Brown University Health: A Comprehensive Overview

Rhode Island's largest hospital system has a new identity. Formerly known as Lifespan, the organization officially rebranded as Brown University Health. This article delves into the structure, services, and affiliations of Brown University Health, offering a comprehensive look at this academic health system.

A New Era: Rebranding and Expanded Affiliation

In June, Brown University and Lifespan announced expanded affiliation agreements, signaling a new chapter for the health system. As part of these agreements, Lifespan rebranded as Brown University Health, commonly referred to as "Brown Health." The public-facing rebrand began in October. This transformation is supported by a $150 million investment from Brown University over seven years. Following this initial investment, the system will make ongoing $15 million annual investments to the Warren Alpert Medical School. Brown's Investment Office also manages a significant portion of Lifespan's investment portfolio, estimated between $600 and $800 million.

Furthermore, the governance structure has been adjusted to reflect the closer relationship. The medical school dean now serves as the system's chief academic officer, and the Brown University president and the dean are ex officio members of the health-system board.

Organizational Structure and Scope

Brown University Health is organized as a regional academic health system, comprising hospitals, specialty facilities, and affiliated physician groups. These facilities are located throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, creating an integrated network of care.

Hospitals and Facilities

Brown University Health's network includes several key hospitals:

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Rhode Island Hospital: The primary teaching hospital of the University’s Warren Alpert Medical School and the region's only Level I Trauma Center in southeastern New England. The state’s largest hospital and the third-largest hospital in New England, Rhode Island Hospital is a 719-bed non-for-profit facility located in Providence, Rhode Island. Founded in 1863 with a donation from Moses Brown Ives, the hospital continues its mission of being “at the forefront of patient care by creating, applying, and sharing the most advanced knowledge in health care,” to this day. Rhode Island Hospital is the largest hospital in the State of Rhode Island, it is the principal teaching hospital of the Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and it is a national leader in research.
- The Andrew F. Anderson Emergency Department at Rhode Island Hospital is the only Level 1 trauma center in southeastern New England. The Anderson ED, serving adult patients, encompasses 50,000 square feet. This state-of-the-art facility features 72 urgent rooms, six critical care bays (each with the capacity for two patients), multiple procedure rooms, and two CT scanners and an MRI machine within the emergency department. There is also an ED cardiac catheterization lab as well as observation units for low-risk chest pain as well as TIA. Other services include 24-hour interpreters, 24-hour radiologist support in the department, 24-hour social work availability, a full toxicology laboratory, and many other support services necessary for a busy teaching hospital. 105,000 patients are treated in the Anderson ED annually, making it one of the busiest emergency departments in the Northeast.
Hasbro Children's Hospital: Located on the Rhode Island Hospital campus, Hasbro Children's Hospital is a dedicated pediatric care facility which includes a recently-renovated pediatric emergency department. The state’s premier advanced pediatric specialty care and outpatient center, Hasbro Children’s Hospital is the pediatric division of Rhode Island Hospital and the principal pediatric teaching hospital for the Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
- The Hasbro Children’s Emergency Department encompasses 12,200 square feet and features trauma and resuscitation bays for critically ill children, dedicated rooms for orthopedics, pediatric sedations and behavioral health. The Hasbro ED is staffed 24/7 by specialists trained in Pediatric Emergency Medicine, and is the only American College of Surgeons’ Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center for Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts, and Eastern Connecticut. A dozen regional hospitals routinely refer patients to the Hasbro Emergency Department. The facility includes 24 individual treatment beds and 4 holding unit beds, 10 “overflow”/urgent care beds, as well as a private family room which is ideal for confidential conversations and participant interactions. The annual HCH emergency department volume exceeds 50,000 patients, making it the second busiest pediatric emergency department in New England. The department is staffed by board-certified pediatric emergency medicine attendings, all of whom are full faculty members in the Department of Emergency Medicine. The Center for Pediatric Imaging and Sedation is located next to the emergency department and, in addition, a radiology suite is located within the emergency department. Both features enable the department to provide patients fast, easy access to radiology services.
The Miriam Hospital: An outstanding 247-bed academic community hospital located on Providence’s East Side. The Miriam Hospital was named the best hospital in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts by US News and World Reports in their 2012-2013 ranking and has received the Magnet Award for Excellence in Nursing Services four times in recognition of its outstanding nursing culture. The hospital is known for its cardiac care at the Cardiovascular Institute, as an award-winning Stroke Center, as a regional orthopedic referral center with the Total Joint Center, bariatrics, urology, and many other services. The Miriam Hospital Emergency Department cares for approximately 60,000 patients per year in 47 beds. Emergency department acuity is consistently high, with an admission rate of approximately 30 percent. The patient population spans all ages, with a significant geriatric component, and socioeconomically reflects the hospital's location in a middle-class neighborhood in close proximity to Brown.
Newport Hospital: Founded in 1873, Newport Hospital began as a 12-bed cottage hospital on donated land. Today, it is a 129-bed community hospital offering a full spectrum of services needed by the community, including an award-winning birthing center, emergency department, surgical services, a renowned rehabilitation center, a wound care program, diagnostic imaging, behavioral health, and community-based practices for primary and specialty care. Newport Hospital is the only acute care hospital in Newport County. It has earned Magnet designation for excellence in nursing three times. The Newport Hospital Emergency Department handles about 31,000 patient visits each year, both for minor problems and to treat acutely ill or injured patients. The ED has 17 beds, 9 licensed physicians, 2 physician assistants, and a full staff of specially trained nurses to triage and provide care.
- Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center
Saint Anne’s Hospital: Located in Fall River, this 196-bed Catholic hospital was founded in 1906 by the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation. It officially joined Brown University Health in October after being acquired from Steward Health Care.

