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Motivating Kids to Eat Healthy Foods
Do you have a picky eater in your household? Or maybe you've got a snack monster whoâs all about chips and candy? We're here to share a few fun strategies to motivate your little superheroes to snack on healthy foods instead! Rainbow Power-Up Eating a rainbow isn't just for unicorns! Different colors mean different powers: Red foods like strawberries and tomatoes help your heart. Orange foods like carrots and sweet potatoes help your eyes spot things like an eagle! Green foods like spinach and broccoli help you grow super strong bones. So, create a plate with as many colors as possible. The more colors, the more powers! Super Smoothies Blend your favorite fruits, such as bananas, berries and mangoes. Add some milk or yogurt and a handful of spinach. Your kids won't taste the spinach, and they'll drink a supercharged smoothie that gives them the energy to tackle any challenge. Create a Parfait Packed with Delicious Layers! Veggie Villans Who said veggies can't be fun? Turn them into heroes by giving them cool names and fun shapes. Make carrot sticks "Captain Crunch" or broccoli florets "Broc the Rock." Dip them in hummus or peanut butter for an extra flavor kick. Snack Attack Plates Create snack plates that are as fun as they are nutritious. Combine: Cheese cubes Grapes or apple slices Nuts or seeds Whole-grain crackers Mix and match these for your perfect plate! Make Your Own Trail Mix Fuel-Up Challenges Challenge your kids to eat three different healthy foods each day. Turn it into a family game to see who can eat the most colors or try the most fruits and veggies. You can even draw up a "super snacks" chart to keep track of your progress. Final Super Tip! Even superheroes have cheat days. Don't worry if your family doesn't eat healthy every meal. Just aim to eat more of the good stuff than the not-so-great stuff. Your kid's bodies will reward them with tremendous energy, focus and strength.
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Make Your Own Trail Mix: 4 Quick and Easy Recipes
Craving a crunchy, sweet, and nutritious snack? Try making your own trail mix! Perfect blends of nuts, dried fruits, and a touch of chocolate can be whipped up using bulk bin ingredients or pantry staples. Enjoy this delicious, healthy snack on a hike, at the office, or on your next road trip through Nevada's scenic deserts.
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Nourishing Your Loved One Through Cancer Treatment
Eating healthy is a daily challenge for many, but for those with cancer, it is an even harder struggle. A cancer diagnosis affects not only those diagnosed but family members and friends, too. One key area of concern is making sure your loved one stays well by eating healthy food every day. Here are some vital cancer nutrition tips from Jessica Blauenstein, a Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition and Registered Dietitian at Renown Health. Help to Prepare Meals and Snacks for Daily Cancer Nutrition Make it grab and go. Easy-to-make meals help reduce the burden of having to cook and prepare food. Having easy to grab snacks on the counter or in the fridge can help ensure your loved one has access to those nutrients when needed. Sit outside of the kitchen. This allows your loved one to avoid cooking smells which can make them feel sick as a side effect of cancer treatments. Also try serving them cold foods such as sandwiches, cheese and crackers, or shakes which have a mild scent. Try drinkable meals. Some people with cancer find it easier to sip their calories over the course of 30 minutes to an hour. Consider smoothies or supplemental shakes such as Ensure Complete, Fairlife shakes, Orgain shakes, or Boost Plus to name a few. A great foundation for a smoothie is a protein source (Greek yogurt, protein powder, nut butters or milk) with a carbohydrate (fruits, juice or berries). Add other ingredients as desired, such as spinach, kale, and ground flaxseed or chia seeds to give it more vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Snack Ideas for Those Undergoing Cancer Treatment The following ideas are both quick and easy to make for your loved one. Chicken or tuna salad with whole grain crackers or as a sandwich on whole grain bread Greek yogurt mixed with cereal, fruit and/or nuts Cottage cheese with banana, cinnamon and/or peanut butter Favorite fruit with 100% natural peanut or almond butter spread - Try peanut butter with bananas, apples, or even celery Their favorite veggies dipped in a salad dressing of your choice - For example, carrots with hummus, tahini, or ranch dressing Cheese and whole grain crackers - Add tomato slices with a small amount of avocado, and a dash of oregano on top for more flavor Eggs scrambled with cheese, vegetables and/or salsa Peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole grain bread A baked sweet potato with some favorite toppings Hard boiled eggs and/or egg salad with whole grain crackers, or as a sandwich on whole grain bread Oatmeal or cream of wheat prepared with milk, fruit and/or nuts Sometimes your loved one may not feel like eating or refuse to eat. If treatment side effects are impacting your loved oneâs ability to eat, please visit the websites below containing recipes tailored to treat side effects. Cook for Your Life ELLICSR Of course, you may also consult a registered dietitian and/or the patients care team, if you have more cancer nutrition concerns.
