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Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medicaid members will now have access to providers in the value-based Western Clinical Alliance, powered by Renown Health. RENO, Nev. (Dec. 20, 2021) – Members of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medicaid in Nevada can now receive care from providers in the Western Clinical Alliance, powered by Renown Health. A first of its kind agreement, the partnership between Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medicaid and Renown Health extends care for Anthem members in northern Nevada. This agreement gives providers and patients in the region better access to care by focusing on health and well-being while reducing the overall cost of care. The Western Clinical Alliance is a value-based clinically integrated network that puts the patient at the center of care and allows collaboration between providers across the community. “The Western Clinical Alliance has been seeking this kind of innovative and forward-thinking partnership for a while, and we are excited to be working with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield,” said Thomas Graf, MD, Chief Clinical and Quality Officer and Western Clinical Alliance chair. “The partnership creates an environment that eliminates many of the traditional barriers associated with providing the right care, in the right place, at the right time. For us, it is all about ensuring Anthem members have the greatest opportunity to live healthy lives; this includes their participation in preventative and wellness care as well as optimization of their chronic diseases” Western Clinical Alliance providers – including those at Renown hospitals, Renown medical groups and other community-based health organizations – have developed a relationship that makes vital data and insights readily available to better understand every patient’s journey through the healthcare system. Providers in the Western Clinical Alliance work together to drive better outcomes by helping patients receive care in the highest-value settings. “Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is excited to partner with Renown Health and the Western Clinical Alliance because we believe effective health coverage begins with a trusted primary care provider who can guide our members through the complexities of the healthcare system, with an emphasis on prevention and wellness leading to better health outcomes,” said Lisa Bogard, President of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Nevada. Many people in the northern Nevada community covered by a Medicaid plan like Anthem’s will have an open enrollment window starting Jan. 1, 2022. In addition to an opportunity to foster a relationship with providers from Renown Health and the Western Clinical Alliance, Medicaid members in Nevada can go to www.chooseanthem.com to enroll in a plan that offers a range of added benefits that promote physical fitness, nutritious home-delivered meals, transportation assistance, Boys and Girls Club memberships, essential support services for new and expecting parents and more.     About Western Clinical Alliance & Renown Health Western Clinical Alliance® is a Clinically Integrated Network (CIN) which joins together physicians across our community into a single comprehensive care delivery network. The CIN is in collaboration with Renown Health and other care providers that share a common set of goals focused on increasing value by improving outcomes and better managing the total cost of care for patients. Renown Health is the region’s largest not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital and a medical group and urgent care network. For more information, visit renown.org.

Read More About Renown Health and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Partner to Extend Value-Based Care For Anthem’s Medicaid Members in Northern Nevada

