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Community Recognizes 2020 Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement Winners
Renown Health nurses are being celebrated for going above and beyond for their patients and care team colleagues. Every year, the Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement Committee recognizes registered nurses (RNs) from across the community to celebrate their accomplishments and further the nursing profession. The committee just announced the 2020 award winners, including seven high-performing nurses from Renown Health. Nurses are at the forefront of the care teams working through the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 has been fittingly declared the “International Year of the Nurse and Midwife” by the World Health Organization. Celebrating our nurses is more important this year than ever, and Renown is proud to be home to seven of the 2020 Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement winners in the following categories: Clinical Leadership: Jenny Garcia, RN, BSN, supervisor of nursing in the orthopedics unit at Renown Regional Medical Center; Critical Care: Olivia Cartwright, RN, BSN, bedside nurse in the intensive care unit at Renown Regional Medical Center; Lifetime Achievement: Cheryl Jameson, RN, bedside nurse in the general surgical unit at Renown South Meadows Medical Center; Office & Outpatient: Kathleen Neilan, RN, BCN, OCN, cancer nurse navigator at Renown Institute for Cancer; Oncology and Infusion Services: Paola Espinoza, RN, BSN, supervisor of nursing in the cancer nursing unit at Renown Regional Medical Center; Rookie of the Year: Tamara Slater, RN, BSN, bedside nurse in the general surgical unit at Renown Regional Medical Center;Renown Facility Winner: Chelsea Zielinski, RN, MSN, clinical nurse educator in the neonatal intensive care unit at Renown Regional Medical Center. From a pool of over 400 publicly-nominated nurses who provide care across northern Nevada’s care facilities and hospitals, the Committee announced a total of 14 award winners during a virtual awards celebration on Friday, Aug. 28. Anthony D. Slonim, RN, MD, DrPH, FACHE; President and CEO of Renown, who worked as a registered nurse in an Emergency Department earlier in his career says, “We appreciate the work that every nurse does every day, not only for the patient in the hospital, but in all of the other settings where people come to learn how to live healthier lives. Nurses have direct influence on the outcomes of every patient, and I congratulate all 14 nurses for their exceptional achievements.” He adds, “The real winners are those patients, families, colleagues and community members who are cared for by these exceptional nursing professionals.” “We’re proud to celebrate our community’s nurses and all they do to care for patients and their loved ones,” said Jana Elliott, Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Acute Care Services. “Nursing is a true calling to serve others and there are so many incredible ways nurses go beyond their duty to provide the best care despite the intense nature of the pandemic.” “Nurses are at the core of our care teams; they provide compassionate care and advocate for patients and their loved ones in a time of need,” said Melodie Osborn, Chief Nursing Officer, Health Services. “The Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement awards are a longstanding way of honoring our community’s most compassionate nurses.” Interview Opportunities A 2020 Nurses of Achievement winner and a representative from Renown’s nursing leadership are happy to speak on this prestigious honor, as well as what it means to be a nurse during these unprecedented times. Please email news@renown.org or call 775-691-7308 to schedule 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 Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement Shining a spotlight on the nursing profession since 1999, the Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement Committee works to honor their colleagues and to increase awareness of nursing as a profession. The committee also supports the growth of the profession in awarding scholarships for nursing students.