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Celebrating Blood Sugar Balance This Holiday Season
As the holiday season draws near, we find more reasons to celebrate with loved ones. At Renown Health, we are kicking off the celebrations early this November with American Diabetes Month. Approximately 37 million Americans, including 270,000 Nevadans, have been diagnosed with diabetes with as many as 95% of those diagnosed living with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). What is Type 2 Diabetes? Type 2 diabetes is a chronic health condition that occurs because your body is not using insulin (a hormone made by the pancreas to help cells use the food we eat for energy) as well as it should, resulting in high blood sugar levels. It is important to obtain a diagnosis for T2DM and ensure it is well-controlled to prevent serious health complications. Those with diabetes are at higher risk for blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke and amputation. Tips for Supporting Your Health with Type 2 Diabetes Know Your Blood Sugar Levels: Work with your healthcare provider to establish target blood sugar levels, and make sure to monitor your levels regularly as advised by your healthcare provider to prevent or delay health complications associated with T2DM. Focus on Your Plate: Eating foods such as fruits and vegetables, lean meats or plant-based proteins, healthy fats and whole grains supports diabetes management. If choosing healthy foods is difficult due to your busy schedule, cost or simply because you arenât sure where to start, talk with your healthcare provider who may refer you to a registered dietitian. Registered dietitian nutritionists are certified nutrition specialists who can provide education and practical tips for eating to support your T2DM diagnosis with visits covered by many insurance plans. Prioritize Staying Active: Engaging in regular exercise is good for everyone, especially those living with T2DM. Exercise helps your cells become more sensitive to insulin and therefore supports healthy blood sugar levels. Always check with your healthcare provider prior to beginning a new exercise plan. Support Stress Reduction: Stress is unavoidable but can be managed through regular exercise, getting enough quality sleep (7-8 uninterrupted hours per night) and practicing meditation and other mindfulness techniques. Plan Ahead for Holiday Gatherings: Thereâs still room for celebration while focusing on blood sugar management. Consider bringing a healthy dish to your gathering, focus on filling your plate with vegetable sides and eating those first and incorporate a family walk after dinner. If traveling, pack nutritious snacks that support your health and keep you full. Lastly, enjoy the special dishes and desserts this season has to offer in single-serving portions.
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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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Department Spotlight: Renown Transfer and Operations Center
Stepping into the Renown Transfer and Operations Center (RTOC) means stepping into a transformative hub of excellence where lives are saved and healthcare is reimagined. As a cornerstone of Renown Health's commitment to exceptional patient care, the RTOC serves as a dynamic nerve center that seamlessly coordinates medical resources, ambulance rides, hospital bed space, remote home systems, hospital transfers and emergency preparedness. In this best-in-class facility, the boundaries of what is possible in healthcare are constantly pushed, and new horizons of patient care are discovered.  Staffed with a dedicated team of skilled professionals, the RTOC harnesses the power of advanced technology and compassionate expertise to ensure that patients receive the highest level of care and support, no matter where they are. Through a synchronized network of communication, coordination, and compassionate care, the RTOC team ensures that patients receive the critical support they need when it matters most, working tirelessly to redefine what it means to deliver world-class healthcare.  A National Standard Charged with the goal of overseeing the placement and transportation for every patient, the RTOC officially launched in 2021 as northern Nevadaâs first and only transfer center of its kind and a nationally celebrated facility. As Renownâs highly coordinated care logistics system, this team uses the cutting-edge technology at their fingertips to customize healthcare to the needs of every patient, manage patient flow and drive healthcare innovation. âCompared to where weâve started to where we are now, itâs a 180-degree difference,â said Kelli McDonnell, Manager of RTOC. âWhen we first started building our facility right before the pandemic happened, we took what was six conference rooms and classrooms and turned it into a command center that organizations across the country admire and come to Reno to see what we do. Mel Morris, the Director of RTOC, was recruited exclusively to build our facility with her history of building successful hospital command centers. Many people didnât realize what a transfer center was or that Renown was the only center in the region â and we only continue to grow.