A Rhode Island hobo about to produce a medical meal (6)

I believe the answer is:

barium

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'a medical meal' is the definition.
'barium' can be an answer for 'meal' (I've seen this before). I am unsure of the 'a medical' bit.

'a rhode island hobo about' is the wordplay.
'rhode island' becomes 'ri' (US postal abbreviation).
'hobo' becomes 'bum' (synonyms).
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'a'+'ri'='ari'
'ari' going inside 'bum' is 'BARIUM'.

'to produce' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for barium that I've seen before include "Umbria (anag.)" , "Content of meal taken before X-ray" , "Metallic element, Ba" , "Substance swallowed to facilitate X-ray" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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