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3 Unexpected Perks of Choosing a Hometown Health Plan
© AndreyPopov via Canva.com Becoming a Hometown Health plan member opens you up to the largest provider network in our region. As northern Nevadaâs only not-for-profit health insurance company, the hometown advantage goes beyond your health coverage â and you may not be using all the perks available to you. Here are three benefits that Hometown Health is proud to offer all members to enhance wellbeing and connect the dots between healthcare and technology. MyChart MyChart is Renown Health's and Hometown Healthâs secure online member portal that gives you direct access to your health and benefit information. From 24/7 access to your benefits and important documents to scheduling an appointment with your provider, this free tool is a great way to keep track of your familyâs health. If you have a Renown primary care provider, you can use MyChart to: Securely email your healthcare provider. Get your test results faster and view your After Visit Summaries. Request prescription refills. Schedule and check-in for appointments. Pay your bill. Request your medical records and review immunization records. Manage designated health care agents and upload end-of-life documents, such as advance directives and a living will. View or download your documents: Member ID Card, Summary of Care, Explanation of Benefits, Referrals and Authorizations. Get in touch with our Customer Engagement Center. Telehealth Virtual visits have never been easier thanks to Renown Telehealth and Teladoc. These two tools are convenient options that allow members to be seen by a qualified doctor via phone or video chat who can diagnose, recommend treatment and prescribe medication for many non-emergent medical conditions â no matter where you are. Some of the health issues your virtual provider can treat include:  Cold and flu Allergies Sore throat Sinus infection Respiratory infection Stomach bug Ear infection Urinary tract infection Both Renown Telehealth and Teladoc are also staffed with specialists in behavioral health, where you can speak with a therapist or psychiatrist on a wide variety of issues, including: Stress and anxiety Depression Trauma Grief Burnout Medication management Renown is also proud to offer access to top-level specialty care to address your ongoing condition and help guide you through illness maintenance and education. Through Renown Telehealth, Hometown Health members have access to a variety of specialties, including (but not limited to): Adolescent Medicine Cardiology Hematology, Oncology and Pediatric Oncology Nephrology Pediatric Endocrinology Pediatric Neurology Pulmonary and Pediatric Pulmonary Sleep Medicine New in recent years, Teladoc is now proud to offer both dermatology and nutrition visits. Teladoc dermatologists can treat conditions like acne, rosacea and rashes, while their registered dieticians can help you manage your nutrition and weight goals. Booking an appointment with Renown Telehealth is easy by heading over to MyChart and selecting âSchedule an Appointment.â To book an appointment with a Teladoc provider, visit teladoc.com or download the Teladoc app. Renown Telehealth is available within the state of Nevada, and Teladoc is available in all 50 states. Your copay can be as low as $0 for each visit; check your plan documents for more information. Doctoroo The house call has returned â avoid long urgent care waits with Doctoroo. Through Doctoroo, Hometown Health members have access to in-home urgent care services at the same price as your regular urgent care copay. A call to Doctoroo will dispatch a fully equipped medical team consisting of an EMT and either a nurse practitioner or physician assistant to your home within a few hours. Whether you need treatment or testing, each team is ready to provide care in the comfort of your own home with their over 60 medications and antibiotics, EKGs, wound dressings, IVs, catheters and more. Doctoroo care teams can address and treat many non-emergent care areas and conditions, including (but not limited to): Respiratory Ear, Nose, Throat Eye Wound Care Cardiac Care Musculoskeletal Gastroenterology Doctoroo is open year-round from 7 a.m. to midnight. Book a house call in minutes in the Doctoroo app or by calling (888) 888-9930.