Three-day medical education conference advances research, education, prevention and treatment. Physicians and medical professionals from throughout the Mountain West will soon be convening in Lake Tahoe to explore emerging treatments, the most recent advances and new clinical guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, stroke and heart disease. Hosted by Renown's Institute for Heart & Vascular Health and the Nevada Academy of Family Physicians, the three-day Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine conference will bring together national experts to explore challenges and solutions to cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year. "Our mission is to advance health in America. As Nevada's first integrated health system, with our University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine affiliation, we are advancing health and health care through world-class medical education, clinical research and patient care for our community, our state and our nation," says Anthony D. Slonim, MD, DrPH, President & CEO, Renown Health. "And, we have so much work to do. In 2019, 9.5% of Nevadans reported being told by a health professional that they had angina or coronary heart disease; which is significantly above the national average of 8.4%. As public health and health care providers, we can do more to encourage people to adopt healthy lifestyle habits to keep their heart healthy and help prevent heart disease through the Healthy Nevada Project®, where people can understand their genetic risks at no-cost." "The driving force behind this collaborative event is the shared missions of all our organizations, across the country, to advance progress in cardiovascular research, education, prevention and treatment," says Jayson Morgan, MD, FACC, Director Cardiovascular Services at Renown. "We will be joined by colleagues from Johns Hopkins, Cedars-Sinai, Scripps, University of New Mexico Health Sciences, University of Utah, Medical College of Wisconsin, the Metabolic Institute of America and locally- with experts from Renown's Institute for Heart & Vascular Health/UNR Med, St. Mary's and Barton Health - to discuss contemporary trends in providing excellent cardiovascular care and prevention." New research will be presented each day, including: “Vaping and Electronic Cigarettes – The Hidden Epidemic: What the Clinician Needs to Know” Michael J. Blaha, MD, MPH, FACC, Professor of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Director of Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, Baltimore, MD “Optimizing Glycemic Control in the Inpatient Setting” Kendall M. Rogers, MD, CPE, FACP, SFHM, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Chief, Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences, Albuquerque, NM “Perioperative Medicine Update”                                                                                                                                                                                             Barbara A. Slawski, MD, MS, SFHM Professor of Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery, Chief, Section of Hospital Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI “Understanding hATTR Amyloidosis: Clinical Presentation and Treatment Landscape” Jignesh K. Patel, MD, PhD, FACC, FRCP, FAST, FAHA, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Medical Director, Heart Transplant Program, Director, Cardiac Amyloid Program, Director, Heart Transplant Research, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA “Coronary Artery Calcium in 2021: Guideline-Endorsed and Ready for Prime Time” “The Evolving Landscape of Obesity Management – A 2021 Update” Ken Fujioka, MD, Director of the Center for Weight Management, Director of the Nutrition and Metabolic Research Center, Scripps Clinic, Department of Diabetes and Endocrine, San Diego, CA “The Evolving Landscape of Obesity Management – A 2021 Update” Ken Fujioka, MD, Director of the Center for Weight Management, Director of the Nutrition and Metabolic Research Center, Scripps Clinic, Department of Diabetes and Endocrine, San Diego, CA “Management of Atrial Fibrillation: Where We Are; Where We Are Headed” Matthew A. Cain, MD, Electrophysiologist, Renown Institute for Heart & Vascular Health, Renown Medical Group, Reno, NV "The Story of a Murmur” Abhilash Akinapelli, MD, Cardiac Valve & TAVR Program Director, Renown Institute for Heart & Vascular Health, Renown Medical Group, Reno, NV "Update on the Cardiovascular Effects of COVID-19” Siddharth Singh, MD, Assistant Director, Echo Fellowship Training Program, Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA “Antibiotic Stewardship: How to Improve Our Prescribing for Now and Later”                                                                                                                            Valerie M. Vaughn, MD, MSc, FACP, FHM, Assistant Professor, Instructional Track Director of Hospital Medicine Research, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT "Emerging Trends in the Clinical Management of VTE”                                                                                                                                                                Victor F. Tapson, MD, FCCP, FRCP, Director, Clinical Research for the Women’s Guild Lung Institute, Director, Venous Thromboembolism & Pulmonary Vascular Disease Research Program, Associate Director, Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA “Contemporary Approach to the Management of Diabetes as a Cardiovascular Disease”                                                                                               Yehuda Handelsman, MD, FACP, FNLA, FASPC, MACE, Medical Director & Principal Investigator, Metabolic Institute of America, Tarzana, CA The Arthur J Lurie, MD Memorial Dinner and Keynote Presentation, sponsored by the charitable Renown Foundation and the Lurie Family, is an evening ceremony to honor and memorialize the devotion and innovation of the lake Dr. Arthur J. Lurie, who personified humanitarian, medical and community service. Dr. Lurie devoted modernized heart surgery and was steadfast in his commitment to introduce new and groundbreaking techniques cardiovascular techniques to Nevada. He promoted and inspired life-changing research and advancements in heart surgery, as well as cancer research, until his passing in 1996. Medical professionals are invited to attend the 31st Annual Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine conference will take place at the Resort at Squaw Creek in Olympic Valley, CA from Friday, Nov. 5 through Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. Those interested in registering or learning more may visit www.renown.org/trends. The clinical team at Renown Institute for Heart and Vascular Health is the recipient of a number of national awards for outstanding clinical care and service, including: In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital rankings for 2021, Renown Regional Medical Center - #1 in the State of Nevada for 2021. No other hospital in Nevada earned recognition from U.S. News. Renown Regional Medical Center is High Performing, its highest rating possible, for Heart Failure and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Awarded by the American College of Surgeons for the Renown Regional earned America's 100 Best Hospitals for Critical Care Award (2021) for Superior clinical outcomes in treating pulmonary embolism, respiratory system failure, sepsis, and diabetic emergencies. Regional also earned the Pulmonary Care Excellence Award™ (2021), for superior outcomes. Designated Level II Trauma Center. For the 30th year, Renown Regional Medical Center is northern Nevada's only designated level II trauma center. Renown Regional awarded The Get with the Guidelines - Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement award for continually ensuring heart failure patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, as well as AHA's mission: Lifeline Gold Receiving honor for the treatment of patients who suffer severe heart attacks. American College of Cardiology's NCDR Chest Pain-MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award. Renown Regional Medical Center is one of only 225 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor. The award recognizes Renown's success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients and signifies that Renown has reached an aggressive goal of treating these patients to standard levels of care as outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.  To make an appointment with a provider at Renown's Institute for Heart and Vascular Health, request that your primary care provider make a referral. For more information on Renown's Institute for Heart and Vascular Health, visit renown.org/Health-Services/Heart-Care.     About Renown Health Renown Health is a locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital rankings, Renown Regional Medical Center was listed #1 in the State of Nevada. Renown has a long tradition and commitment to improve the care and the health of our community. For more information, visit renown.org.

