PROVIDENCE — Lynne Urbani-Craddock, a former senior vice president of external relations at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, has been named chief executive officer of the Rhode Island Free Clinic, which provides care to adults without health insurance.

“Having worked in health care in Rhode Island for over 22 years, Lynne understands the growing challenges that thousands of lower-income Rhode Islanders face in trying to get health insurance and access to health-care services, especially primary care,” said Dr. Bernard Mansheim, president of the Rhode Island Free Clinic’s board of directors.

Urbani-Craddock said the organization’s services will become increasingly important because “as the Rhode Island economy worsens, the number of uninsured Rhode Islanders will continue to grow.”

The nine-year-old nonprofit organization, in South Providence, is staffed by 225 volunteers.

—C. Eugene Emery Jr.