RENOWN NEWSROOM

Dr. Marie McCormack of Renown Medical Group and Dr. Daniel Spogen of University Health selected as Best in the Nation with 2023 “Excellence in Healthcare” Award from Professional Research Consultants “One of the best I have ever seen.” “Prepared, thorough and tuned in to whole picture.” “Compassionate and listens.” “Wonderful.” “Excellent physician.” Always willing to congratulate successes, answer questions fully and in a way that I can understand and give good advice.” “Exceptional!” “You are knowledgeable, thorough, intelligent and compassionate.” “I love you. I thank you.” These are some of the comments made by patients regarding two Reno physicians lauded by Professional Research Consultants, a national firm that interviews patients following their physician and healthcare visits.  The Excellence in Healthcare annual award honors physicians who demonstrate exceptional communications skills in their clinical practice, as awarded by their patients. Recipients of this award are ranked as Top Performers in the “Overall Doctor Rating” and rank in the 100th percentile nationally. Over 3 million patients responded to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CG-CAPHS) or Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems patient experience survey in 2022. “We at Renown Health are so proud of Dr. Marie McCormack of Renown Medical Group and Dr. Daniel Spogen of University Health. As Excellence in Healthcare awardees, every one of their patients surveyed in 2022 gave them an A+. These physicians set the gold standard for excellent communications with patients, scoring in the top 1% nationally,” said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President & CEO for Renown Health. “We are honored that over 500 physicians and advanced practice providers of Renown Medical Group and University Health care for more than 200,000 patients annually at medical practices across Reno, Sparks, Carson City and in our rural communities of Fallon, Fernley, and Silver Springs. In 2022, 17,600 Renown Medical Group patients were surveyed by PRC; 83% of them ranked Renown Medical Group providers as a 9 or 10, the highest rating possible, for physician communication with patients, a key indicator of overall patient satisfaction.” Marie McCormack, MD is a board-certified family physician with an emphasis on preventive health care. She has cared for thousands of patients, from the smallest of babies to golden agers in northern Nevada for 15 years. Dr. McCormack graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and completed her residency at the University of Kansas.  She currently serves as Medical Director of the Primary Care Group for Renown Medical Group, overseeing primary care for 18 medical offices and more than 70 primary care providers for the largest not-for-profit healthcare network in Northern Nevada. She previously served as the Medical Director for the Rural Clinics seeing patients in Fernley, Fallon, Silver Springs, and Carson City. Dr. McCormack has garnered the highest 5-star rating from over 1,359 actual patients and their comments can be read on the Renown “Find a Provider” website. See video of Dr. McCormack discussing her passion for patient care.   Daniel Spogen, MD is also a board-certified family physician. He has a special interest and emphasis in sports medicine and has served thousands of patients and athletes over his 21 year career with University Health, assisting them with care, treatment, rehabilitation and training so they can return to their sport. Dr. Spogen also served as former Chair, Department of Family Medicine at University of Nevada School of Medicine for over 16 years. He completed his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Southern California and his residency at Glendale Adventist Medical Center in CA. More information about Dr. Spogen can be found at https://www.renown.org/find-a-doctor/daniel-spogen.  “It is an honor to recognize Marie McCormack, MD, and Daniel Spogen, MD, of Renown Health with the Excellence in Healthcare Awards for their deserving work,” said Joe M. Inguanzo, Ph.D., President and CEO of PRC. “It takes true dedication and determination to achieve this level of excellence in healthcare and Renown has shown their commitment to making their hospital and medical practices a better place to work, a better place to practice medicine, and a better place for patients to be treated.” To learn more about healthcare services or to schedule an appointment with a Renown Medical Group or University Health provider, visit mychart.renown.org or call our agents available by phone- Wed-Fri: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sat-Sun: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., at 775-982-5000. Renown Health is hiring! To join the Renown Health team visit www.renown.org/careers. To learn more about the 2022 Excellence in Healthcare Awards, including eligibility and criteria, visit PRCCustomResearch.com.  About PRC PRC, a leader in the healthcare intelligence space with the most comprehensive healthcare discovery platform, is taking surveys to a new level. PRC’s surveys and intuitive reporting focus on changing the way organizations manage and improve five key areas of the healthcare experience—patient, physician, employee, community, and brand. Over 2,800 healthcare organizations across the United States have used PRC to listen, understand, and take action to create cultures of excellence. To ensure clients have access to leading practices, coaches, and learning resources, PRC is partnered with Healthcare Experience Foundation (HXF) to accelerate paths to excellence. The PRC healthcare discovery platform is a system designed to drive action, optimize engagement, and increase loyalty while building a positive culture across the healthcare ecosystem. www.PRCCustomResearch.com About Renown Health Renown Health is Nevada’s largest, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination, and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. To join the Renown Health team visit www.renown.org/careers.