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How Referrals Work at Hometown Health and Senior Care Plus
Your provider wants to send you to a specialist. Now what? You are about to enter the referral process. A referral is your providerâs recommendation for you to see a specialist or receive specialized treatment. When it comes to referrals, the process can seem like the wild west for people not familiar with it. At Hometown Health and Senior Care Plus, we make the process simple for all our members. We know that access to specialists is a vital aspect of total health, and our goal is to break down those barriers to care at every level.  Here is a step-by-step guide to how the referral process with your Hometown Health or Senior Care Plus provider works: 1.  Your primary care provider (PCP) or urgent care provider will send a referral to the specialistâs office. A referral can also be sent from another specialist or after discharge from the hospital. This is usually done via email or fax.  2.  As your referral is sent, now would be the ideal time to discuss with your providerâs office how the specialist will receive your medical records prior to your appointment. Your providerâs office will most likely send these records to the specialist for you, but it is always a good idea to double-check with them directly. At Renown, the referrals team will send the following items to your specialistâs office when available: ID Insurance card Most recent and relevant office notes to support the referral The referral order Any relevant labs or imaging pertaining to the referral Demographics information 3.  The specialistâs office will call you to schedule the appointment after they receive the referral. Each office processes the referrals they receive in a slightly different time frame, so if you have any questions about the status of your referral, it is best to call their office directly. At Renown, if you are enrolled in MyChart, you can access the phone number for your specialist as soon as the team processes the referral. Those not enrolled MyChart will receive a letter in the mail with scheduling information. 4.  The specialist will start to develop a course of treatment. That may include procedures, diagnostic tests or medications. Some of these treatments may require prior authorization from your insurance plan, so donât forget to discuss how and when your specialist will receive the authorizations before you begin your course of care to avoid any surprise bills. What can I expect if I have a Renown specialist? At Renown, we handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes nitty-gritty so you donât have to. After the referral is placed, it routes to Renownâs centralized referrals team and triaged to make sure you are scheduled with one of our providers with the right specialization for your specialty care needs. This team will also obtain the prior authorization you need and will you to a specialist that is in your network and based on you and/or your providerâs preference and continuity of care. The referrals team will attempt to find you a Renown provider first if you are not yet established elsewhere.  For Hometown Health and Senior Care Plus members, prior authorization is not required for certain services if you are being referred to a Renown provider. This makes the scheduling process go quicker for both the provider and the patient.  Our referrals team strives to keep their turnaround time for referrals within three business days, not including prior authorization wait times. If your referral is marked as âurgent,â it will be reviewed within one business day so you are seen as soon as possible based on the needs of your medical condition, and you will receive a direct phone call with scheduling information.  After prior authorization is obtained, the Renown scheduling team will call you through an automated phone system or via a message in MyChart with a direct link to schedule your appointment. To speak with a Renown scheduler or if you have any questions, please call 775-982-5000. What does prior authorization mean? Prior authorization isnât as scary as it sounds! Essentially, prior authorization is your provider âgoing to batâ for you to receive this specialty level of care. Some medical services, including many specialists, are covered only if your ordering provider (usually your PCP) submits an authorization request to your insurance plan. They will include specific details about the type and duration of treatment they would like you to receive and any medical records that support your need for the specialist. After your insurer receives the request, a licensed medical professional will review the request, your records and your plan benefits. They will decide whether the specialty treatment is considered medically necessary based on recognized standards of care. Where can I go for more information? Your referrals and authorizations can be viewed in MyChart. To view them, navigate to Your Menu in the upper left corner of the page, scroll to the Insurance section and click on âReferrals.â  The Renown referrals team is available to answer your questions and address any concerns. Give them a call at 775-982-2707 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Any questions you may have related to referrals and authorizations, including outside-of-Renown providers, can be directed to our expert Hometown Health or Senior Care Plus customer engagement representatives.