Read More About Leading Experts Convene in Tahoe to Focus on Scientific Advancements and the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, the #1 Cause of Death Globally

Renown Health announced today that David Hansen, CEO will retire on October 7, 2022 from Hometown Health, Nevada’s largest not-for-profit insurance company. Over the last two years that Hansen has overseen Renown’s health plan, he has contributed significantly to ensuring wide-ranging medical coverage and excellent customer service for more than 100,000 members across Nevada. Bethany Sexton, MBA, will assume the role of CEO of Hometown Health effective September 12, 2022 as part of a smooth transition and succession plan. Ms. Sexton currently serves as Chief Transformation Officer for Renown Health, responsible for value-based care delivery including insurance and managed care contracting, the Renown Direct Contracting Entity (DCE), Renown Accountable Care Organization (ACO) and Western Clinical Alliance, a clinically integrated network of physicians. Mr. Hansen led a number of significant accomplishments for Hometown Health including the addition of 82 new provider groups for northern Nevada health plan subscribers and a Medicare network in southern Nevada. Hansen, the Hometown Health team introduced a Transitional Care Navigator program resulting in reduced hospital readmission rates, added Renown-branded insurance products on Nevada Health Link, Nevada’s Health Insurance Exchange and helped to grow Senior Care Plus, Hometown Health’s Medicare Advantage Plan membership during the 2022 Annual Election Period. Hansen and the Hometown Health team implemented a number of Total Cost of Care initiatives in partnership with Renown Medical Group to make premiums and health care costs more affordable, including health outreach efforts and medical screenings to improve health care for members over age 65. "Leading Hometown Health for the past two years, and through the pandemic, has been a great honor. I am incredibly thankful to our members, my fellow employees, our broker and employer partners, and our leadership team for giving me the privilege to serve," said Hansen. “Hometown Health and Renown are community-focused organizations and it has been a privilege to be part of a team that gives back to improve the health and well-being of those we serve. I have spent hours working collaboratively with Bethany over the last few years and know she is perfect person to lead our health plan into a new era.” As CEO, Hansen worked closely with Renown senior leadership to put a thoughtful leadership transition plan in place, culminating with the promotion of Bethany Sexton to the position of CEO. Consistent with the plan, Hansen will continue to offer guidance and perspective as he and Sexton complete the transition over the next few weeks. "David’s vision of excellence, his drive and experience has transformed Hometown Health to be both member and customer-focused,” said Dr. Thomas Graf, CEO of Renown Health. “David has done much to modernize and build a first-rate health plan. We thank David for all his accomplishments and wish him a wonderfully satisfying retirement.” As CEO of Hometown Health, Ms. Sexton will be responsible for driving growth across the organization, including the development and execution of strategic plans; introduction of new programs and services; membership growth; operational, financial and customer service excellence; and continued improvements in clinical quality with a focus on lowering the cost of care for members in northern Nevada. Ms. Sexton has served in a number of key leadership roles for Renown Health over the past eight years, including Vice President of Operations & Development, VP/Administrator for the Department of Medicine, VP Strategic Planning and Performance Improvement, and VP of Revenue Cycle in Finance. With 20 years of health care experience, in both clinical and administrative settings, and more than 9 years at Renown, she has developed collaborative partnerships and created innovative new solutions to meet rapidly changing employee and customer expectations. "I believe one of the most important duties of a leader is preparing the next generation of leadership to succeed," added Dr. Graf. "There is no question that Bethany Sexton is the right person to lead Hometown Health into its next chapter. She has integrity, business acumen, energy, leadership skills and deep knowledge of value based care to ensure Hometown Health delights its membership and she will help Renown Health achieve our strategy of being both a Care Leader and a Health Partner for providers and patients in our community.” Bethany Sexton earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Nevada, Reno and her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Business Administration and Management from Western Washington University. She is passionate about community service, most recently serving as Chair, Board of Directors for Immunize Nevada, and as a former Board Member for Nevada Women's Fund, Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) and the American Red Cross. Ms. Sexton and her family make their home in Reno, NV.     About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®. For more information, visit renown.org.

