Care doesn’t always end at discharge. For many patients, the most important progress begins after they return home. That’s exactly where Renown Health’s Home Health department plays a vital role.
Serving communities across northern Nevada, from up north in Red Rock and Spanish Springs to down south in Carson City, our Home Health professionals are on the frontlines of ensuring patients transition safely from hospital to home. The team provides a wide variety of expert health services, all coordinated to reduce readmissions, improve care outcomes and help patients regain a level of independence.
Renown’s Home Health department functions as a bridge between inpatient care and the community. Our team members are specialists at making sure that continuum of care doesn’t break, offering many services with ultra personal, in-home touch:
“Home health is such a unique level of care because we see patients where they’re most comfortable: in their own space,” said Erin T., Vice President of Post Acute. “It’s truly an honor to care for them there. Our focus is improving quality of life and giving patients the tools to be as healthy and independent as possible.”
Our Home Health employees support patients of all walks of life, all ages and all backgrounds.
Patients recovering from surgery? Yes, Home Health helps with that!
Patients managing a chronic condition like heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)? You bet, Home Health is on your team.
Patients healing from complex wounds? Yep, that too.
Patients working to prevent falls? Of course!
“We are in a unique position to enter patient’s homes and provide care in their personal environment — patients respond well to one-on-one teaching without distractions,” said Kris L., Supervisor of Home Health. “We work as a team with therapies to provide a whole mind-body, People First approach, and we include family members in the education and support. Our goal is to increase health literacy, facilitate healthy lifestyle choices and show patients how to live their best life.”
Home Health offers something uniquely powerful to the patient experience: one-on-one care in the environment where daily life happens.
“In home health, we solve problems where they’re happening in real life,” said Jeannette D., Advanced Physical Therapist. “We can truly tailor interventions to the patient and their environment.”
Instead of recreating mobility challenges in a clinic setting, our Home Health therapists work directly in patients’ homes, navigating everything from getting up the stairs and out of the bathtub to walking with balance and talking with confidence.
“I value home health physical therapy because it allows me to deliver meaningful, personalized care in the place where patients thrive most,” said Chris C., Advanced Physical Therapist.
On the nursing and case management side of things, these compassionate professionals develop meaningful relationships with each patient and their family members that foster trust and open communication.
“You’re in the home with one patient at a time; you make eye contact and develop rapport, and then they open up to you more easily,” said Yvonne H., Case Manager.
This personalized model also gives the team the opportunity to intervene on a patient’s care plan early when it matters most, often for months or even years at a time.
“When patients first come home, they often can’t function independently,” said Heidi H., Occupational Therapist. “By discharge, they’re much more capable of caring for themselves. Seeing that progress is incredibly rewarding.”
“When patients tell me, ‘I think I’m done now,’ that’s the best part,” said Rana D., Case Manager.
For the team, those moments reinforce their purpose.
“Home health is the bridge between the hospital and the community,” said Jeannette D. “That’s emphasizing the CARE in healthcare.”
These memories represent something bigger: care that is connected, compassionate and community-centered.
True recovery extends beyond physical healing. Our Home Health department frequently supports patients navigating mental health concerns and social challenges that may impact their well-being.
That level of trust often reveals important details, like medication confusion, safety concerns or caregiver stress, that might otherwise go unnoticed. And for many patients (and their families too!), the difference is transformative.
“In healthcare, we’re moving so fast,” said Yvonne H. “In Home Health, we’re getting closer to the patient and their loved ones. Sometimes, families are overwhelmed, and that’s a big part of the care picture.”
The time spent one-on-one with patients and their family members builds a unique connection that, to these team members, is irreplaceable.
“My very favorite part about my job is sitting with each patient one-on-one, without distractions and hearing their life stories,” said Mei L., RN.
“In post-acute care, you’re able to follow them longer,” added Brittney B., Case Manager. “Going into their home environment and helping them feel well again is incredibly meaningful.”
“The one-on-one interaction is everything,” added Chris C.
By integrating nursing, social work, patient education and transitional care planning, each team member addresses the whole patient, rather than just the diagnosis.
Renown Health’s commitment to our values of People First, Compassion, Excellence, Integrity and Collaboration is reflected in the way our Home Health team operates every day. But when it comes to collaboration, this department takes it to a whole new level.