â This best-in-class facility, and the masterful team behind it, handles: Coordinating all incoming patients transferred from neighboring hospitals and 27 counties across northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe, northeast California and neighboring states. Matching patients to the most appropriate bed placement using diagnostic, triage and Epic electronic medical record clinical information in conjunction with medical staff expertise to outline a plan of care that determines the best bed assignment given the patientâs needs. Coordinating video-enabled Telehealth monitoring capabilities for Renownâs four Intensive Care Units (ICUs), as well as Renown patient Telehealth and virtual visits. Monitoring Remote Home systems with Masimo during the COVID-19 pandemic, where some patients received hospital-level care in the comfort of their own homes while Renown clinicians monitored and evaluated their data and plan of care. Serving emergency and disaster management for area hospitals, first-responders and the community with local, regional and statewide emergency and disaster management for sudden-onset emergencies. The RTOC is home to many different critical roles for our health system, including Transfer Center Nurses, Ride Line Coordinators, RTOC Coordinators and more, many duties of which each team member cross-trains on to be able to fill in whenever needed. While their roles may differ, their commitment to their patients remains the same â and they all work together to achieve the same outcome: delivering the right care, at the right time and place. âAs an RTOC Coordinator, we do a variety of different things,â said Anna Schaffer, RTOC Coordinator. âWe do triage coordination to help our nurses and hospitalists get patients in the emergency department admitted, and we also do bed control to find patients appropriate bed placement. Communication is important, so we always make sure to stay closely connected with the charge nurses on those floors.â âWe start with a basic âneed to knowâ and place patients accordingly,â added Karly Brown, RTOC Coordinator. âWe get surgery numbers, ICU capacity and discharges and find beds for all patients as quickly as possible. We have the advantage of being able to see the entire hospital.â âI primarily schedule transportation for patients at the hospital who are either going home or going to a skilled nursing facility,â said Sarah Clark, Ride Line Coordinator. âI get requests from case managers to schedule rides, and I work with REMSA and other ambulance services to schedule them. It relies a lot on appropriate and efficient communication and critical thinking.â Patients in facilities across northern Nevada and northeastern California, especially the rural communities, look to the RTOC to help guide ambulances, bed coordinators and hospital staff in finding care for our rural patients. âAs a transfer center nurse, I facilitate incoming patients from rural facilities in Nevada and surrounding areas in California,â added Meg Myles, Transfer Center Nurse Specialist. âThere are days we may take up to 30 direct admissions from these areas.â âWe are the point of contact for inter-facility transfers, whether we are sending patients out or bringing them into Renown,â said Lisa Lac, Transfer Center Nurse Specialist. âWe take phone calls from those rural areas, identify what services are needed, connect them to the appropriate provider and coordinate any transfers.â âSimply put, we are the bed wizards,â said Addison Rittenhouse, RTOC Coordinator. The RTOC team continues to break barriers and push the boundaries of medical excellence through leveraging the technology at their fingertips and their unwavering dedication to the health of our community. Inspiring a new era of medical possibilities, these team members have achieved a multitude of accomplishments for both their department and their patients since the birth of the center. âWe have significantly reduced the time it takes to get patient admit orders in, thanks in part to the new Triage Coordinator role, and we provide easier access for patients to transfer to us from other facilities,â said Beth Rios, RTOC Coordinator. âWe have taken a bigger role in helping the smaller hospitals in our area in caring for patients and improve patient throughput.â âAs a team, weâve done a lot of work in creating an engaging and positive environment, and our internal morale committee has been a huge help with that,â said Kelli McDonnell. âWeâve been working tremendously over the last year and taking all the feedback that we received from the Employee Engagement Survey to make improvements. We had 100 percent survey participation within five days, which is incredible.â âI am so proud of our escalation and problem-solving skills,â said Becca Dietrich, RTOC Coordinator. âWhen an issue is raised to us, we will always find a timely solution on our end so our care teams can focus on the issue in front of them. We are the eyes in the sky, seeing movement everywhere.â Each day in the life of our RTOC team members is a testament to their commitment, resilience and timework, making a profound impact on countless lives.