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Air Guard RN Makes an Impact in Community and Beyond
Everyday, Renown salutes its more than 150 active military and veterans on staff. Becca Gilbert, a Renown trauma nurse, is an example of the many outstanding service members at Renown who are serving both their country and their community. Becca Gilbert, BSN, RN, wears many uniforms. When she’s not wearing scrubs in her role as a trauma nurse in the intensive care unit of Renown Regional Medical Center, she’s wearing fatigues as a first lieutenant in the Nevada Air National Guard. “Service is huge,” says Becca Gilbert, RN, of her role in the Air Guard. “It’s something that is ingrained in me and a big part of who I am as a person. I find a lot of pride in being a part of something that is bigger than what is going on in my world.” Renown Health was named one of 15 recipients across the nation — and the only health system in the U.S. — for the Department of Defense’s highest employer award, the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, for exceptional support of its military employees. The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves and Renown held a ceremony June 29 to recognize the award and to honor representatives of Renown who currently serve in the Guard and Reserves. With her Air Guard background, Gilbert is preassigned veteran patients at the Renown ICU. She says she’s able to relate to the veterans and their families and create a quick bond with them. “I’ve been assigned patients who are guard members with traumatic injuries — it’s good but hard,” Gilbert explains. “But I really love working with patients who are veterans.” Gilbert’s first career was as a veterinarian technician. Then enlisted in the Nevada Air National Guard in August 2008 — following in her father’s footsteps — and trained to serve as an EMT. While she was a medic, she went to nursing school for her second bachelor’s degree and was able to commission as an officer after graduation. Serving Our Community Gilbert says her work in the guard offers benefits that help with her job responsibilities at Renown, where she’s worked for four years. “At Renown, we are really a team and rely on each other to make sure there are good outcomes,” she says. “In the guard, officers are often put in charge, which teaches you a lot of things — organization, decision making and thinking of others. I think all of those things go hand-in-hand with my role as a nurse, especially in the ICU. People in the guard count on you as an officer and leader, and that is really important in the ICU when patients are counting on you for a positive outcome.” Gilbert’s responsibilities in the guard vary, including training for disaster relief missions and ensuring service members are fit and healthy enough to perform their jobs. “Training is a large part of the military — trauma training, physical fitness training and staying current on certifications,” she says. Locally she also leads the Self Aid Buddy Care program, a United States Air Force program that encompasses basic life support and limb-saving techniques to help wounded or injured personnel survive in medical emergencies until medical help is available. With the guard, Gilbert has also been involved in a bleeding-control program for volunteers in the community. She teaches community groups how to stop bleeding if they are a bystander to a car accident or other type of event, and is working with Renown trauma surgeon Marty Bain, M.D. to implement the program at Renown as well. Making a Difference Abroad In January, Gilbert was presented with an opportunity through the Nevada Guard State Partnership Program to travel outside the United States to the Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific and work at the Women and Children Crisis Centre, which assists families who are dealing with domestic violence. Gilbert praised the women who work at the center for their efforts towards change, as she says domestic violence is common in Tonga. “The women who work at the Women and Children Crisis Centre are pioneers,” she says. “They are trying to make changes by documenting what is going on and providing statistics to the lords and kings of Tonga. Some of it still isn’t accepted, but they continue to help the women and children of Tonga. They are helping so many people.” Renown Health salutes Gilbert for her tireless service to her country and her community here at home.
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One Patients Story of Survival
Thanks in part to the care provided by Renown’s award-winning team of ICU nurses, Tony Mowatt is alive, thriving and engaged. Read his story — and learn about the exclusive Beacon Award of Excellence — below. The open road. The growl of the engine. The feeling of freedom. That’s what Oakland resident Tony Mowatt was enjoying as he drove up Highway 88 toward Reno for the semi-annual Street Vibrations event. But he wasn’t expecting to hit the diesel truck — or to fly off of his bike over 100 yards, skidding onto the side of the road. He was severely injured and in the midst of rural Nevada. He had crashed just outside Centerville, Nev., and was miles away from any critical care hospital. Having the only trauma center equipped to treat his serious injuries, Tony was flown to Renown Regional Medical Center and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). ICU Nurses Treat Patient, Support Family Tony’s girlfriend, Tasha Klubock, was notified by his friend that he had been taken to the hospital. She immediately drove from Oakland to Reno to see Tony at Renown. Her first night there was overwhelming and scary — nobody knew if Tony was going to survive. But the nurses helped Tasha cope with the initial shock. Caring for the patient isn’t their only job — they also care for the family. “They [the nurses] just kept coming in and checking on me,” she said. “Angela was so amazing that first night. I really just bonded to her, and I remember when the shift switched, I panicked thinking about who was coming on and wanting to meet the next nurse … But they all came to talk to me — I had updates from everybody. It was just amazing.” ICU Nurses Became Family Tony spent 32 days in Renown’s Sierra ICU, surviving a serious head injury, all with Tasha by his side. He and Tasha still stay in touch with Renown nurses. “Even though this was literally one of the most hideous, craziest things to go through,” Tasha said. “There was so much hope and they became such a family to me and I still think of that time fondly because of the nurses.” “I’m alive because they wanted me to be,” Tony said. And Tony and Tasha are now happily engaged and planning their wedding. Exceptional Care: Renown ICU Nurses Win Awards Renown’s ICU nurses provide care like this every day to countless patients — it’s so second nature to them that they forget how exceptional it truly is. But it’s certainly care like Tony’s that has earned them national recognition. The American Association of Critical Care Nurses awarded the Beacon Award of Excellence to the Sierra, Cardiac and Roseview ICUs. These are the only ICUs in Nevada to obtain this honor. The Beacon Award recognizes critical care nursing teams who exemplify excellence in areas like leadership, process systems, quality care, knowledge, learning and development, excellence in patient care and superior patient health outcomes. “I couldn’t have been more proud of what we’ve done to accomplish this,” said Nick Dovedot, Cardiac ICU nurse. “It represents who we are. Just a great group of individuals who all work together as a team to make our patients get better.”
