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Physician News
Monday, February 8, 2010: Welcome Beech Street Members
Renown Health is pleased to announce Renown Regional Medical Center, Renown South Meadows Medical Center, Renown Rehabilitation Hospital and Renown Skilled Nursing are now accepting Beech Street insurance. Members now have access to the region's healthcare leader and the services offered at the four hospitals including the region's only Level II trauma center, Renown Children's Hospital including the only designated Children's ER in the region, X-ray and imaging, lab services and more.
Friday, February 5, 2010: New Pharmacy Protocols
Beginning February 8, 2010, the Renown Health pharmacy will begin using protocols on default pain severity and stress ulcer prophylaxis. Please click here to view the complete protocol for default pain severity and click here for the stress ulcer prophylaxis protocol. Questions should be directed to Adam Porath, Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator, Renown Regional Medical Center at ext. 6838.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010: Dates announced for 2010 Smart Health Connection Screenings
Smart Health Connections and Labratory Corp sponsor monthly, low-cost health screenings at two locations. Click here for a flier featuring dates, locations and screening types and costs.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010: Nominate a nurse for Nurses of Achievement
Do you know a nurse that goes above and beyond to provide the most compassionate patient care? Do you know a nurse that provides innovative
and outstanding patient service? Do you know a nurse whose quality of care is extraordinary? Do you know a nurse that is a role model for others
in the profession?
Nominate an amazing nurse for Northern Nevada Nurse of Achievement at www.nursesofachievement.com. Deadline is January 31, 2010.
Winners selected by Northen Nevada Nurseof Achievement committee are announced at a special ceremony in May. Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement
Committee promotes the profession of nursing by raising money for scholarships, and recognizing the outstanding individuals that embody nursing excellence.
Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009: Trial for enteral tube feeding begins in January at Renown Regional
In an effort to improve patient safety and clinical outcomes pertaining to tube feeding, the Enteral Tube Team, a project of the Renown Institute for Digestive and Liver Care, will begin a trial in January of a new procedure using the CORTRAK System. Renown Regional Medical Center will be the first hospital in Northern Nevada using this product.
The interdisciplinary Enteral Tube Team has been evaluating the use of IV nourishment (parenteral) vs. nourishment that is supplied directly to the stomach or small intestine (enteral) for specific patients. CORTRAK allows a feeding tube to be placed directly into the stomach or small intestine using electromagnetic sensors. The stylet within the tube has an emitter on the tip which sends a signal to an external monitor allowing the clinician to watch the path the tube takes inside the body, avoiding placement in the lung or coiling in the stomach.
A potential benefit of CORTRAK is the elimination of multiple x-rays to ensure proper placement of a tube. In addition, rapid access to nutritional support has shown to lower hospital-acquired infections and help prevent other "never events" such as skin breakdown. Research has also shown early enteral feeding can shorten the time a patient is in the hospital.
The trial will involve 100 patients having this procedure, with tube team members collecting the resulting data. The trial will be tested on a select group of patients including critical care and post-operative patients who need feeding assistance.
If you think your patient may be appropriate for trialing this new device, write an order for "enteral tube team consult" or contact the dietary office at 982-3731, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
December 23, 2009: Renown Health to go Smoke and Tobacco Free
Renown Health, Northern Nevada Medical Center and Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center are working together to make all healthcare facilities in northern Nevada completely smoke-and tobacco-free. This joint effort to breathe easy is a way for all three hospitals to take action against the single biggest preventable contributor to poor health - smoking.
Effective Jan. 1, 2010, all three hospitals and their affiliated facilities will become completely smoke-and tobacco-free. The smoke-and tobacco-free initiative applies to all persons - patients, visitors, medical staff members, vendors and employees. No tobacco use of any kind will be permitted inside hospital buildings or on hospital grounds.
In order to communicate this message clearly, we are asking for physician assistance. Please let your patients know that tobacco may not be used on property. To assist you in helping your patients manage their nicotine addiction during their stay, please view this matrix of medication options and references to smoking and tobacco cessation programs. You may also print this letter to assist your patients in being smoke-free while on any of the hospital campuses.
Dec. 9, 2009: Post-operative notes: new forms make completion more convenient
A reminder to physicians: The Joint Commission requires that physicians complete an immediate post-operative note after procedures. For your convenience, the following Renown departments now have "pink" post-op notes available:
- Surgery
- PACU
- ENDO
- SDS
- Physician Dictation
- Patient Care units
- Invasive procedure areas
For more information, call Sharon Fiola, Vice President of Quality, 982-6901; or Katie Bajo, Quality Department, 982-4799.
Nov. 23, 2009: Update on EMR passwords
Based on physician feedback, you will now be able to reset your own Electronic Medical Record password via the Epic Web site. This begins on Dec. 15 and will require a one-time setup. Once the change takes place, it will eliminate the need to call the Renown Help Desk to reset passwords. Downloadable instructions on resetting your password can be found here.
Oct. 29, 2009: Update on EMR Physician Classroom Training
EMR Physician Classes are offered weekly on a rotating schedule at Renown Regional Medical Center in the IR Training Center (lower level Sierra Tower).
1st Monday of each month: 8:30-10:30 a.m.
2nd Tuesday of each month: 3-5 p.m.
3rd Wednesday of each month: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
4th Thursday of each month: 12:30-2:30 p.m.
**excludes holidays
Directions within Renown Regional Medical Center to classroom:
From the Sierra Tower Elevators on the Lower Level take the hallway heading west towards the Kirman exit by the Physician parking lot. Take the North/South hallway North, go through the double doors at the end. Follow the hallway (left) around, directly across from the HIM Permanent File Room (HUT) is the entrance to the Information Resources Training Center.
EMR Support at the Renown Regional Physician Lounge will be provided from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., according to the schedule below. An Information Resources EMR team member will be available during this time to answer questions:
Monday Nov. 2, Thursday Nov. 5
Tuesday Nov. 10, Friday Nov. 13
Tuesday Nov. 17, Thursday Nov. 19
Wednesday Nov. 25
Monday Nov. 30, Friday Dec. 4
Tuesday Dec. 8, Thursday Dec. 10
Monday Dec. 14, Wednesday Dec. 16
Tuesday Dec. 22
Tuesday Dec. 29
If you should have any questions regarding EMR training, please contact one of our IR training team members:
Daphne Moller, EMR Training Coordinator: 775-982-6626
Michelle Cravey, IR Education Supervisor: 775-982-4438
October 8, 2009: CMS Medicare Notification
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has directed Medicare contractors to notify all sole proprietor physicians and non-physician practitioners of their reporting responsibilities with a one-time mailing. Contractors must complete this mailing to physicians, who are sole proprietors, by November 30, 2009, and to sole proprietor non-physician practitioners by December 31, 2009.
Physicians need to review the mailing and ensure that they have complied with the reporting responsibilities. For more information on this upcoming mailing from Medicare contractors, click here.
October 2, 2009: Updates on Influenza and H1N1 vaccines
Influenza vaccines are in limited supply, so be sure to get your flu shot early. Physcians can also get a flu shot at Renown Occupation Health:
975 Ryland St., Suite 102
Monday - Friday
7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Call 982-4754 to check availability of the influenza vaccine before stopping by.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a great resource for information on the H1N1 virus if you or your patients have questions. Click on the links below to get the lastest information:
CDC Web site
State and County information
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