Read More About Hometown Health CEO David Hansen Announces Retirement, Bethany Sexton Named Successor

David Hansen, MBA, joins Hometown Health to continue to serve future generations and improve the health and well-being of Nevadans Renown Health and Hometown Health are excited to announce David Hansen, MBA, is joining Hometown Health as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). In his role as CEO, Hansen will oversee Hometown Health, contributing to its growth to ensure the not-for-profit company is here for generations to come and to assist Renown in developing new care models that will deliver healthcare that is both accessible and affordable. “We are pleased to welcome such an experienced and talented leader like David to our organization and to northern Nevada,” said Tony Slonim, MD, D.Ph., President and CEO, Renown Health. “As CEO of Hometown Health, David will continue to foster a culture of caring and excellence, while ensuring wide-ranging medical coverage and great customer service to Hometown Health’s more than 138,000 members statewide.” Hansen has spent the previous twenty years of his career working for UnitedHealthcare, a health insurance company based out of Minnetonka, Minnesota. During his time at UnitedHealthcare, Hansen held various roles including chief financial officer of clinical & network services, west region president of network & provider services, chief executive officer of the California Health Plan and chief executive officer of the Pacific Northwest Health Plan. He has also served in executive roles with PacifiCare and TransAmerica Occidental Life and began his career in the audit and management consulting practice of Deloitte & Touche. “Choosing healthcare coverage is one of the most important decisions people make. I am excited to begin my work with Hometown Health and Renown to help our members receive the quality coverage to enhance their health and well-being,” said Hansen. “Hometown Health is such a community-focused organization and I look forward to being a part of a team that gives back to improve the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve. ”David has an MBA in Finance and Business Policy from the University of Chicago, and a BA in Economics and Business from the University of California, Los Angeles.     About Hometown Health Established in 1988, Hometown Health is the insurance division of Renown Health and is Northern Nevada’s largest locally-owned, not-for-profit health insurance company. Providing wide-ranging medical coverage and great service to members, Hometown Health represents a philosophy of health care that emphasizes active partnerships between members and physicians. For more information, call 775-982-3000 or visit www.hometownhealth.com. About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally owned and governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown’s institute model addresses social determinants of health and includes: Child Health, Behavioral Health & Addiction, Healthy Aging and Health Innovation. Clinical institutes include: Cancer, Heart and Vascular Heath, Neurosciences and Robotic Surgery. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®. For more information, visit renown.org.

Read More About Locally Owned Not-For-Profit Insurance Company, Hometown Health, Welcomes New CEO

New collaboration in Clark County grants aging adults access to a premier health plan with a nationally-recognized care model. Senior Care Plus, the Medicare Advantage plan from Hometown Health, and nationally-recognized CareMore Health, have joined forces to serve Clark County seniors with two exclusive Medicare Advantage plans, designed to improve health outcomes for aging adults and those with complex health needs. As more than half a million Medicare recipients in Nevada make decisions about their healthcare during the annual Medicare open enrollment period beginning Thursday, Oct. 15, Clark County residents will have the option to receive personalized care to address their unique health needs through two new Senior Care Plus health plans, with access to CareMore Health providers and services. Competitive plan benefits include $0 premiums, preventive and comprehensive dental coverage, no to low co-pays for commonly used services, low out-of-pocket maximums, and targeted programs and benefits to help every member optimize their health. “CareMore’s mission and its successful value-based model aligns perfectly with our commitment to offer those with Medicare insurance, the highest-quality care,” said David Hansen, CEO of Hometown Health, the non-profit health plan offered through Renown Health, the state’s most trusted health care system. “We’re proud to announce our new partnership and exclusive Medicare Advantage plans available to Clark County residents to improve their health and healthcare experience.”  For over 25 years, CareMore’s patient-centered model has delivered highly-coordinated, integrated care to help every member achieve optimal health outcomes, including those with chronic conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes and congestive heart failure (CHF). The model continues to evolve, adding new programs to address important issues like food inequity, mental health and senior isolation. CareMore’s care delivery system has served the Clark County community for 10 years. The CareMore model includes an integrated team of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, behavioral health and other specialists who work collaboratively to address patients’ medical, physical, and overall health and help address barriers to accessing needed care. As part of the Senior Care Plus and CareMore Health collaboration, patients will receive care where and when they need it, including care delivered in their home, virtually, in CareMore’s three Care Centers, and if needed, in the hospital. In response to COVID-19, the care delivery system has ramped up its telehealth capabilities, in addition to safety measures put in place, to ensure everyone’s safety.  “This new partnership will deliver a premier healthcare solution and proven care delivery model for Medicare recipients in Clark County, said Peter Emigh, General Manager of CareMore Health, Nevada. “The CareMore delivery system has served the Clark County community for 10 years, and we look forward to working with Hometown Health to help area residents reach their health goals, thereby improving the health and welfare of the community.” Senior Care Plus has proudly served residents of Clark County since 2019, offering competitive benefit options, exceptional customer service and experienced care management. The partnership with CareMore Health is the latest example of Senior Care Plus’ commitment to Nevada’s Medicare beneficiaries. Medicare’s annual open enrollment period runs between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7, 2020. Virtual enrollment meetings, as well as online and phone enrollment options are now available. Visit SeniorCarePlus.com for more information about Senior Care Plus coverage options.   About Senior Care Plus & Hometown Health Senior Care Plus is the largest Medicare Advantage plan in northern Nevada serving more than 17,000 members. Senior Care Plus is offered by Reno-based Hometown Health, Nevada’s largest not-for-profit health insurance company and the insurance arm of Renown Health. Originally named Hospital Health Plan, Hometown Health was founded in 1988 and has grown to more than 160,000 members. The Hometown Health name reflects the organization’s commitment to the communities in which it operates and its involvement in what matters most, the people it serves. To learn more about Senior Care Plus visit SeniorCarePlus.com and to learn more about Hometown Health, please visit HometownHealth.com.  About CareMore Health CareMore Health is a physician-founded, physician-led integrated care delivery system that harnesses the power of teamwork to treat the whole person. Through a focus on prevention and highly coordinated care, its clinical model and designed-for-purpose approach to managing chronic disease proactively addresses the medical, social and personal health needs of its patients, resulting in clinical outcomes above the national average and ultimately, healthier people and communities. Over the past nine years, CareMore has expanded from one state to ten. And today, the CareMore delivery system provides care for enrollees in Medicare Advantage and Medicaid health plans in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, DC. CareMore also is participating in a dual demonstration project in parts of Los Angeles County in conjunction with state and federal regulators to coordinate care for people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. To learn more about CareMore, go to www.caremore.com and follow us on Twitter and Facebook @caremorehealth.  CareMore Health Media Contact: Charla Hawkins M: 562-480-2130 E: charla.hawkins@caremore.com