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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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A Renown Anesthesiologist's Unique Journey
Dr. Nariman Rahimzadehâs career path has been anything but typical. From humble beginnings as a shuttle bus driver for Renown Regional Medical Center, then named Washoe Medical Center, to his service as Chief of Staff for Renown South Meadows Medical Center, the steps and detours he took along the way â and the strong support from his colleagues and family members â make up a tale of perseverance, conviction, compassion and inspiration. However, his healthcare career journey began several years before he even joined Washoe Medical Center in the 1990s. It all began 7,446 miles away in Iran. This is Dr. Rahimzadehâs story. Defining Moments The moment Dr. Rahimzadeh knew he wanted to dedicate his career to the healthcare field started during his childhood. Growing up in Iran during the midst of the Iranian Revolution, a thought that often came to mind was, âWho is helping all the people injured in the war?â The answer? The doctors. âIn Iranian society, doctors are extremely valued, as they are the first to help people in need,â said Dr. Rahimzadeh. âI knew I wanted to give back to society in some way, and I see my time in Iran as very formative in my future career. I just didnât know it yet.â After immigrating to the U.S. with his family during his preteen years, he only had one mission: to support his family. âMy desires were to help my family not fall behind,â he said. âI didnât have career aspirations at the time. All I knew is that I wanted to help my family and my community, which immediately opened its arms up to us, as well as be a good student and a good ambassador for Iran.â Dr. Rahimzadeh remembers several influential people that helped solidify his aspiration from âhelping peopleâ to âhelping people as a healthcare professional.â Their family physician and other medical professionals in the familyâs lives were monumental in helping him make this decision. Coupled with his natural love for the sciences, the decision to become a doctor became clear.  But the question remained, âHow do I get started in the healthcare field?â No Links to Healthcare? No Problem With no physicians in his immediate family and no direct connections to healthcare, Dr. Rahimzadeh set off to follow the advice he received from the influential people in his life: get a job at a healthcare facility, regardless of what the job title is. Some of his friends had recently joined Washoe Medical Center as patient transporters and mentioned job openings that were available. He sprang into action and headed to Washoe Medical Center to apply. Just one problem â he didnât have the EMT certification requirement.  Enter Barry OâSullivan, who would be Dr. Rahimzadehâs first supervisor at Washoe Medical Center (and a friend he still speaks with to this day). Barry saw promise in Dr. Rahimzadeh immediately. As a result, Barry made a suggestion to him that would ultimately set him on the course towards medicine. âBarry told me that he had an open position that I could work while completing the senior year of my undergraduate degree and studying for my EMT certification and eventually becoming a patient transporter. He told me Washoe Medical Center would support me in this endeavor. So, I asked what the job was and learned it was driving a shuttle bus.â Without hesitation, Dr. Rahimzadeh responded, âIâll take it.â And so, his fulfilling journey with Washoe Medical Center, and eventually Renown Health, began. While he finished up the last few months of his degree at the University of Nevada, Reno, (UNR) Dr. Rahimzadeh proudly drove the shuttle bus a few days a week. The job not only helped him pay for his degree and put food on the table, but it also allowed him to begin living out his passion for helping people in the healthcare field. Dr. Rahimzadeh graduated with his bachelor's degree in Pre-Medicine from UNR and finished his EMT certification program. Sure enough, Barry and Washoe Medical Center lived up to their promises and helped him secure his first direct healthcare job as an EMT and Patient Transporter with REMSA. But he didnât stop there â after several years as a ground transporter, his career literally took flight. He joined REMSA Ground Ambulance and eventually Care Flight as a Flight EMT II, caring for patients that were flying to Washoe Medical Center from nearby communities that needed lifesaving medical care. Helping save lives every day as a member of the emergency medical team is an ultimate feat, especially when it comes to Dr. Rahimzadeh. And he didnât stop there. Valuing One-on-One Connections In the 1990s, as it is today, the U.S. experienced a significant primary care provider shortage which resulted in many medical schools encouraging students to complete their residencies in a primary care specialty, like internal medicine â which is precisely what Dr. Rahimzadeh set out to do at the University of Connecticut.  However, his mind would soon change about the course of his career.  âI had a deep, introspective conversation with my residency program director, openly and honestly chatting about my future,â Dr. Rahimzadeh said. âI ended up taking a week off of my residency and wrote a long pros and cons list about what I wanted to do with my life in the medical field.â Eventually he decided on anesthesiology because of the opportunity to have a one-on-one relationship with every surgery patient, regardless of their procedure. âEven though itâs for a short duration of time, it is a very impactful relationship,â he said. âI feel I am making a difference in the outcomes and lives of patients every day.