2025 Impact Targets: Healthy Lives
In Healthy Lives the Foundation's investments of funding, and our institutional investment beyond grantmaking, are aimed at improving health outcomes for Rhode Islanders, providing better care, and lowering costs.
75% of children have a medical home
The Patient-Centered Medical Home is an approach to providing comprehensive primary care for children, youth and adults that facilitates partnerships between patients their personal physicians, and when appropriate, the patient’s family. It is a model that improves health and wellbeing by proactively managing and coordinating care, increasing the use of preventive care and regular screenings, and supporting patients and families in new and innovative ways.
90% of adults report a routine checkup
For multiple years now, roughly 4 out of 5 adults in Rhode Island reported a routine physical exam in the previous year. Regular and consistent (annual) routine health exams are a priority for true health care – preventive care – to identify problems before they start or when they are in early phases, when chances for treatment and cure are better.
50% reduction in health disparities measured by routine care
As observed in the other strategic initiative sectors, disparities exist in health access and outcomes for individuals depending up on their race and ethnicity. In Rhode Island in 2017, just 70% of surveyed adults who identified as Asian received routine care in the prior year. Data for Hispanic respondents was similarly lower at 75% compared with Black respondents (80%) and White respondents (83%). Routine care through regular annual, check-ups is important for early identification and treatment of potentially serious illnesses, lowers the likelihood of emergency room visits and results in lower health care costs.
50% reduction in health disparities measured in maternal and child health indicators
Similar to the data regarding routine care, women and children of color experience poorer healthcare accesses and experiences than White Rhode Islanders. For example, women of color are more likely to have children during teen years and less likely to receive health care during pregnancy. Children of color are more likely to be born early and at a low birth weight, and less likely to have health insurance.
Sources: CDC Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System, the National Survey of Children's Health, and the RI Department of Health/RI Kids Count.