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Department Spotlight: Acute Care Rehab Therapy
Being admitted to the hospital is never easy. Being admitted for a traumatic injury can be even harder. Whether it's learning how to walk again or powering through a new speech therapy routine, recovering from an injury that may affect the course of your life can be daunting. But it doesnât have to be, thanks to the Acute Care Rehab Therapy team at Renown Health. The smiling faces of the Acute Care Rehab Therapy team at both Renown Regional Medical Center and Renown South Meadows Medical Center will make you see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Your dedicated physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech language pathologists are here to serve you and place you back on the right path to recovery and function. The Role of Acute Inpatient Therapy The Acute Care Rehab Therapy team comes in at a critical juncture in a patientâs care process after hospital admission. As one of the primary rehabilitation partners on a care team, these dedicated therapists are here to maximize every patientâs safe and independent living before they set off back home â all while reducing the risk of hospital readmission. âAs physical therapists, we address musculoskeletal deficits and assess a patientâs current function after acute injury or illness from their baseline and develop a plan for functional recovery,â said Kristie Eide-Hughes, Physical Therapist at Renown Regional. âWe also use our clinical expertise to assist with the discharge process and make sure each patient has the best durable medical equipment the first time around, removing the guesswork.â  âOn the occupational therapy side, we work with patients to facilitate their independence with basic life skills, such as dressing, bathing and using the restroom,â added Jeanne Clinesmith, Occupational Therapist at Renown Regional. âIn the pediatric setting, we help babies and kids get back to what they were doing before they came into the hospital,â continued Rhonda Yeager, Pediatric Occupational Therapist at Renown Regional. âIn the NICU specifically, we support the development of babies, trying to prevent problems from worsening. Itâs nice to be a source of positivity in an otherwise intimidating situation.â The role of therapy in this setting reaches all ages, from babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to adults approaching end-of-life care. Every therapeutic approach is tailored specifically to each patient. âTherapy is more of a habilitative approach for infants in the NICU, while it is more of a rehabilitative approach for kids and adults following injury or illness,â said Sara Carolla, Physical Therapist at Renown Regional.  Each team member in the Acute Care Rehab Therapy department is dedicated to each patient, helping them make progress from start to finish and giving them the tools to succeed along the way. âI enjoy the variety of the patients we get to see and the ability to see them make gains from the wonderful treatment they get in the hospital from my team,â said Kelly Schwarz, Occupational Therapist at Renown South Meadows. âWe provide education as each patientâs acute issues evolve,â added Nicole Leeton, Speech Language Pathologist at Renown Regional. âOne of my favorite parts of my work is the patient and family education aspect, and that includes other healthcare provider education as well. Itâs a moving picture.â Moreover, every team member gives each patient tools to learn how to be themselves again and empowers them to continue striving for the best possible result of their therapy âWe get the opportunity to make a personâs bad experience in life better even by spending one session with them, giving them the keys to unlock something that they didnât think they had the ability to do,â said Dana Robinson, Occupational Therapist at Renown Regional. On the Road to Independence Our dedicated therapists in the Acute Care Rehab Therapy team set the stage for a patientâs recovery process after trauma, showing them their potential for independence. With a multitude of patients coming into the hospital with many degrees of medical complexity, each day is different while the end goal is always the same: to optimize function as early as possible while overcoming any barriers and paving the way for a comfortable and effective quality of life. âEarly intervention is a big piece,â said Nicole Leeton. âUs seeing patients early can get them recovered and independent more quickly and help prevent future illness and injuries. For example, in speech therapy, getting in early and facilitating communication skills for patients with impaired speech can make a huge difference.â Acute Care Rehab therapists dig deeply to see the whole picture of each patientâs situation to foster their independence â their history, social skills, support system and more. âSometimes, we are the difference between independence and dependence,â said Dana Robinson. âWe are the eyes and ears because we have so much time with the patients. Our team is extremely collaborative and develops a great rapport with patients, so they feel comfortable telling us everything going on with them.â âFor kids, we teach parents ways they can help their kids by setting up their homes and the equipment they need to succeed,â added Rhonda Yeager. According to the team, one of the biggest keys to independence is repetition. A continual flow of getting up and trying again is crucial for recovery. âRepetition helps people regain their quality of life back sooner and control their recovery process,â said Megan Hough, Physical Therapist at Renown Health. âHelping people continue to get stronger and more independent makes my job so rewarding,â added Sam Brown, Physical Therapist at Renown Regional. Knowing that they have made a difference and help shape a patientâs overall development inspires each therapist to never give up, regardless of how difficult an injury presents. There is no set schedule for recovery, and the therapists are always in the patientâs corner. âThis team has the most passionate, caring and dedicated individuals that I know,â said Kendra Webber, Manager of Acute Inpatient Rehab Therapy Services at Renown Regional. They give 110 percent to every patient every time to ensure they have what they need to regain function and independence.