â Dr. Rahimzadeh finished his internal medicine residency in three years and passed his board exam, and he went on to do the same thing for anesthesiology. He then ventured back home to Reno. Career Progression at Its Finest Dr. Rahimzadeh knows that people donât always get to settle down in a place that influenced their upbringing, care and dream, yet he was able to make that vision a reality for himself. âI feel like Renown Health and myself have this intertwined relationship that led to my growth as a person and as a physician,â he said. âFor that, I feel very blessed." Upon his arrival back to Reno with two residencies under his belt, Dr. Rahimzadeh was quickly hired at one of the two anesthesiology groups in town at the time. He started his career with Sierra Anesthesia and after working for the group for several years, he joined Associated Anesthesiologists of Reno in 2014, which went on to become one of the largest anesthesiology groups in northern Nevada. The group continuously worked very closely with Renown, taking care of all of its surgical patient needs and eventually becoming Renown Medical Group employees as of April 1, 2022, with Dr. Rahimzadeh setting up his home base at the Renown South Meadows campus. Today, Dr. Rahimzadeh wears three âhatsâ at Renown. As a medical professional first and foremost, his largest âhatâ is his general anesthesiologist role, where he cares for patients in the operating room. Another significant âhatâ is his role as the Medical Director for Surgical Services, where he reviews surgical patient charges alongside his dedicated team of nurses and ensures optimal patient outcomes by verifying they have had the appropriate workup to proceed with surgery in a safe manner. To round out his immense responsibilities with Renown, he serves as Chief of Staff for Renown South Meadows, where he makes connections with colleagues and collaborates with leaders to review protocols, policies and address concerns that arise. Outside of Renown, Dr. Rahimzadeh is still a contributor within his own anesthesiology practice. He also is the current President of the Nevada State Society of Anesthesiologists and the Director to the Board of Directors of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, helping bridge the gap in anesthesia concerns between his northern and southern Nevada colleagues. He reflects on the opportunities Renown and our local community have extended to him by saying, âIf you can dream big enough and continue to chase your dreams, you can make it happen right here.â On the COVID-19 Frontlines Nothing could prepare us for the dire situation hospitals on the east coast â especially those in Livingston, New Jersey â were experiencing at the beginning of the pandemic. Livingston was known as the âsecond hardest hit areaâ by COVID-19 in April of 2020. Hospitals were overwhelmed with patients in the ICU fighting for their lives. They needed help, and they needed help now.  Unable and unwilling to sit idly by, Dr. Rahimzadeh and six of his colleagues from his practice traveled to Livingston to help. They jumped in on the frontlines alongside other anesthesiologists and intensivists to offset the sudden influx of COVID-19 patients. Many lives were saved, and Dr. Rahimzadeh was a direct part of that. âWhen you care and work with people that also care, you can move the needle a lot â it doesnât matter where you're from,â he said. Home Means Nevada â and Renown Renown Health is deeply rooted in the northern Nevada community. Dr. Rahimzadeh is proud to be among a diverse team who have taken responsibility for its community for generations.  "We live in a very passionate and caring community, which is often underestimated,â he said. âItâs clear to me that Renown refuses to settle. Renown is incredibly progressive in providing the best for the community. We never remain stagnant, we keep moving forward and we take care of your loved ones. This health system has never been able to sit still and settle for the status quo. That stands out to me.â One story especially sticks out to Dr. Rahimzadeh as the moment when he knew that Renown was home. In 1997 while working as a patient transporter, his grandmother passed away on the sixth floor of the Sierra Tower at what is now Renown Regional Medical Center. At the funeral, a huge bouquet of flowers arrived. Not being especially close to anyone in Reno yet, Dr. Rahimzadeh's family had no idea who sent the beautiful arrangement. Turns out, it was Rod Callahan, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Washoe Medical Center at the time.  âAt that point, I knew I wasnât just a part of a workforce with thousands of employees,â said Dr. Rahimzadeh. âThe COO cared so much about me that he felt compelled to send such a wonderful gift during a tragic time. Thatâs the value of a local, community-focused hospital; the people here know you and care about you. Thereâs a reason why people stay at Renown for so long â we feel that connection.â Dr. Rahimzadeh also reflected on how far Renown South Meadows has come, from the time he immigrated to the U.S. to today. âGrowing up, Renown South Meadows was kind of a âmom and pop shopâ primarily serving senior citizens in one wing and surgical patients in the other,â he said. âNow, I am so proud to see how far it has come. It really made its niche in the community in a great way. The future is bright!â Itâs clear that Dr. Rahimzadeh is leaving a lasting legacy with his family, from the local community to global medicine. His son is a senior at Baylor University in Texas with a strong desire to go into medicine, just like his dad. His daughter is a junior at Bishop Manogue Catholic High School in Reno and enjoys being involved in her community. His loving wife is a speech therapist in the area. The Rahimzadeh family is thriving together, and they all share the same conviction about northern Nevada and Renown: âThis is home.â
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Department Spotlight: Clinical Engineering
