Rhode Island's largest health care system is Lifespan, which serves as an umbrella for several hospitals and related services. Providence hospitals within Lifespan are Rhode Island Hospital, the Miriam Hospital, Hasbro Children's Hospital, and Bradley Hospital. Care New England, the other major network of local hospitals, recently announced its intention to be part of the Lifespan system, pending regulatory approval. Care New England's Providence partners include Women and Infants' Hospital and Butler Hospital.
Rhode Island Hospital is the state's oldest (built in 1863) and largest health care facility. It is the region's trauma center and referral hospital for complex specialty surgical procedures, including open heart surgery, kidney transplants, and non-invasive procedures performed with the gamma knife—one of only 20 in the world. Hasbro Children's Hospital, named in recognition of a major financial gift by the Rhode Island-based toy manufacturer, is an 87-bed child- and family-centered pediatric medical facility. HCH is the region's referral hospital for complex pediatric cases. The Miriam Hospital was founded by the Jewish community in 1926 and is the major teaching affiliate of Brown University. Its research programs include studies in cardiovascular disease, shock and trauma, and behavioral disorders. St. Joseph Health Service, the state's only Roman Catholic hospital, offers a complete range of acute inpatient and outpatient care, specializing in ambusurgery, orthopedic neurosurgery, and maternity services.
Women and Infants' Hospital is the eleventh largest hospital in the country for obstetrics, with over 9,700 births in 2003. It is home to several centers for clinical care and research including the Breast Health Center, the Program in Women's Oncology, and the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology. Butler Hospital is the only psychiatric and substance abuse hospital in the state offering short-term specialty programs for children, adolescents, and adults. In 2004 it was named by US News & World Report as one of the top 30 psychiatric hospitals in the country.
Roger Williams Medical Center is noted for its oncology, bone marrow transplant, and clinical pharmacology research programs. The 220-bed acute-care hospital also operates the Roger Williams-Edgehill Substance Abuse Treatment Center, and has taken its services to the community with affiliations into extended care and assisted living facilities. The U.S. Veterans Medical Center is also located in Providence.
Brown University currently has affiliations with six Providence Hospitals: Rhode Island, Miriam, Bradley, New England Medical Center, Womens and Infants', and Butler. There is no Brown University-owned hospital.