â âBy tailoring therapy to the individual, the bounds are virtually limitless for what we can accomplish,â added Dana Robinson. It Takes a Village Since acute inpatient therapy is never a one-size-fits-all approach, it truly takes a village for this team to move the mountains they do for patients every day. These teams are fact-finding masters, gathering all the necessary information from the patient, their family and their care team to figure out their precise needs. âWe are a consistent presence for our patients, identifying a lot of different needs and meeting those needs to help patients grow in their treatment process,â said Kelly Schwarz. âBy collaborating with each patientâs diverse care team, we are able to employ the clinical judgment to help patients overcome physical, emotional and environmental struggles and set them up with the proper resources once they leave our setting.â âOur team has steady communication with physicians, nurses, acute care technicians, respiratory staff, physician assistants, case managers and more to ensure the best possible care,â added Jet Manzi, Physical Therapist at Renown Regional. Constant communication and collaboration are also necessary beyond the acute treatment process. These skills are vital in order to facilitate discharge planning, and the Acute Care Rehab therapists are an essential resource in the discharge process alongside our Hospital Care Management team. âOften times, a patientâs family needs a lot of guidance in helping their loved ones determine the next level, and we help them navigate those steps and the resources available to them,â said Mark Stumpf, Occupational Therapist at Renown Regional. âAnd itâs all a team effort.â âOur therapists are the most committed, generous, hardworking people,â added Courtney Phillips-Shoda, Supervisor of Rehab Therapy Services at Renown Regional. âDespite being short-staffed, we come to work every single day and give everything to our patients. They are the priority.â If you take away one thing, know this for certain: Renownâs Acute Care Rehab occupational, speech and physical therapists will always be there to help patients continue on a positive trajectory to physical, mental and emotional recovery. âWhether you are a patient or a provider, if there is a problem, never hesitate to reach out to us,â said Nicole Leeton. âWe are always receptive to anyone seeking our help.â With the Acute Care Inpatient Therapy team on their side, a patientâs journey to recovery is only just beginning.
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What You Need To Know About Flu Shots
Flu shots donât just protect those who get vaccinated; they guard everyone, including your family and the community. Renown Health experts help us understand why everyone should get a flu shot, including children, pregnant women and older adults. Ways to Schedule Your Flu Shot Call Us! 775-982-5000 Urgent Care Appointments Renown Pharmacy Vaccinations Make an Appointment via MyChart Need a Doctor? Find One Now Flu Shot Information Whitney Robinson, Renown Health Infection Prevention Expert Chills, body aches, fever and congestion; getting the flu isnât fun. When you get a flu shot, youâre not just protecting yourself, youâre also helping reduce the total flu cases and hospitalizations. The ideal time to get your flu shot is September through October. This timing allows the vaccine to provide the strongest protection during the length of flu season. However, getting the vaccine later is better than not at all as it's still flu season well into spring. Flu Symptoms In general, influenza (flu) is worse than the common cold and shares symptoms with COVID-19, causing mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Symptoms include: Fever or feeling feverish/chills (not everyone will have a fever) Cough and/or sore throat Runny or stuffy nose Headaches, muscle or body aches Fatigue (tiredness) Vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults Who Needs a Flu Shot? Almost everyone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers it the first and most crucial step in protecting against the flu virus. Therefore, they recommend the yearly flu shot for those six months of age and older. Does the Flu Shot Help with COVID-19? The short answer is no. However, flu vaccines can reduce the risks of flu illness and hospitalization. Therefore, it is crucial for you to get your flu shot to not only protect yourself and the community, but also to help conserve vital, local healthcare resources. CDC Resource: Who Needs a Flu Vaccine and When Kids, the Elderly and Flu Shots Vanessa Slots, M.D., Renown Medical Group The flu is not a passing cold. It is a serious illness that takes lives every year and it happens like clockwork. The onset of flu season is fall and lasts through winter into the spring months. This lung illness is caused by viruses, with yearly outbreaks occurring worldwide. No one is immune, and anyone can catch to the flu. Flu Signs and Symptoms Quick onset of fever Headache Body aches and fatigue along with respiratory symptoms including cough Sore throat and nose Who's at Risk for the Flu? Children and the elderly are at greater risk of complications from the flu, specifically toddlers less than two years old. At this age, their immunity is still developing. Seniors over 65 are also at increased risk because their immune systems have weakened with age. The severity of a childâs symptoms depends on age and prior exposure to the virus. With young children, for example, the flu is more problematic since they cannot talk and communicate their symptoms. As a result, children often experience higher fevers, which can lead to seizures or convulsions. This can be coupled with issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and poor appetite, all of which put children at risk of dehydration and other complications that can require hospitalization. An average of 20,000 children are hospitalized for flu each year. Pre-Existing Health Issues Ongoing health conditions including asthma, heart conditions, diabetes and more can intensify flu symptoms. Still, many children without risk factors can experience severe flu complications. CDC Resource: Flu Information for Parents Pregnant Moms and Flu Shots Tamsen Carson, PAC, Surgical First Assistant, OB/GYN, Renown Medical Group âDuring pregnancy, your immune system wards off infection for your baby, leaving you more susceptible to infection and adverse health conditions,â Tamsen explains. She  highly recommends flu shots for ALL women during pregnancy. You must receive the injected vaccine versus the live vaccine, a nasal spray, which can cause the flu to occur. Passing Flu Immunity on to Your Baby Also, remember that you will also be able to pass the immunity onto your baby if you breastfeed, which will protect your baby from the flu. CDC Resource: Flu Safety and Pregnancy