Read More About Senior Care Plus to Provide Affordable, High-Quality Healthcare

Senior Care Plus set to host a free webinar designed to help participants approaching age 65 make informed decisions about their health coverage.   Navigating the Medicare alphabet can sometimes be confusing and overwhelming, which is why the experts of locally-owned Senior Care Plus, a Medicare Advantage Plan, are hosting a free webinar on the ABCs of Medicare. There are four basic parts of Medicare: A, B, C and D. Each part helps patients pay for important healthcare services such as hospital visits, doctor visits and prescription drug coverage.   Set for Wednesday, August 5 and Wednesday, August 19 at 6 p.m., the free webinar will cover the basics of Medicare and answer frequently asked questions to help attendees get the most out of their health coverage. Both webinars will cover the same topics, however, two dates are offered as an added convenience to attendees. Visit SeniorCarePlus.com or call 775-982-3191 to register.   “With unfamiliar words and ideas you’ve likely never come across before, learning about Medicare may feel like learning a new language at first,” said David Hansen, CEO of Hometown Health. “As you begin the process of becoming a Medicare recipient, Senior Care Plus is committed to helping you become fluent in Medicare and help you understand the basics so you can make the best decisions for your unique healthcare needs.”   From the convenience of a computer or mobile device, participants will learn about:   The parts of Medicare - A, B, C and D; Eligibility and enrollment options; How to personalize their Medicare options based on their healthcare needs   Serving as a partner in health to both northern and southern Nevadans, Senior Care Plus is the statewide leader in helping people take advantage of Medicare Advantage. Plus, with membership perks like virtual education events and exclusive discounts to state-of-the-art health and wellness resources, Senior Care Plus is determined to help its members stay healthy and active.               For more details about Senior Care Plus and your Medicare options, to attend an informational meeting, or to schedule a personal one-on-one consultation, visit seniorcareplus.com or call 775-982-3158.        About Hometown Health Established in 1988, Hometown Health is the insurance division of Renown Health and is Northern Nevada’s largest locally-owned, not-for-profit health insurance company. Providing wide-ranging medical coverage and great service to members, Hometown Health represents a philosophy of health care that emphasizes active partnerships between members and physicians. For more information, call 775-982-3000 or visit hometownhealth.com.   About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally owned and governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown’s institute model addresses social determinants of health and includes: Child Health, Behavioral Health & Addiction, Healthy Aging and Health Innovation. Clinical institutes include: Cancer, Heart and Vascular Heath, Neurosciences and Robotic Surgery. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®. For more information, visit renown.org.