Read More About Reno Home to Two of the Nation's Best Physician Communicators

Treatment offers patients safe, non-drug and non-invasive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) therapy to treat symptoms of major depression. Renown Health is committed to improving access to vital mental health services in northern Nevada. Today, clinical leaders at the Stacie Mathewson Behavioral Health & Addiction Institute at Renown announced they will offer repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) therapy for people experiencing Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) under the guidance of a Renown psychiatrist.  According to the National Institute of Mental Health, major depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the U.S. The disease causes people to experience sadness and helplessness, and in some cases, may prevent people from carrying out their daily routines.  “We at Renown are proud of our national reputation as an innovator in implementing new models, technology and systems of care for our community,” said Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, President and CEO. “We are working to transform care and demonstrate value in a way that appeals to patients and helps clinicians improve outcomes and reduce costs. There is now a sufficient body of evidence to accept the analgesic and antidepressant effect of high-frequency rTMS, and we are pleased to offer this promising therapy.” rTMS is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. It is typically used when other depression treatments haven't been effective. This treatment for depression involves delivering repetitive magnetic pulses, so it's called repetitive TMS or rTMS. “Depression can be treated; however, for some people, medications and talking with a behavioral health expert may not be enough,” said Renown’s Division Chief of Behavioral Health, Richard A. Charlat, M.D., M.P.H. “We are pleased to offer rTMS therapy for people looking for a new way to fight depression and for whom other treatments may not have given them relief. We are committed to working closely with our patients to find the treatment that works best for them, so they can live their best lives.” “Nevada has the highest prevalence of mental illness and substance use in the nation,” said Steve Shell, vice president of the Stacie Mathewson Behavioral Health & Addiction Institute. “Combine that with the added stress and isolation many are feeling with the COVID-19 pandemic, and we know that offering patients safe, non-drug and non-invasive treatments- as well as essential mental health and addiction services are more important than ever.”   How rTMS Works During an rTMS session, an electromagnetic coil is placed against the person’s scalp near their forehead. The electromagnet painlessly delivers a magnetic pulse that stimulates nerve cells in the region of the person’s brain involved in mood control and depression. It's thought to activate regions of the brain that have decreased activity in depression. Though the biology of why rTMS works isn't completely understood, the stimulation appears to impact how the brain is working, which in turn seems to ease depression symptoms and improve mood. There are different ways to perform the procedure, and techniques may change as experts learn more about the most effective ways to perform treatments. On average, patients undergo rTMS treatments for four to six weeks, five days a week for about 40 minutes a day. In all cases, a patient’s doctor will determine a treatment plan that’s best for the patient. This video shows what patients can expect during rTMS therapy.    What Does rTMS Feel Like? rTMS therapy is an easy, in-office experience designed to be positive for patients. During treatment, people are awake, alert, and comfortably reclined in a spa-like chair. The first few treatments may cause discomfort at or near the treatment site, however, this is unlikely to last beyond the first week of treatment.1, 2  “The effects of depression can be devastating for the people battling it, as well as for those who love them,” said Stacie Mathewson. “No matter how dark life may seem, always know, there are incredible behavioral health experts at Renown ready to support and empower you as you seek the help you deserve.”  Charles N. and Stacie L. Mathewson established the Stacie Mathewson Behavioral Health & Addiction Institute at Renown in 2018 to expand community access to prevention and intervention services for mental health disorders and alcohol and drug addiction. Renown is working to expand intensive outpatient treatment, partial hospitalization and medication-assisted treatment programs to better serve those struggling with mental illness and addiction. The Renown team is also passionate about prevention, mental wellness and is actively working to decrease stigma and encourage more people to seek the help they need. TMS therapy is cleared by the FDA and available by prescription only. It is commonly covered by most insurance plans. Patients must be referred by a behavioral expert to seek rTMS treatment. For more information and to make a patient referral, please call the Stacie Mathewson Behavioral Health & Addiction Institute at 775-982-5318.   About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally owned and governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown’s institute model addresses social determinants of health and includes: Child Health, Behavioral Health & Addiction, Healthy Aging and Health Innovation. Clinical institutes include: Cancer, Heart and Vascular Health, Neurosciences and Robotic Surgery. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®.   Sources Trivedi MH, et al. (2006). Evaluation of Outcomes with Citalopram for Depression Using Measurement-Based Care in STAR*D Implications for Clinical Practice. Am J Psychiatry, 163(1):28-40 Rush AJ, et. al. (2006) Acute and longer-term outcomes in depressed outpatients requiring one or several treatment steps: a STAR*D report. Am J Psychiatry, 163(11):1905-1917.

Read More About Renown Now Offering rTMS Treatment for Major Depression