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Reliable Care From Home
Renown Health has always been on the frontlines of technological advancement, and that innovation remained unwavering during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our telehealth teams heeded the call to provide home monitoring for our patients, transforming how we provide care. The care providers at Renown successfully monitored lower acuity COVID-19 patients from the comfort of their own homes. Bernard Lee was diagnosed with COVID-19 and pneumonia, and was able to return home to continue his recovery with a home monitoring system. While at home, Bernardâs health took a turn for the worse while he was sleeping, but thanks to the continuous monitoring of Health at Home, his worsening vitals did not go unnoticed. âThis monitoring system really saved my life,â Bernard said. âIt was telling me that my sats were low, but I didnât even feel the common COVID symptoms; I just felt tired.â Because of his low oxygen saturation (sats) and the continuous monitoring, he woke up to providers calling to check on him in the early morning. He was immediately transferred to the Renown Intensive Care Unit to be cared for and monitored by our expert care teams. Today Bernard is recovering, feeling great and continuously refers to the team and the home monitoring system as his guardian angels.
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From Cancer Survivor to Caregiver
Meet Haley Carroll Being a new nurse comes with many challenges and gaining experience is a journey, but Haley Carrollâs first day on the job was far from her first day in a hospital. Haley was diagnosed with lymphoma right before her senior year of high school, and she was declared cancer-free on December 2, 2015. Inspired by the incredible care she received during her cancer treatments and during her time at Renown Childrenâs Hospital, Haley enrolled in nursing school at the University of Nevada, Reno. She graduated in December 2020, just five years after beating cancer. âIâve always been interested in nursing,â Haley says. âBut once I was diagnosed and began to see everything that my nurses did for me, I knew that thatâs what I wanted to do for patients, too.â
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A Family's Legacy
Dr. Derek Beenfeldt first joined the Renown family in 2014 as a family medicine physician after graduating from University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine (UNR Med) in 2011. His son Davis was only 10 years old when Dr. Beenfeldt decided to change careers and attend medical school. Ten years later, Davis is following in his dadâs footsteps as a third year student at UNR Med. âI am proud of Davis for taking on the challenges and the commitment that I know goes along with attending medical school,â Dr. Beenfeldt said. âI also feel lucky that we have a medical school with such a great reputation and resources close to home.â The affiliation is a great source of pride for Dr. Beenfeldt. Not just because two important organizations in his life are joining forces, but he also sees it as both entities taking on an immense responsibility â the challenge to be better for incoming students, and subsequently to improve healthcare in Nevada. Davis is currently going through his rotations and spending countless hours a week at Renown Regional. His dad is right there by his side supporting him along the way. âIt has been really interesting to have discussions about the UNR medical school with Davis, I recognize the names of many of the professors and courses from when I was a student,â Dr. Beenfeldt said. âI tried to be empathetic, as I can relate to how difficult and stressful this time is for him. Dr. Beenfeldt currently works as chief medical officer for Renownâs insurance arm Hometown Health, and Davis is still browsing specialties. âI donât know what kind of medicine I want to focus on yet, but I feel lucky that I can attend medical school so close to home and have the option to continue helping my fellow Nevadans after I graduate.â UNR Med at a Glance UNRâs Medical School was established in 1969 Over the last 50 years, UNR Med has educated 3,900+ physicians More than 30% of UNR Med physician graduates continue to practice in Nevada UNR Med is the stateâs oldest medical school
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The Road to Recovery Close to Home
Meet Connor Smith Life was hectic for Connor Smith. He had just finished at the top of his class at both the fire academy and paramedic school and was looking forward to starting work in northern Nevada. It was winter 2019, and he was ready to have some fun. The plan was to ride ATVs at Sand Mountain with his brother Cody, dad Lance and some friends, but a jump would change everything. Connorâs ATV took off but landed awkwardly, and he remembers immediately knowing he was paralyzed. Connorâs mom, Dana Shugar, was at home when she received the upsetting call from Cody, who told her he had an accident. Connor was flown to Renown Regional Medical Center, the areaâs only Level II Trauma Center. After a seven-hour emergency surgery, Dana learned that Connor would live but only had a slight chance of walking again due to a spinal fracture. âThe surgeon saved his life. Itâs amazing how your life can change in a matter of seconds,â she said. Once his condition stabilized, Connor moved to the Renown Rehabilitation Hospital and began physical rehabilitation. âThank God for the people at rehab,â Dana said. âDr. Pence, the therapists, nurses and all the employees were a wonderful support system, explaining everything and answering all our questions. The kindness they showed got me through.â Connor agrees, calling the Renown rehab team nothing short of amazing.