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Morton Hospital: Situated in Taunton, Morton Hospital was also acquired from Steward Health Care and became part of Brown University Health in October.
Bradley Hospital: The only private, nonprofit psychiatric and substance abuse hospital serving adults, adolescents, and children in Rhode Island and Southeastern New England. Founded in 1931, Bradley is the nation's first psychiatric hospital devoted to children and adolescents.

Other Affiliated Entities

In addition to the main hospitals, Brown University Health includes:

Gateway Healthcare: Providing mental health and substance abuse services.
Brown Health Medical Group: A large physician practice group.

Services and Specialties

Brown University Health provides a wide array of medical services, ranging from primary care to highly specialized treatments. Tertiary and quaternary services are concentrated at Rhode Island Hospital, Hasbro Children's Hospital, and The Miriam Hospital, while community and specialty care are offered at Newport Hospital, Saint Anne's Hospital, and Morton Hospital.

Key Areas of Expertise

Trauma Care: Rhode Island Hospital is verified as a Level I trauma center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), equipped to handle both adult and pediatric trauma cases. Hasbro Children's Hospital is also a Level I pediatric trauma center.
Burn Care: The Rhode Island Burn Center is the state's accredited burn program, verified through the joint American Burn Association/ACS verification program. Pediatric burn care is coordinated with Hasbro Children's Hospital.
Emergency Medicine: Hasbro Children's operates the region's only dedicated pediatric emergency department, handling approximately 60,000 visits annually.
Cardiovascular Care: The Miriam Hospital is known for its cardiac care at the Cardiovascular Institute
Stroke Care: Rhode Island Hospital has Comprehensive Stroke Center recertification. The Miriam Hospital is known as an award-winning Stroke Center
Orthopedics: The Miriam Hospital is known as a regional orthopedic referral center with the Total Joint Center
Bariatrics: The Miriam Hospital is known for bariatrics

Institutes and Centers

Brown University Health has established several institutes and centers focusing on specific areas of medicine:

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Cancer Institute
Cardiovascular Institute
Orthopedics Institute
Norman Prince Neurosciences Institute

Academic Affiliations and Research

Brown University Health is the exclusive teaching affiliate of the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. This close relationship fosters a strong academic environment, promoting education, research, and innovation.

Medical Education

The Warren Alpert Medical School is affiliated with seven area hospitals, all within a short distance of the Brown campus. These hospitals serve a diverse patient population, providing medical students with valuable clinical experience.

Research Initiatives

Brown University Health is committed to advancing medical knowledge through research. The system's research efforts strive to improve patient care locally, regionally, and globally. Key research areas include:

Clinical Research: Supported by Advance RI-CTR (Brown University).
Biostatistics and Epidemiology: Facilitated by BERDI (Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Research Design, and Informatics).
Pediatric Research: Conducted at the Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center.
Injury Prevention: The Injury Prevention Center (IPC) based at Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children's Hospital dedicates itself to studying and preventing injuries through community outreach programs, research, and education.

The Brown University Health Medical Simulation Center (Sim Center) is a state-of-the-art 3,000 square foot facility which helps train medical professionals and medical students in specialized techniques through high fidelity medical simulation, in order to minimize medical error in complicated, high-stress situations. At the Sim Center, academic emergency physicians develop and run training curricula and conduct research studies. The Sim Center applies engineering principles directly to the development of improved patient care models.

The Department of Emergency Medicine has over 120 academic emergency physicians who all hold faculty appointments at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and staff the EDs at Rhode Island Hospital, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, The Miriam Hospital, and Newport Hospital. This academic department has a strong history encouraging faculty members to seek and obtain external funding for academic research, and with over $8.5 million in external funding annually, ranks among the top-funded departments of EM in the nation. The Department has nine NIH-funded investigators.

Community Engagement

Brown University Health is actively involved in community health initiatives, aiming to improve the well-being of the populations it serves.

Community Health Institute (CHI)

CHI delivers prevention, screening, and immunization services in community settings. Offerings include:

Semiannual "WomanCare" clinics
Navigation for colorectal cancer screening
Adult flu clinics
Recurring blood pressure and glucose screenings

Skill-building programs emphasize healthy living and nutrition. Youth engagement and workforce-pipeline efforts span classroom and workplace experiences.

Governance and Leadership

Brown University Health is a private nonprofit organization. As of August, the board is chaired by Lawrence Aubin Sr., with Alan Litwin as vice chair. The board membership includes Brown University President Christina H. Paxson and medical school dean Mukesh K. Jain as ex officio members.

Technological Infrastructure

The hospitals use a single Electronic Health Record system (Epic), guaranteeing seamless communication at all levels of the institution. The system provides real-time information regarding patient age, complaint, and other demographics from the time that a patient presents to the emergency department. Numerous Epic workstations, both fixed and portable, are located throughout the emergency department, the Center for Medical Imaging, the Operating Suite, the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit and the surgical wards, as well as within the Pediatric Emergency Medicine office suite and in the Emergency Medicine Research Assistants’ office. Project research assistants use tablet computers to securely screen potential patients and to complete baseline measures for those enrolled. This blend of information technologies permits effective and secure data collection, transmission, storage, and analysis.

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