A small delegation from Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island (Neighborhood), including Lisa Bonina, Senior Manager of Quality Improvement and Accreditation, Dr. Ottiano, Medical Director, and Angelica Spinazzola, Quality Improvement Specialist, visited Wood River Health in Hope Valley to extend the "Teddy Bears for Kids" pilot to help raise awareness about the importance of testing children for lead before age two.
During the pilot program, children tested for lead poisoning at Wood River Health’s onsite lab will receive a teddy bear. The teddy bear offers children a reward and some comfort.
Lead screening should begin when a child is between nine and 15 months old and then once a year until they turn six. Children can be exposed to lead where they live, learn, and play by putting things with lead dust on them into their mouths.
Neighborhood will work with Wood River Health over the upcoming months to review data and assess the pilot program's impact.
Pictured (L to R): Dr. Chris Ottiano, Medical Director, Neighborhood; Shital Desai, DNP, Lead Nurse Practitioner, Wood River Health; Lisa Bonina, Senior Manager of Quality Improvement, Neighborhood; Alison Croke, President & CEO, Wood River Health; Lynda Greene, CCO & Director of QI, Wood River Health; Angelica Spinazzola, Quality Improvement Specialist, Neighborhood; Penny Palazzo, BSN, RN, MAT Nurse Care Manager, Wood River Health