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MyChart Proxy Access
What is Proxy Access? Proxy access allows parents, legal guardians and caregivers to log into their personal MyChart account and connect to the health information of a patient they represent. As a proxy, you can view upcoming appointments, request appointments, view lab results, email a doctor on the patientâs behalf, view medications, request prescription refills and view health reminders. How Do I Establish Proxy Access? Login to your MyChart account with your username and password Go to the Profile menu at the top of the screen, then select Personalize From this screen you can see whose records you currently have access to Click Request Access to a minorâs chart Complete all of the fields When finished click Submit Request What if I Donât Have a Renown MyChart Account? If you donât have a Renown MyChart account, call 775-982-2781Â and someone from the Renown Health MyChart team can help you set up proxy access. Keep in mind, the ability to request proxy access is only available on the MyChart website and not via the mobile app. However, the website can be accessed with your smartphone or tablet by using the web browser and going to mychart.renown.org.
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Stroke Survival as a Warrior â Kimi's Story
It seemed like a normal Wednesday, except Kimi Woolsey was feeling really stressed. On Sept. 4, 2019 she was rushing to get ready for an appointment when suddenly, she could not feel her legs. Kimi immediately knew something was wrong and called out to her fiancĂ©, Paul, for help. After seeing a bright light in her right eye, she felt a severe, sharp pain in her head traveling down into her leg. Paul quickly called 911, the EMTâs arrived and her stroke survival journey began. At first the medical team thought she had a complicated migraine, but one of them suspected a stroke. On the way to the hospital Kimi felt numbness and her face drooping, then instantly, no pain. For a moment she thought she was dying, going from pain to numbness and realizing she couldnât move or speak. Kimi didnât know she was having another massive stroke in transit. Each year nearly 800,000 people in the U.S. suffer a stroke, or âbrain attackâ â thatâs one every 40 seconds. Of those, about 75% occur in people over age 65. However, at only 45 years old, Kimi is proof that a stroke can happen at any age. Stroke Survival Begins for Kimi Upon arriving at the emergency department of Renown Regional Medical Center the Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center team went into action. Kimi received a brain MRI, then was wheeled into surgery for a thrombectomy (clot removal). She was in the intensive care unit for 11 days. She remembers someone telling her, âGenerally people donât survive this magnitude of stroke.â And a doctor saying, âYou are here for a reason.â Kimiâs comeback journey began with the comprehensive care team at Renown Rehabilitation Hospital. âLiterally I had the best day of my life that first day thereâŠI was so happy because I couldnât imagine being in a safer place with people that literally live for you,â she recalls. During her 41 days there, her biggest milestone was being able to get out of bed and walk. For Kimi the support she felt at the rehab hospital was key to her progress, âI still feel loved and appreciated and theyâre rooting for me still and I can feel it.â Although she left the rehab hospital on Oct. 18, 2019, she is still working on improving the left side of her body. Currently Kimi works with therapists in outpatient physical rehabilitation sessions, continuing to see improvement in both her hand and leg. Her advice to those currently in a rehab hospital setting is, âStay as long as you can to get the most out of it and push, push, push.â Kimiâs Stroke Survival as a Warrior âHaving a stroke is not for the faint of heart,â says Kimi. She experienced despair and felt discouraged. Many days she would ask herself, âWhy am I here?â Today she proudly calls herself a stroke warrior and refuses to be a victim of her stroke. Alongside her tenacious spirit, Kimi actively helps others on their stroke survival journey. Before her stroke she never dreamed of starting a non-profit foundation. Now, each day youâll find her texting inspiration to others, offering advice and connecting with other struggling stroke survivors on her Facebook page, Stroke Warrior Recovery Coach. Her goal is to become the person she needed to talk to after her stroke; she currently coaches several stroke survivors. âStroke survivors need to know that they arenât alone. Mental support and encouragement are so important for each personâs stroke journey,â Kimi said. Along with the physical changes, Kimi feels the stroke magnified her empathy. âI was always in a hurry in my life. People didnât go fast enough for me â on the road, at the grocery store, in a line. Now I have more patience with myself and others." Kimi realizes most people cannot wrap their brain around the concept of a stroke. In fact, the brain fog, physical challenges and frustration are hard to explain⊠unless youâve experienced them. âYou need to find your tribe,â she explains. âI have a passion for helping people through this process.