South County Health—bringing skill, empathy, and collaboration to every patient encounter.

https://www.southcountyhealth.org/patients-visitors/patient-resources-tools/expressions-of-gratitude/thank-a-provider

11/17/2025

South County Health reached another important milestone recently, completing our 250th Aquablation procedure — less than two years after introducing the innovative treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

The milestone case was performed by Dr. Arnold Sarazen, with tremendous support from our OR nursing and surgical teams, and marks one of the fastest Aquablation adoption rates in the country, according to Procept BioRobotics. In addition to Dr. Sarazen, Aquablation at SCH is performed by a highly skilled group of urologists, including Drs. Heffernan, Johnson, Lubin, and Cambio.

This achievement reflects exceptional teamwork, surgical expertise, and a commitment to bringing innovative, life-improving care to our community. Congratulations to everyone involved for their outstanding work and helping position SCH as a regional leader in advanced BPH treatment.

Learn more https://www.southcountyhealth.org/services-care/specialty-care/surgical-services/institute-for-robotic-surgery/aquablation-therapy

11/14/2025

Please join us in welcoming Melynda L. Craig, PhD, PA-C to the Express Care team! Here to care for the community with compassion and expertise.

https://www.southcountyhealth.org/doctors/melynda-l-craig-md

11/14/2025

💙 Welcome, Baby Baxton! 💙
We are honored to have supported this family in welcoming Baxton Anthony Brito on November 8. Congratulations to Sam and her family, and to big sister Briella on her new role.

We are sincerely grateful for the kind words shared about our clinical team. Their commitment to providing skilled, compassionate care is at the heart of our mission.

We wish this family continued health, joy, and memorable moments!

11/12/2025

Happy National Nurse Practitioner Week! South County Health is proud to recognize our incredible NPs. Today we spotlight a few team members who provide expert leadership, care, and compassion to our patients, including Beth Hart, NP, Chair of the Advanced Practice Clinician Committee, Diane McKeeff, NP, Assistant Director of Primary Care, and Christine Stout, NP, Assistant Director of Express Care — we appreciate you and all the SCH NPs today and every day. Thank you!

https://www.southcountyhealth.org/patients-visitors/patient-resources-tools/expressions-of-gratitude/thank-a-provider

11/12/2025

🌿 As our Midwife Spotlight continues, meet Kelly Russell, CNM, who brings warmth, expertise, and a steady presence to every patient experience.

Her dedication to empowering patients and supporting families through all stages of care reflects the best of what it means to be a South County Health midwife.

Kelly is currently accepting new OB and new GYN patients at our Center for Women’s Health Westerly location. Call 401-789-0661 to schedule an appointment or view self-schedule options at https://www.southcountyhealth.org/doctors/kelly-russell-nurse-midwife