Sharing assessments, coordinating care plans, adjusting interventions, constant communication — the list goes on. This collaborative model makes sure that physical recovery, chronic disease management, medication education, nutrition support and social needs are addressed as part of one comprehensive care plan. Yep, you read that right: ONE plan. Now that’s expert collaboration — and the team feels that collaborative spirit every day.
That culture of engagement has translated into measurable results. Renown’s Home Health program recently achieved a 4.5-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), reflecting a strong performance in patient outcomes and experience.
But the accolades don’t stop there. The team also earned their American Heart Association Heart Failure certification and shared their successes at a national conference.
“Excellence resonates strongly with our clinicians,” said Erin Toy. “We are proud that our heart failure readmission rates are significantly below the national average, and our quality and patient experience ratings remain the highest in northern Nevada. We hold ourselves to high expectations and continuously look for opportunities to improve. And we know we cannot move those outcomes forward without an engaged department.”
All their successes come back to one common denominator: having a highly engaged team that mirrors Renown’s People First mission and mindset.
“This work truly makes me happy,” said Denise N., Transitional Care Specialist. “Having on-call nurses and a strong team support makes all the difference.”
At Renown, career journeys in Home Health don’t follow just one path. Some began with a cross-country move. Others started right here in Reno in a different unit. Some always knew they wanted to work in Home Health.
Regardless of the journey, each of these team members is tied together by a shared sense of purpose and an appreciation for our health system’s culture of kindness.
“I moved from Philadelphia 10 years ago with my husband; I was working in behavioral health and wanted to transition into the acute side of healthcare,” said Erin Toy. “Renown has such a great approach to patient care and to taking care of our own people. This is an organization where you can share ideas and recommendations, and people genuinely take them seriously. They want to hear what you think and what opportunities you see.”
“I started at Washoe Medical Center (now Renown Health) almost 21 years ago and have been with Home Health ever since,” added Denise N. “I had been working in healthcare in California and planning a move to Nevada when I saw opportunities at Washoe. They had a lot of openings, and I’m happy I landed here. Everybody has always been wonderful.”
“My background is in intensive care unit (ICUs), and Renown has excellent ICUs for both pediatrics and adults,” added Yvonne H. “After becoming ill, I made the decision to change specialties and move into Home Health. What has kept me here is the excellent teamwork and collaboration across all modalities — therapy, nursing, social workers, nurse managers and supervisors. I feel appreciated here. Our supervisors are always open to talking with us, and communication is very open.”
If you have a passion for caring for patients right where they are, you’re in luck – Renown's Home Health team is hiring people just like you.
Home Health is a place where you’re trusted to work independently, supported by a collaborative team, encouraged to share your ideas and given the time to truly connect with patients. According to this team, if you are an adaptable and compassionate clinician, you will thrive in this department.
“Flexibility is key,” said Jeannette D. “You may walk in with a plan, but situations change. Being able to adapt while still creating positive outcomes, and taking care of yourself, is important.”
“In patients’ homes, no two environments are the same, so adaptability and confidence are essential,” added Yvonne H. “Every home environment is different, and you have to adjust to meet patients’ needs. You’re working independently in someone’s home, so you need strong assessment skills and confidence in your abilities. Building rapport with families and knowing when to follow the chain of command are also critical.”
It also doesn’t hurt to have a bit of a creative mind! In fact, the Home Health team celebrates creativity.
“Open-mindedness matters,” said Rana D. “In Home Health, you have the space to be more creative and approach care from different angles.”
“One of the traits that make our team members successful is creative problem-solving; it’s important to be able to think outside of the box,” said Kris L.
The department’s leader Chelsea V., Administrator for Home Health, sums it up best:
“Home Health employees really get the chance to tap into so many different clinical skills while also developing great relationships with our patients. Our clinicians love being able to take the time for patients to earn their trust, which leads to better outcomes. I’ve seen so many creative solutions come from staff about how to provide care in the home, how to keep people out of the hospital, and how to let members of our community age in place. It’s a deep, personal level of care. I’d recommend Home Health to any employee who likes to think outside the box, appreciates one-on-one time to educate and treat patients, and values a high level of autonomy in their line of work.”
At Renown Health, that’s what bringing expert care home is all about.
