You’re listening to the Westerly Sun’s podcast, where we talk about the best local events, new job postings, obituaries, and more.

First, a bit of Rhode Island trivia. Today’s trivia is brought to you by Perennial. Perennial’s new plant-based drink “Daily Gut & Brain” is a blend of easily digestible nutrients crafted for gut and brain health. A convenient mini-meal, Daily Gut & Brain” is available now at the CVS Pharmacy in Wakefield.

Now for some trivia. Did you know that Rhode Island native, Donald Panciera, was an American football quarterback, halfback, and defensive back in the All-America Football Conference and the National Football League? He played professionally for the New York Yankees, the Detroit Lions, and the Chicago Cardinals. In college, he played for the Boston College Eagles and the San Francisco Dons.

Now for our feature story:

The numbers tell the story of Westerly Hospital's turnaround and resurgence during the five years it has been part of the Yale New Haven Health system.

Patrick Green, the hospital's president and CEO, discussed strides the facility has made during a recent interview. At the start of Yale's ownership in September 2016, Westerly Hospital posted 2,500 patient contacts per year. The number has grown to 4,580 this year. Outpatient patient contacts have grown from 102,000 in 2016 to 128,000 year. Surgeries performed at the hospital on Wells Street have increased from 280 to 700 per year, and the average daily patient census has grown from 29 to 62.

Green attributes the growth to the Yale system's commitment to the Westerly region through expansion of programs and services, physician recruitment, investments in new medical equipment, as well as in renovations and other physical plant improvements.

Green said: "Everything that we've done has really been following through on our commitment to this growth in Westerly Hospital and making it a viable hospital for the people of Westerly," 

In addition to new facilities, the hospital has added a state-of-the-art hospital pharmacy that meets the needs of both the cancer center and the hospital at large, acquisition of a da Vinci Xi Surgical System robot, and a complete upgrade of the cardiac catheter laboratory. In all, the Yale system injected more than $78 million into the facility during its first five years of ownership.

For more about the coronavirus pandemic, the recovery, and the latest on all things in and around Westerly, head over to westerlysun.com.

Today we’re remembering the life of Ralph Parise. He was the devoted husband of Natalie for 59 years.

Born in Westerly, Ralph worked locally as a union mason for many years until his retirement.

He was a communicant of Our Lady of Victory Church and a US Army Veteran. Ralph was a life member of the Westerly Yacht Club, the Calabrese Society and the Westerly Lodge of Elks BPOE #678. He was also a member of the North End Social Club.

His days were filled spending time with his family especially his granddaughter Grace. He always said "she was his angel from heaven".

He will be dearly missed by his wife, his two children, his granddaughter as well as many nieces and nephews.

Thank you for taking a moment with us today to remember and celebrate Ralph’s life.

That’s it for today, we’ll be back next time with more! Also, remember to check out our sponsor Perennial, Daily Gut & Brain, available at the CVS on Main St. in Wakefield!

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