Official State of Rhode Island website

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services State of Rhode Island

Rhode Island Health Care System Planning Foundational Report: 2024

Background: The Cabinet, Community Engagement, and Data-Driven Decision-Making

The Health Care System Planning Foundational Report summarizes the efforts, findings, and recommendations from the first year of Rhode Island’s Health Care System Planning Cabinet. The Foundational Report is the culmination of the Cabinet’s robust engagement and research efforts from throughout 2024. It compiles input from a vibrant stakeholder process, including the participation of representatives from 11 state agencies and over 40 provider organizations, businesses, labor organizations, current health care planning tables, and community-based groups. Participants were organized into the EOHHS Independent Advisory Council, and then into 6 workgroups. In addition, the Cabinet hosted upwards of 150 experts—doctors, hospital leadership, behavioral health providers, community leaders, and state staff—at an in person retreat in November 2024. 

In addition to the report, the process supported the creation of several data dashboards and visuals for the Cabinet and workgroups. These dashboards will allow the Cabinet and Advisory Council to make data-driven decisions as the planning process continues. These dashboards and visuals can be found on the RI Health Care System Planning Data Center.

Foundational Report Chapters

The Foundational Report opens with an introductory chapter that provides an overview of the Cabinet’s structure, planning processes, sustainability of efforts, and best practices. Click here to view and download Chapter 1. 

This section of the report provides foundational insights into the leading health needs and challenges facing Rhode Island communities. As part of the State's broader Health Care System Planning Initiative, this chapter aims to highlight the critical areas the health care system must address to improve health outcomes, reduce disparities, and promote equity. By synthesizing key data and findings, the assessment serves as a critical tool for policymakers, providers, and stakeholders to understand the needs of Rhode Islanders and the health system’s role in meeting those needs effectively. Click here to view and download Chapter 2. 

The Chapters in this section of the report provide a deep dive into each of the five health sectors identified by the Cabinet that are part of the Rhode Island Health Care System Planning structure. The information in these Sector Chapters of the report – and the efforts of the entire HCSP Initiative – have been fundamentally informed by input and guidance from a series of workgroups that were established for each health sector. 

Click here to view and download an introduction to the sector chapters. 

Click the sectors listed below to view and download Chapters 3-8.

In order to fully acknowledge the Cabinet’s directive, this section includes a review of some of the most compelling interdependencies between and among the sectors that each Workgroup identified, and a summary of some of the key cross-cutting analyses from each sector. 

Click here to view and download an introduction to the cross-cutting themes chapters. 

Click the themes listed below to view and download Chapters 9-12. 

This chapter summarizes the work that the Health Care System Planning Interagency Team has undertaken to obtain consumer input to date and its plan to continue to solicit such input during 2025. An important part of this process will include focused efforts to obtain input from a broad range of health care consumers throughout the state while also ensuring representation from especially vulnerable populations. Click here to view and download Chapter 13.