Read More About Free Webinar Explains the Basics of Medicare

Flatbed concert by power house group Jelly Bread set to commemorate this monumental gift from the Robert and Dorothy Keyser Foundation. Renown Health Foundation announced today that the LOVE sculpture, a one-ton, welded aluminum artwork with letters 10-feet tall and eight-feet wide, has found a permanent home at Renown Regional Medical Center’s main entrance thanks to a donation from the Robert and Dorothy Keyser Foundation. To celebrate, Renown has partnered with Carson City’s Brewery Arts Center to bring music to the people of 89502with a flat bed concert by the nationally-touring band and Jelly Bread. The concert will be tonight from 5-8 p.m. and the truck will stop at various locations near the LOVE sculpture, playing feel-good, urban sounds of funk and rock. See the official concert route here and attached.    “Since April and the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the LOVE sculpture has been a powerful source of hope, inspiration and determination for our community,” said Blake Smith, chair of the Keyser Foundation. “Now, we can’t imagine the entrance of the hospital without it. We are happy that the incredible piece of art will continue shining a bright light while spreading warmth and comfort to all who care for those in our hospitals, patients and families, and those who pass by.” Blake Smith will be at the LOVE sculpture today from 11 a.m. – noon to speak on the Keyser Foundation’s donation. A Renown spokesperson will also be available to speak on the evening’s traveling flatbed concert festivities. Members of the media are invited to the LOVE sculpture tonight at 5 p.m. to cover the concert.    The LOVE structure was originally slated to be on display at Renown from April 16-July 16 as part of a partnership with local non-profit, Artown. However, because of the generosity of the Keyser Foundation, the sculpture will remain in its current location, clearly visible to employees, physicians, patients, families and vehicular and pedestrian traffic along the Mill and Ryland Street corridors.    Dr. Tony Slonim, president and CEO of Renown says, “Purchasing the LOVE sculpture to stay on our Regional Medical Center campus was an incredible act of love demonstrated by our former Renown Board Chair, Blake Smith and the Keyser Foundation— a love for our community, a love for those fighting for their health and a love for those fighting to keep our community safe. This piece of art has already inspired so many and comforted those in need during such a notable time in our nation’s history. I encourage everyone to experience this wonderful gift to our community.”   To celebrate the sculpture’s new home, Jelly Bread will play an upbeat musical set on a traveling flatbread truck, sharing the love with nearby neighborhoods and parks—beginning and ending at the LOVE sculpture.  “We are extremely grateful to Blake Smith and the Keyser Foundation for bestowing a gift our entire community can enjoy,” said Renown Health Foundation’s chief development officer, Greg Walaitis. “Since the concept of love and music are harmonious, we can’t imagine a better way to celebrate this gift than with a community-wide flatbed concert by a band that exudes positivity, and of course, LOVE.” Debuting at Burning Man in 2019, the LOVE sculpture was created by artist Laura Kimpton and fabricated by Jeff Schomberg. Over the years, the duo has collaborated to create 18 letter-based sculptures—including the popular BELIEVE and HOME, which are located in Reno and OINK and MOM pieces, which have been featured around the world.  Renown believes that healthcare and the arts work hand-in-hand to help heal the mind, body and soul. Displays of visual art and musical performances can be observed at Renown locations throughout the region, year-round.  Ways to Support the Arts at Renown Health: Make a gift at renown.org/give Call Renown Health Foundation at 775-982-5545 Mail a check to Renown Health Foundation, 1155 Mill St., O2, Reno, NV 89502 Venmo: @RenownFoundation     About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally owned and governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown’s institute model addresses social determinants of health and includes: Child Health, Behavioral Health & Addiction, Healthy Aging and Health Innovation. Clinical institutes include: Cancer, Heart and Vascular Heath, Neurosciences and Robotic Surgery. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®. For more information, visit renown.org.