Renown Health strongly supports and advocates for innovative medical technology. Our diverse lineup of medical equipment enables our care leaders to provide quality care to every patient. But what if a piece of technology breaks down? What happens when our care teams are ready for technological upgrades? Where do employees go when they have a question about a complicated piece of equipment? Enter the Clinical Engineering department. This sophisticated team is staffed with intelligent, science-minded individuals who are ready to jump in and help at any given second. From newborn incubators to robots that clean the hospital floors, these team members are the med-tech masters that keep our health system running. Equipment Experts Upon entering the Clinical Engineering departmentâs workshop, you are welcomed with an abundance of high-tech equipment undergoing repairs and upgrades. The department takes care of more than 26,000 pieces of equipment throughout the entire healthcare network, including the technologies at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, which they just took over this past year. To the average person, this may seem overwhelming; however, for this team, this is the exact environment they thrive in to make the technology magic happen. âI am motivated and engaged every day at work,â said Tony Martinez, Supervisor of Clinical Engineering for Renown. âOur department is fast-paced and rewarding, and thatâs a big plus.â While some team members enter the department as equipment generalists, this team offers training to develop their skills on certain pieces of equipment, eventually becoming specialists.  âEvery month, we encourage our colleagues to undergo specific training on more delicate equipment,â said Tony. âOnce we get to that point in their training, we assign different equipment to our team members every month. They pick up the experience very quickly.â As a Clinical Engineering Technician for Renown, Rylie Nickerson took advantage of the training and educational opportunities offered to her and is now a ventilator specialist especially for Renownâs neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). âRegardless of whether Iâm working on ventilators or on another piece of equipment Iâm assigned to, Iâm always thinking about how I can help the patients, nurses and doctors,â said Rylie. Raul Hernandez, a Clinical Engineering Specialist for Renown, is the go-to person for anesthesia, heart-lung bypass, red cell saver and life support equipment. He embraces the fact that, regardless of whether you are a specialist or a generalist, there is no typical day working in this department. âEvery day brings different challenges,â said Raul. âI really enjoy the mental exercises I do every day. They keep me grounded and focused.â On top of their day-to-day work and any special projects or emergencies that come up, the team is on an ongoing preventative maintenance schedule. Think of this work like your carâs oil change â routine maintenance to prevent something from breaking down in the future. âAt any point, we might have 100-200 extra pieces of equipment to handle during preventative maintenance,â said Taylor Gray, a Clinical Engineering Technician for Renown. âWe are always helping each other through any issues.â Our Clinical Engineering team shows exactly what it means to be collaborative. Even though their to-do lists are ever-growing, this team never feels alone. They know they can always lean on each other for support, regardless of the workload. âWe always have each otherâs backs,â said Taylor. âI feel so happy and satisfied in my job, and my coworkers are a large part of that.â Celebrating the Genuine Difference The Clinical Engineering department is driven by their desire to help and take care of the entire health system, and in turn, make a genuine difference for the communities we serve, from the medical staff to the patients.  âThe satisfaction you get in our field when we impact patientsâ lives and their healing process is so motivating and engaging,â said Tony Martinez. âItâs a great feeling.â The team knows the common saying âWalk a mile in someoneâs shoesâ very well; so well, in fact, that they take it to the next level, doing everything they can to prevent frustrations and extended down times. âWe try to walk a mile in someoneâs shoes before they get angry,â said Reagan Jordan, Director of Clinical Engineering for Renown. âYour satisfaction is our mission, and our team continually works to improve their outcomes every day.â This department is where the entrepreneurial spirit and science-focused mind meet. For people like Raul Hernandez, who came from a business background as well as decades of medical technology experience, Renown helps him bring both his personal and business skills into focus. âThis environment is very beneficial for Renown, me, and of course, the patients,â added Raul. Being members of a team that is committed to excellence and purpose inspires them to reach new heights in patient care. âI am constantly reminded of the positive impact we have by witnessing the individual experiences we have and hearing the enthusiasm and thankfulness in their voices,â said Raul. âIt gives me a great sense of pride to work at Renown.â "There is a strong feeling of mutual respect here,â added Ed Trejo, a Clinical Engineering Technician at Renown. âWe are always here to help.â The proof is in the data. The Clinical Engineering team scored as one of the top departments in the recent Renown employee engagement survey, with their results sitting at more than 94 percent.  âThis speaks to not only our department leadership but also the team as a whole,â said Reagan. âI am extremely proud of them. Despite the pandemic, they are knocking it out of the park.â For this department, coming to Renown is easy; staying at Renown is even easier. âStaying at Renown is the easy choice,â said Raul. âAnd this team is only going to grow.â Workflow Whizzes and Kindness Champions âRolling with the punches,â as Tony Martinez says, comes naturally to the Clinical Engineering team. With the constant workflow of equipment coming into the shop, every team member has learned how to be experts at prioritizing, especially based on the needs of our organization. Even though their jobs can bring a lot of intensity, this departmentâs positive attitude radiates throughout the hospital. Upon entering the workshop, everyone is greeted with a smile from every team member, along with an immediate willingness to dive into the complex world of engineering. âThe experience of helping other people with their unique needs is invaluable,â said Taylor Gray. If this work environment sounds enticing, great news â the Clinical Engineering team is growing. Motivated, aspiring engineers with a passion for healthcare and an associateâs degree in a related field are welcome.  