Care Before The Call

Brought to you by the

Central Falls Office on Health

What is Care Before the Call™?

Care Before the Call™ was created to help 911 work better in Central Falls by educating residents on differences between emergency vs. non-emergency needs, while informing them of health care resources available in the city. It encourages proactive behavior, such as using Express Care Centers or scheduling regular check-ups with a family doctor, in hopes of addressing health care needs for individuals—and the community as a whole—before they require emergency care.

Why is it important?

Unnecessary 911 calls in the Central Falls community can stretch City resources and potentially compromise quality emergency care for those who truly need it. When individuals embrace Care Before the Call™ and become active participants in their personal health using available resources, such as family doctors at the Blackstone Valley Neighborhood Health Station, we hope to reduce the number of unnecessary 911 calls in the City of Central Falls as we work towards becoming the healthiest community in Rhode Island.

Who’s behind the campaign?

The Central Falls Office on Health is charged with helping Central Falls to become the healthiest city in Rhode Island. In coordination with several groups within our closely-knit community, we work to make sure all residents of Central Falls get the health services they need, and that those health services are effective at improving the health of everyone in the city. Since its establishment by Mayor James Diossa in April of 2016, the Office on Health has assisted both the Mayor and the City Council in making health related decisions for the community.

James Diossa

Central Falls Mayor

Mayor James A. Diossa was born and raised in Central Falls of immigrant parents from Colombia. Concerned by the direction his city was heading in, due to in part by the fact that many young people were leaving their city in search of better opportunities elsewhere, James decided to get involved in the wellbeing of the city. He was elected to city council in 2009 and Mayor of Central Falls in 2012. He believ...Read More

Maria Rivera

City Council President

Maria Rivera is currently the first female and Latina City Council President in the City of Central Falls, earning this position in her second term as a council member. She is a graduate of the Rhode Island Latina Leadership Institute and has served on the Board of the Learning Community Charter School, the Central Falls Board of Canvassers and the Central Falls Planning Board. She currently serves on the b...Read More

Raymond J. Lavoie

Executive Director, BVCHC

Raymond J. Lavoie has nearly 30 years of experience in community health, all of which has been with Blackstone Valley Community Health Care, Inc (BVCHC), an FQHC serving Pawtucket and Central Falls, RI. He has held the position of Executive Director since December 1999. Mr. Lavoie previously served as the Associate Director at BVCHC for six years and as the Finance Director for three years. Mr. Lavoie has o...Read More

America Foster, MD

BVCHC Provider

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Cristina Pacheco, MD

BVCHC Provider

David Sam, MD

BVCHC Provider

Michael Fine, MD

Chief Health Strategist

Michael Fine, MD is a writer, a community organizer, a family physician, and a public health provocateur. He is the Chief Health Strategist to Mayor James Diossa and the City of Central Falls, Rhode Island, and Senior Clinical and Population Health Services Officer of Blackstone Valley Community Health Care, Inc., which together opened the first Neighborhood Health Station in the US, in February of 2019. He...Read More

Deborah Navarro

Community Health Coach

Deborah Navarro, Central Falls native is the lead Community Health worker for the CF Office on Health. As a Community Health worker for the CF Office on Health she is charged with connecting the residents of Central Falls to primary care. Her role in this campaign is informing the community and spreading the word! Deb was born and raised in Central Falls and has seen the city through its ups and downs, as a...Read More

Scott Hewitt

Chief Data Analyst

Scott Hewitt earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Psychology. He is the Community Health Team Manager at Blackstone Valley Community Health Care. He and his team perform community outreach, identify and address social determinants of health, and help bridge cultural and linguistic gaps between patients and health care professionals. Scott is also the Senior Data Analyst for the Central Fall...Read More

Robert Bradley

Central Falls Fire Chief

Chief Robert E. Bradley Jr was appointed to the Central Falls Fire Department on August 14, 1987, progressed through the ranks and was ultimately appointed Fire Chief on January 4, 2013. Chief Bradley is the second generation in his family protecting the citizens of the City of Central Falls and is a lifelong resident of Central Falls bringing an understanding of the community that is incomparable. Chief Br...Read More

Ryan Bradley

EMS Coordinator

Private Ryan A. Bradley has been with the Central Falls Fire Department for 7 years and has been in the position of EMS Coordinator for the better part of the last year. Private Bradley holds numerous NFPA certifications including Fire Service Instructor. Private Bradley was a Central Falls resident for over 28 years and still has countless friends and family within the City of Central Falls. Private Bradle...Read More

Need a family doctor?

Consider contacting the Blackstone Valley Community Health Care to become a new patient. The aim of family medicine is to provide personal, comprehensive and continuing care for the individual in the context of the family and the community which includes annual physical examinations and chronic disease management: arthritis, diabetes, obesity, asthma, high blood pressure and others.

Set up an appointment

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

EMS is for emergencies including chest pains, shortness of breath, unconsciousness, serious bleeding, and seriously broken bones. For most other things, a better option may include seeing your family doctor or using the Central Falls Neighborhood Health Station.

Learn more about EMS
in Central Falls

Express Care

Walk-ins welcome at Central Falls Neighborhood Health Station, 1000 Broad Street in Central Falls. Monday–Wednesday from 8am to 8pm, Thursday & Friday from 8am–5pm. Saturday availability coming soon! (closed Sundays).

Express Care is also available every Saturday at 39 East Avenue in Pawtucket from 8am–4:30pm. No appointment is required.

Learn more about
Express Care

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