Read More About Iconic Love Sculpture to Make Permanent Home at Renown

Renown Health's Dr. Christopher Rowan recently joined a distinguished panel of experts on the "Game Changers in Medicine" podcast to discuss the science behind the discovery of warfarin. Renown Health Cardiologist Dr. Christopher Rowan was just featured on an episode of Game Changers in Medicine, a groundbreaking medical history podcast from Dramatic Health about some of the world’s most significant medical discoveries. The episode, Warfarin: How a rat poison became one of the world's most widely prescribed drugs, dives into the fascinating history of Warfarin and its life-saving effects on humans.  During the episode, Dr. Rowan, whose research focus is heart disease and atherosclerosis, is joined by experts Kevin Walters, Historian and Strategic Research Coordinator at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF); and Ramya M. Rajagopalan, Ph.D. of the Institute for Practical Ethics at UC San Diego. Listen to the episode now or download it wherever you listen to podcasts.  History of Warfarin Warfarin prevents blood clots from forming or expanding. The drug is especially important for individuals who have experienced a heart attack or stroke, or are at risk of experiencing either. However, the backstory of the drug is rather fascinating.  Beginning in the 1920s, an unknown disease was killing cattle throughout the U.S. and Canada. Desperate to find a solution, one farmer drove 200 miles to the University of Wisconsin with a dead cow, bales of spoiled hay and a milk can of unclotted blood in tow. He crossed paths with a scientist, whose team set out to determine the hemorrhagic component of the spoiled hay, resulting in a series of medical discoveries that would revolutionize medicine.  After learning more about Warfarin and how Vitamin K could reverse its blood thinning properties, doctors first prescribed the drug for human use in 1954. It is perhaps most widely known for saving President Dwight D. Eisenhower after he suffered a heart attack in 1955. Today, Warfarin continues to saves millions of lives each year. “Before blood thinners like Warfarin, people would experience strokes, blood clots in their lungs, blood clots in their legs, blood clots in their hearts, along with countless other clotting disorders - these conditions likely cutting their lifespans short,” Dr. Rowan said during the podcast. “Warfarin revolutionized the treatment of patients who suffer from heart attacks and strokes, helping them to live normal and healthy lives. The drug changed medicine forever and helped make incredible innovations such as mechanical heart valves a reality.” Interview Opportunity Dr. Rowan is available for interviews to discuss the importance of this unique medical discovery and the positive impact it has on many of the patients he treats every day. Please email news@renown.org or call 775-691- 7308 to coordinate an interview.      About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally owned and governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown’s institute model addresses social determinants of health and includes: Child Health, Behavioral Health & Addiction, Healthy Aging and Health Innovation. Clinical institutes include: Cancer, Heart and Vascular Heath, Neurosciences and Robotic Surgery. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project® . For more information, visit renown.org. About Dramatic Health Dramatic Health, a national healthcare video company, is the producer of the six-part podcast series Game Changers in Medicine. The series premiered in July with an episode about Vitamin K and an enterprising Boston house doctor. The August episode showcased the creation of a smallpox vaccine and its parallels to today's urgent search for a COVID-19 vaccine. Game Changers in Medicine ranked #27 in Apple Podcasts: Life Sciences in the United States according to Chartable as of August 21, 2020. Both episodes, a series backgrounder, and additional material about the podcast series are available at www.gamechangersinmedicine.com and can be accessed wherever you listen to podcasts.

Read More About Renown Cardiologist Shares Insight on Warfarin

Pictured left to right: Erin VanKirk, MSN, RN, Renown Health Director of Nursing Education; Mitch Krebs, Program Director at Helmsley Charitable Trust; Dr. Graf, Renown Health CEO; Greg Walaitis Renown Health Chief Development Officer. Renown Health will use the grant to build the Helmsley Simulation and Innovation Center to improve the health system’s training abilities The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has granted $3.1 million to Renown Health for construction of a new simulation and innovation center that will greatly expand the health system’s ability to train healthcare providers throughout northern Nevada. The new center will be named the Helmsley Simulation and Innovation Center. Expected to open in April 2023, the center will feature three simulated patient rooms, classroom space, computer labs and a conference center, allowing trainers to run current and future healthcare professionals through real-life acute, outpatient, telemedicine and specialty care scenarios. The new center will let Renown Health train substantially more nurses, physicians, community clinical partners, medical students and rural providers while improving medical and nursing expertise to support staff throughout northern Nevada. “The Helmsley Charitable Trust is excited to fund this new simulation center, which will provide healthcare professionals across rural Nevada with state-of-the-art training in a variety of situations they’ll encounter,” said Walter Panzirer, a trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust. “The project fits with our goal to level the playing field by giving rural residents access to top-notch healthcare, regardless of their ZIP code.” “Simulation education has become standard practice for many of our healthcare personnel,” said Erin Van Kirk MSN, RN, Director of Nursing Education. “This lab will provide expanded opportunities in a controlled setting where physicians, nurses, and students can gain valuable experience in providing the best care possible.” Renown Health has outgrown its current simulation lab, which opened in 2016 in Renown Regional Medical Center. The new, larger, state-of-the-art simulation and innovation center will increase Renown Health’s training capacity from 1,500 to 2,500 each year. The new facility will be equipped with state-of-the-art simulation mannequins and other equipment that includes a telemetry monitor, IV and epidural equipment, a code cart, a defibrillator, a balloon pump, ventilators and a cooling machine. The center will also support Renown Health’s recently established partnership with the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, expanding training modules focused on rural health and virtual care through telemedicine. “The facility will help Renown Health respond to our region’s growing population by allowing us to support the training and competency necessary for our care providers to make a genuine difference in the health and well-being of the people and communities we serve,” said Melodie Osborn, RN, MBA, Chief Nursing Executive at Renown Health. “This generous grant for the new simulation and innovation center from the Helmsley Charitable Trust is truly an investment in the bright future we envision for Renown, our care teams and the community.” About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®. For more information, visit renown.org. About the Helmsley Charitable Trust The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed more than $3 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. Helmsley’s Rural Healthcare Program funds innovative projects that use information technologies to connect rural patients to emergency medical care, bring the latest medical therapies to patients in remote areas, and provide state-of-the-art training for rural hospitals and EMS personnel. To date, this program has awarded more than $500 million to organizations and initiatives in the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Minnesota, Iowa, Montana, and Nevada. For more information, visit helmsleytrust.org.