Military experience is also valued very highly in this team. As many of our military servicemen and servicewomen gain specialized engineering experience while enlisted, the military-to-engineer career ladder at Renown is especially strong. In fact, according to Paul Joseph, a Clinical Engineering Technician at Renown, the majority of their teammates come from a military background.  Above all, being capable of prioritizing on the fly, thinking critically, having an open-mined outlook and being self-driven are the top skills that this department values. As Ed Trejo states, âIf youâre willing to wear different hats, you will do very well here." âGo with the flow, and expect the unexpected,â added Rylie Nickerson. Those who join this team feel at home. The warm embrace of the teamâs kind nature and the supportive environment they all foster inspires an efficient workflow that helps our entire hospital system function at the top of its game. At the end of the day, everyone who joins the team, or anyone who even interacts with the team in any capacity, will be in good hands. Mandy Noriega, a Clinical Engineering Technician for Renown, closes these thoughts with a great reminder to each and every one of us: âAfter all, teamwork makes the dream work.â
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Department Spotlight: Food & Nutrition Services
Nutrition is a vital aspect of patient care. At Renown Health, the Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) teams take their mission of delivering patients high-quality, cost-effective, nutritious and attractive foods to the next level. From a thrice-daily trayline service with a wide variety of delicious food to the personalized dietitian services that ensure every patient gets the nutrients they need for optimal healing and recovery, Renownâs FNS teams at Regional, South Meadows and Rehab are unmatched. Food for the Good Fight The hustle and bustle of early morning food preparations gears the FNS team up to, as Renown Regional Food Service Worker Molly Kalsman puts it, âprovide patients with adequate nutrition to heal.â From morning until nighttime, the team prepares three meals a day along with late trays and snacks. This isnât your run-of-the-mill hospital food, either. Think anywhere from cheeseburgers and salads to pork roasts and baked potatoes. As you can imagine, food of this caliber requires all hands on deck in the kitchen, especially during trayline times, to ensure all patients receive quality meals that meet their individual nutrition needs. âWe make an impact with good service and great food,â said Mario Nunez, a Food Service Worker at Renown South Meadows. As the food service workers are hard at work cooking and assembling, the nutrition representatives visit each patient to learn their individual dietary restrictions, allergies and food preferences. For Julie Macaluso, Nutrition Representative at Renown South Meadows, âletting the patients choose their mealsâ is one of the highlights of her job. âWe go over meal choices for their stay, so the patient can pick out something they would like to eat and find enjoyable,â added Tara Sprehe, Nutrition Representative at Renown Regional. The immense care and attention our nutrition representatives give to every patient paves the way for our clinical dietitians to build a nutrient-dense diet plan based on the individual patientâs preferences. Dietitians are the only licensed providers that can leverage nutrition to treat, manage and prevent illness and disease to improve patient outcomes. Every day, our experienced dietitians âmake recommendations in the adjustment of macro and micronutrients in order to best manage a personâs health status in the setting of trauma, diabetes, heart disease and other morbidities,â said Jessica Blauenstein, a Registered Dietitian and Board-Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition at the William N. Pennington Cancer Institute. Overall, for this department, the phrase âthatâs not my jobâ will never be heard, according to Lupe Ayala, a Cook at the Renown Rehabilitation Hospital. Day-in and day-out, itâs a massive group effort â and thatâs the way they like it. Setting the Service Bar High Hitting milestones and accomplishments comes naturally to this crew. The FNS team sets the bar incredibly high for food and service standards across the Renown Regional, South Meadows and Rehabilitation hospitals.  The key ingredient? Synchronized teams that operate like a well-oiled machine. The meticulous trayline schedules and assembly lines, the cooks that put their heart into patient meals, the nutrition representatives and dietitians who ensure patient food wants and dietary needs are being met... the list goes on. And to top it all off, these teams certainly know the meaning of âservice with a smile.â Their efforts do not go unnoticed. âI am very proud of the team I have,â said Monica Lara-Yanez, Supervisor of Food and Nutrition Services at Renown South Meadows. âThey have improved their knowledge and participated in cross-training, and they are very efficient doing their jobs and helping each other. Moreover, they care about the service we provide.â One major accomplishment the FNS department achieved in recent years was implementing Room Service Connect, which aids in direct communication with patients, letting them know what foods are available to them during their stay at Renown based on their dietary needs. Locating trays of food has also never been easier. According to Tara Sprehe, âThis system is also beneficial for letting food service workers know when a diet has been upgraded, discontinued, changed to NPO status or downgraded. This reduces the risk of giving the patient a diet that is not appropriate for them,â which saves both time and money for the department. At the end of the day, the FNS department has one mission, and itâs the same mission we all employ as Renown team members: do it for the patient. âItâs all about patient care,â said Jesse Holman, Cook Lead at Renown Regional. âThat is the best accomplishment!