â Most of all, she encourages people to keep going and never stop. After her stroke, Kimi has a greater appreciation for her family, health and life. She is one of the patients featured in the current âFight The Good Fightâ trauma and physical rehab advertising campaign. âI wake up every day and fight,â she asserts. âEach day you have to fight for your recovery and fight for yourself.â
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Heart Attack Survivor Fights the Good Fight
Something wasnât right. Even though it was the holiday season, on December 23, 2018, Mondo Corona didnât feel goodâŠnot to mention his sudden earache. Although Christmas was a happy celebration with his family. He still felt tired. Was it the flu? And that darn earache wouldnât go away. On that cool winter day, Mondo could not imagine he was near death. Or that he would become a heart attack survivor. Know Your Heart A few days later, on December 27, he wasnât feeling any better. He decided to go to the emergency room at Renown Regional Medical Center. Thatâs when a simple blood test revealed shocking results. âI thought about death a lot. I was calling people to ask them to help take care of my family if I wasnât going to be here anymore,â he emotionally confesses. Although Mondo loves his job as a railroad engineer, it involves on-call shifts and an erratic sleep schedule. At that time his exercise and eating habits werenât the best either. Yet he never imagined he would have a massive, often lethal, type of heart attack called âthe widowmaker.â In fact, his family had been concerned about his health for awhile. âHe worked so much and he didnât take care of himself and he didnât exercise â he was burning the candle at both ends,â shares his wife, Alison. His daughter Justice, an avid exerciser, was always encouraging him to join her at the gym, but could never quite convince him. Mondo remembers the time before he became a heart attack survivor. âI didnât have any exercise whatsoever in my life. At that point my eating habits were just terrible,â he shares. He went to the emergency room due to his earache, but nothing was found until one of the doctors ordered some tests. Specifically blood work showed high troponin levels. Troponin is a blood protein often released in large amounts when the heart muscle has damage, sometimes by a heart attack. Heart Attack Survivor âMy surgeon came in and told us that it was going to be a triple bypass â that three of the fourâŠmajor arteries were clogged 100 percent,â Mondo explains. Amazingly his heart was pumping on only 10 percent blood flow. Heart surgeon, Joseph Brandl, MD, told him he survived a widowmaker heart attack. This type of heart attack happens when there is a 100 percent blockage in the critical left anterior descending artery (LAD) of the heart. Frequently the symptoms can often be mistaken for the flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every 40 seconds a person in the U.S. has a heart attack. And 1 in 5 heart attacks are âsilentâ â meaning you can be a heart attack survivor, but not know it. For Mondoâs children, seeing their strong father struggle after heart surgery was difficult. Justice tearfully shares, âIt was really hard seeing him so vulnerable. He really needed anybodyâs and everybodyâs help at that point.â A Heart Attack Survivor Program After leaving the hospital on January 5, 2019, he was extremely weak. On February 12, Mondo began Renown Healthâs Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation (ICR) Program called the Healthy Heart Program. This program, requiring a doctor referral, includes 12 weeks of supervised exercise along with nutrition education and stress management skills. In spite of heart disease being the leading cause of death in the U.S. â more than all cancers combined, the risk can be lessened with daily lifestyle habits. Mondo credits the ICR program with motivating him and getting his focus back on his health. He saw the team members setting an example and also caring about his health. He describes one of his favorite recipes, âIn ICR Sara showed us how to make this incredible fruit salad, with jicama, watermelon, grapes, oranges, red onion, and ginger!