Read More About Helmsley Charitable Trust Grants $3.1 Million to Renown Health

Renown Health Foundation announced today a special delivery from Sarah Carmona Zink and her Dreams Foundation, donating hundreds of pajamas, receiving blankets, beanie caps, nursing pillows and more, as well as a check for $10,500 for the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Renown Children’s Hospital. Please see visuals to accompany this story here.  For the past three years, Carmona Zink and the Dreams Foundation have staged a fundraisingand baby item drive to give back to the NICU that took care of Carmona Zink’s son, Howie, during a difficult time for the family.  “Our NICU drive is inspired by Howie, who just turned 4,” said Carmona Zink. “Hespent about a month in Renown’s NICU because he was born withgastroschisis, a condition where his intestines formed on the outside of his body.During Howie’s stay, the NICU staff was an extension of our family and cared so deeply for all of us. Our goal through this drive has always been to give back to those who gave so much to us, as well as provide a sense of normalcy to parents with babies in the NICU.During these unprecedented times, providing comfort and relief to parents is more important than ever.” “As a pediatric intensive care physician, who is also a dad, and a new grandfather, I thank Sarah Carmona Zink, her family and the Dreams Foundation for their incredible generosity and compassion. Through the years, Sarah has done so much to support the Renown Children’s Hospital NICU team and other NICU parents- she does so with such joy and enthusiasm, and we are incredibly grateful to her for all that she does,” said Tony Slonim, MD, D.Ph., Renown’s President & CEO. Through this year’s donation drive, Carmona Zink collected the following items for Renown’s NICU:  50 nursing pillows 180 hand-knitted baby beanies 532 pairs of pajamas 682 receiving blankets 8 sleep sacks 473 scent pads, which parents keep on their skin and then leave with their baby so he/she can be comforted by their parents’ scent Books for siblings to read while visiting Miscellaneous items such as pumping storage bottles, bibs, baby hand covers, newborn socks, mobiles, and nursing pillow covers $10,500 monetary donation from the Dreams Foundation   Dr. Max Coppes, Physician-in-Chief of Renown Children’s Hospitaland Larry Duncan, Administrator of Renown Children’s Hospital add, “We are truly blessed with the support for the very smallest residents of Renown Children’s Hospital, some weighing less than a pound! Sarah and her family inspire us to remain devoted to the children we serve, knowing that the community is committed to our Children’s Hospital.” “We look forward to this donation drive every year,” said Renown NICU nurse Jessica Bakke. “The work Sarah and her team do to collect these itemsis very meaningful to all of us. We don’t always have funds to purchase extra items like clothing, blankets and nursing pillows, so everything we receive through this drive makes a differencefor our babies and their families. It is a wonderful gift to be able to offer fresh clothing and other much-needed items to help these parents.”     Greg Walaitis, Chief Development Officer for Renown says, “We are extremely grateful to Sarah and the Dreams Foundation for their generous donation to our NICU. Donations like these help ensure we have plenty of items on hand when our babies and their families need them. This donation allows parents with babies in our NICU to focus solely ontheir baby’s health, rather than material needs that may come up along the way. It is an honor to be the recipient of such an amazing act of kindness for the third year in a row.”     Founded in 2012, Dreams Foundation is a non-profit created to meet the unmet dreams and aspirations of individuals, families, neighborhood churches, people-serving agencies and organizations, recognized charities, boys and girls clubs, and youth sports programs in communities. To learn more, visit dreamsfoundationinc.com.  Ways to Support the Miracles Made Possible at Renown Children’s Hospital Call Renown Health Foundation at 775-982-5545 Make a gift at renown.org/give Mail a check to Renown Health Foundation, 1155 Mill St., O2, Reno, NV 89502 Venmo: @RenownFoundation       About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally owned and governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown’s institute model addresses social determinants of health and includes: Child Health, Behavioral Health & Addiction, Healthy Aging and Health Innovation. Clinical institutes include: Cancer, Heart and Vascular Heath, Neurosciences and Robotic Surgery. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®. For more information, visit renown.org.

Read More About Dreams Foundation Makes $10,500 Donation Benefiting NICU Babies