â A Dedication to Renown  The patients, the providers, and the passion: these are the most common themes that keep the FNS department passionate about Renown and their team. Whether they are just starting out in a career in food service or have established themselves in the clinical field, the FNS department proudly upholds the greatest standards of nutritional care that enhance Renownâs status as a top healthcare leader in northern Nevada. âI choose Renown because it is a very distinguished institution with an amazing reputation, offering a lot of benefits and growth opportunities to employees,â said Monica Lara. âIt makes me feel proud to say, âI work at Renown.ââ Renown Rehab Food Service Worker Margretta Corbet echoes this sentiment, adding, âThere are good people here with happy dispositions.â Many FNS team members are especially enthusiastic about Renownâs robust benefits and career growth opportunities. For Molly Kalsman, working at Renown gives her the experience necessary to enter a career in dietetics. âFood service and hospital experience is encouraged to be accepted into a dietetics internship program, and Renown was the perfect opportunity for me to gain that experience,â said Molly. Carleigh Bates, Nutrition Representative at Renown South Meadows, is on a similar path: âRenown is a vehicle for so many things I am aspiring towards, such as getting my foot in the door for working in healthcare, improving the experiences of patients and gaining experience that will aid in my future goals.â Carleigh emphasizes that the teamâs commitment to Renownâs mission is at the core of what they do every day. âWe impact patient care by providing nutrition to fuel their wellness and improve their stay.â Lupe Ayala wraps up this strong conviction from the team very well: âI didnât choose Renown; Renown chose me.â Fight the Good Fight With Us This future-minded, patient-centric department is growing! The Food & Nutrition Services teams at Regional, South Meadows and Rehab are actively hiring eager, collaborative new team members. Natasha Frisbie, FNS Lead at Renown Regional, reports that the team has âsuccessfully hired and trained 24 new employees in the past three monthsâ and is still expanding. âTeamwork, communication, and enthusiasm are very valuable skills to have in this department,â said Molly Kalsman.  If you or anyone you know is looking for their next growing career opportunity, apply today!
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Life-Saving CPR: Are Your Skills up to Date?
If CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is performed in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, a personâs chance of survival can double or even triple. Troy Wiedenbeck, MD, cardiologist with the Renown Institute for Heart & Vascular Health, explains how you can be ready to perform it in case of an emergency. According to the American Heart Association, over 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the U.S. This highlights the importance of CPR to everyone, not just medical personnel. Most people do not have heart trouble at a hospital or fire station, they have it going about their everyday lives. And when someone has a heart attack outside of a hospital, their survival often depends on receiving help from a bystander. Signs of Heart Trouble First, how do you know when someone is experiencing cardiac arrest? The signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest are immediate and drastic, including: Sudden collapse No pulse Not breathing Loss of consciousness And sometimes, patients can experience symptoms beforehand, such as fatigue, fainting, blackouts, dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath or vomiting. CPR Change Many of us know CPR as both mouth-to-mouth and pumps to the chest, but the rule now is hands-only. Can you explain the change? Hands-only CPR is exactly what the name says -- it's CPR without mouth-to-mouth. The American Heart Association recommends using only your hands. So if you see someone suddenly collapse, itâs recommended to call 9-1-1 and push hard and fast in the center of their chest. Doing this will get blood flowing back to the brain, lungs and other organs for someone having heart problems. Performing CPR on Adults vs. Children Hands-only CPR is just as effective as mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions for teens and adults who may have gone into cardiac arrest. Remember, itâs important to act fast. First, call 9-1-1 and then start chest compressions right away. If you perform CPR on someone within the first few minutes, it can double or triple their chance of survival. Keep in mind, for infants and children younger than 12 years old, regular CPR with mouth-to-mouth, as well as chest compressions, is still recommended. Two Steps to Save a Life If you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse follow these two steps: Call 911 so care providers can begin to respond. When calling 911, be specific about your location, especially if you are calling from a cell phone. Knowing the street address, building, floor and closest entry point can save precious time for first responders. Answering the dispatcherâs questions will make sure help arrives fast, and at the correct location. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest. The goal during CPR is 100 to 120 compressions per minute, about the same tempo as the song âStayinâ Alive,â or âThriller.â For hand placement, itâs also important to put the heel of your hand on the center of their chest and place the other hand on top. Push down on their chest at least two inches. It may seem severe at the time, but pushing this hard can truly save a life. Continue performing compressions as long as possible. If you tire, have someone take over compressions, if possible, and take turns until medical help arrives. For information on a CPR course in Reno, please contact REMSA at 775-858-5700.
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Grilled Lemon Salmon Kebabs
Salmon is a highly nutritious fish loaded with heart-healthy fats. A 3-ounce portion of salmon contains between 700â1,800 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acid. Research indicates that diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation and heart disease risk. Because salmon can be a strong flavor, lemon helps balance and bring a light citrus taste. In contrast, dill adds a slightly green, fresh note to this entrĂ©e. So, if youâre looking for a quick and wholesome meal, try this grilled lemon salmon kebabs recipeâready in just 20 minutes!