â Of course, the recovery process was not overnight. âIt did take a long time to really realize that he was going to be back to normal, that he was going to be okay and that he was going to be that strong provider for me and my children,â Alison reflects. âMondoâs had an amazing outcome and heâs not limited in his activities at all and should hopefully have a life thatâs not limited at all from heart disease as weâre monitoring everything and everythingâs looking good,â reports his heart doctor Jayson Morgan, MD. Mondo describes his care experience being a heart attack survivor as life-changing. âThe care teams at both Renown and ICR were incredible. There wasnât a single person we came across who didnât immediately become a part of the family. They truly cared for us, all of us, including the extended family that came to visit. They were informative and supportive. I felt like I created lasting bonds with so many of them, especially the gang in ICR. What amazing people.â Lynice Anderson, Director of Intensive Cardiac Rehab, Healthy Heart Program, shares,â Mondo is one of the most genuine, thoughtful and humble people I have ever met. His love for his family is palpable. His impact on me personally and our team is forever.â She acknowledges family support is key to his success, âMondoâs family is his rock and they are his. I have never met a family that was so âall inâ in the support of their loved one. His new heart healthy lifestyle is modeled through his family every day.â Fighting The Good Fight Of course, Mondo may look familiar to you. Thatâs because he is featured in Renown Healthâs âFight The Good Fightâ brand campaign. For this reason, you may have seen him in advertising working out on a treadmill, shirtless, with his open heart surgery scar in full view. When asked how he feels about showing his scar he confidently says, âI donât mind showing it to people. I donât. I earned that scar.â He is a proud heart attack survivor. Today, heâs grateful to be alive and takes his health commitment seriously. âThings have a different feel now. The skies and lakes are bluer and the trees greener. My family is so much more a part of my day. We go on so many more outdoor adventures, trying to incorporate a little exercise into our fun. We watch what we eat more and are trying to teach our children and loved ones about healthy choices. And I think with a few weâve even been successful!â he observes. âDonât take life for granted.â âUnconditional love. I get nothing but support from my family without them I wouldnât be where Iâm at. What happened to me definitely makes me a fighter for sure. Iâm fighting for my life â the good fight â I think life is good,â he adds.
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Virtual Visits â Healthcare You Need At Home
Virtual visits are basically secure, video conferencing visits with your health provider. Of course if you are sick, you want to avoid going outside of your house. With Renown Healthâs virtual visit program, you can now see a provider from the comfort of your own home. As we work to keep all of our patients home and healthy, weâre here for any ongoing healthcare needs you have. There are two easy ways to access a virtual visit with Renown Health. If you need an urgent care visit, you can get in line using your MyChart account You can make a virtual visit with some Renown Health providers you see currently Virtual Urgent Care from a Renown Provider By using MyChart, you can now login and request to âTalk to a Doctor.â After filling in some information and confirming your healthcare concern, you will be put into a virtual line. The healthcare team will notify you by text or email when a provider is ready to talk to you virtually. Virtual urgent care visits are available for all ages. Get To Know MyChart Virtual urgent care visits are available for all ages, and can address: Common cold and cough symptoms Muscular, tendon or joint pains not caused by injury Allergy or sinus symptoms Pink eye Urinary discomfort Diarrhea without vomiting Rashes or skin sores Backache Nail problems Screening examination for sexually transmitted illness (without symptoms) Medication refills (not controlled substances) Symptoms for In-Person Urgent Care Visits Shortness of breath Chest pain Abdominal pain Numbness or weakness of any location that is new Traumatic injuries (including eye injuries or something in the eye) Severe pain of any other body location Dizziness or confusion Bleeding from any location High fever (greater than 102 degrees for all ages) Persistent vomiting Loss of vision Ear pain Substance abuse or psychiatric problems Virtual visits are open 9 a.m. through 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for Nevada residents. Renown Provider Virtual Visits Many primary and specialty care appointments for adults and children are now available virtually. If you have a provider with Renown Medical Group, call 775-982-5000 to see if you can have a virtual appointment from the comfort of your home. MyChart Assistance If you need assistance with your MyChart account, please call 775-982-6686. For all other questions about scheduling and appointments, please call 775-982-5000.
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