The fast-spreading Delta variant of the coronavirus which emerged in Rhode Island just a few weeks ago is raising alarms in other parts of the country with lower vaccination rates. Nationally, the Delta variant makes up about 83% of new coronavirus cases, up from about 50% the week of July 3, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director […]
Lynn Arditi
Lynn joined The Public's Radio as health reporter in 2017 after more than three decades as a journalist, including 28 years at The Providence Journal. Her series "A 911 Emergency," a project of the 2019 ProPublica Local Reporting Network, won the Scripps Howard National Journalism Award in the radio/podcast category in 2020.
A native of New York City, she graduated from Oberlin College and landed her first journalism job at The Center for Investigative Reporting (now known as Reveal) in Washington, D.C., where she did story development for 60 Minutes. When the T.V. market imploded in 1987, the D.C. office of CIR closed and within a year she moved to Massachusetts to take a reporting job at the former Holyoke Transcript-Telegram, a small daily newspaper.
A year later, she moved to Providence, R.I. to work at The Providence Journal. There, she worked for several years as a bureau reporter covering schools and local issues, before she began covering statewide beats including higher education, the economy, housing and health care. During those years, she also honed her skills in narrative journalism, and served as chairwoman of the newspaper’s writing committee. Her work has been recognized by New England Associated Press News Executives Association and the Society of American Business Editors & Writers.
R.I. Eleanor Slater Hospital praised for its patient care in peer report that also documents troubles
Rhode Island’s Eleanor Slater Hospital is providing high quality care to patients but is hampered by discord with its leadership and the deterioration of one of its buildings, according to a report of the state-run hospital released Friday by Gov. Dan McKee’s administration. The peer review of the state-run hospital was conducted by the Hospital […]
One place where Rhode Islanders are unlikely to receive a COVID-19 vaccination: a doctor’s office
The COVID-19 vaccine has been widely available for about three months at Rhode Island pharmacies and clinics, but doctor’s offices have been slow to administer them to their patients. Only 12% of Rhode Island’s primary care offices surveyed offer the vaccinations in their offices, according to data presented Tuesday to the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Subcommittee. […]
Former top executive of Eleanor Slater Hospital resigns
The former interim CEO of Eleanor Slater Hospital has resigned, state officials confirmed Friday. Jennifer White submitted her resignation effective Saturday, a spokesperson for the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services said in a one-sentence email. White recently served as the chief financial officer of the state Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental […]
R.I. receives $7.2 million in federal funds to help replenish the public health workforce
Rhode Island will receive an infusion of $7.2 million in federal funds during the next two years to replenish the workforces of the state’s public health, school-based health, and community-based organizations to continue the response and recovery to COVID-19. The funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease, Control and Prevention is designed to help ensure […]
Top doctor at Eleanor Slater Hospital says he resigned out of fear for his patients and himself
The chief medical officer of Eleanor Slater Hospital says he chose to leave his job because he feels the hospital is resuming practices he said led to “patient abuse” and he fears retaliation for speaking out about the problems. In a four-page letter of resignation submitted on Thursday, Dr. Brian P. Daly, who specializes in […]
McKee administration recommends overhaul of R.I.’s Eleanor Slater Hospital leadership, buildings
An internal review of the troubled Eleanor Slater Hospital recommends that the state move ahead with plans to close one aging building and reevaluate its leadership to restore trust in the state’s hospital of last resort. The 10-page report released Wednesday marked the first of a series of steps outlined by a top administrator for […]
R.I. review recommends overhaul of Eleanor Slater Hospital leadership, buildings
An internal review of the troubled Eleanor Slater Hospital recommends that the state move ahead with plans to close one aging building and reevaluate its leadership to restore trust in the state’s hospital of last resort. The 10-page report released Wednesday marked the first of a series of steps outlined by a top administrator for […]
Lifespan-Care New England could qualify for a fast-track merger
A Senate bill that would have given state regulators more time and leverage to review the proposed merger of Rhode Islands’ two largest hospital systems – Lifespan and Care New England – has stalled in the House. The bill (S-443) introduced by Senate Majority Leader Michael J. McCaffrey, D-Warwick, would have increased from 120 days […]
R.I. General Assembly passes bill to mandate 911 call takers provide proper CPR instructions
The Rhode Island General Assembly approved legislation Tuesday to require that the state’s 911 Emergency Center operators provide CPR instructions and other emergency medical directions to callers in the critical minutes prior to the arrival of first responders. The legislation (H-5629 and S-0385aa) would require that all 911 call takers be certified in emergency medical […]

