By Felice Freyer
The Rhode Island Department of Health and the Hospital Association of Rhode Island Wednesday launched a website with a wealth of data about the health status and demographics of Rhode Islanders.
Rhode Island is the fifth state to offer a statewide community health website. Called RI Health Care Matters, the portal provides such data as the percentage of Rhode Islanders with health insurance, the incidence of Lyme disease and the death rate from suicide, as well as resources, news articles, and event announcements.
The website is expected to interest health-care leaders and policy-makers; its brochure says "its content is relevant for anyone interested in how to assess and improve the health of communities."