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Dedicated Community Leader, Stephanie Kruse Honored by NV Hospital Association for Excellence and Improving Health of Nevada
Stephanie Kruse of Reno has been awarded the prestigious 2023 Trustee of the Year Award from the Nevada Hospital Association (NHA). Each year at the association’s annual meeting, the Nevada Hospital Association publicly acknowledges one trustee who exemplifies exceptional leadership professional excellence; outstanding achievements; innovative accomplishments and extraordinary compassion in caring for the community. “Stephanie’s effectiveness in advocating on behalf of hospitals, patients, and the health care system- as well as her personal connection and passion for improving the community’s overall health are what made her an excellent choice for this year’s award,” said Pat Kelly, NHA’s President & CEO. “Steph Kruse sets an inspiring example of someone who has dedicated her life to promoting public understanding of, and support for, the healthcare systems serving Nevada’s communities. She serves as an advocate for the provision of high quality, affordable and accessible healthcare services, resulting in healthier Nevada communities for all.” Kruse was nominated by Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President & CEO of Renown Health, who wrote, “The daughter of a nurse and a former nurse herself, Stephanie understands the importance of attracting and retaining nurses within our healthcare systems. This year, in addition to her four years of service on the Renown Health Foundation Board and serving as chair, Stephanie has made a significant and lasting contribution to our community by helping to train and grow the next generation of nurses and pediatricians; and expanding critical care facilities for babies, children and families in northern Nevada.” “I’m honored by Renown’s nomination and to be part of the mission of such an excellent organization,” said Kruse. “Supporting access to quality healthcare in our region is a top priority of mine and I hope that I can continue to convince others to do so as well.” Three of the major projects that Kruse has directed and completed on behalf of the Renown Health Foundation include: The Orvis School of Nursing and Renown Health partnership to provide nursing students with full ride scholarships to assist in building a sustainable nursing workforce in Northern Nevada. The Gerald “Jerry” Smith Academic-Practice Partnership established with the Renown Foundation now provides funding for up to 24 Orvis School of Nursing students each year. Scholarship recipients receive funding for educational expenses including tuition, fees, and books for the nursing program. Students can complete a paid apprenticeship at Renown Health and have a guaranteed job at the hospital following graduation and license obtainment. The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) and Renown Health new three-year Pediatrics Residency Program. The inaugural cohort of pediatric residents started this summer. The new residency will help shape future pediatric practices – and fill a state and nation-wide physician specialist shortage. Over a three-year period, four newly trained physicians will be selected each year for a total complement of twelve residents. Formerly, UNR Med students interested in becoming pediatricians had to leave the area to complete their residency training elsewhere. The William N. Pennington Foundation, through the Renown Health Foundation, which Kruse leads as Board Chair, paved the way for this program, creating a pipeline of much-needed pediatricians for our state, especially in under-served and rural areas – to serve vulnerable children and families of Nevada with high-quality, affordable care. New Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units at Renown Regional Medical Center. To alleviate current capacity constraints and allow for expansion and new services, several aging facilities are being replaced and new patient care areas have been constructed at all Renown hospital campuses. Renown Regional Medical Center has expanded its pediatric critical care services. Women from throughout Nevada and California deliver their babies at Renown Regional Medical Center for the added specialty care and safety of a NICU. Renown also has a Neonatal Transport Team which brings infants with serious illnesses, injuries, or complications from outlying communities to the comfort of Renown's NICU. These spaces provide a nurturing, healing environment for babies and their families. These expansions were made possible through the collaborative efforts of Renown Health, the Renown Health Board, construction partners and the unwavering support of the community. A lifelong support of health and care and community Kruse graduated from nursing school and became a part-time Registered Nurse in a Sioux Falls, South Dakota nursing home while attending Augustana College to obtain a degree in journalism. As part of her journalism program, she completed an internship in the public relations department of a Sioux Falls hospital, and that led to her accepting a position as director of public relations at a sister hospital in Aberdeen, SD. In 1981, she moved to Reno to be the director of marketing for Saint Mary’s Hospital. Ten years later, Kruse graduated with her master’s in business administration from the University of Nevada, Reno. With not much in her pocket, she bought a Mac computer that helped launch her journey as a business owner. She called herself- appropriately- Stephanie Kruse and Associates (or SKA) and offered clients a strategic, thoughtful approach to their marketing communications. Since then, Kruse has grown SKA to KPS3, which is now a multi-million-dollar firm with over 50 staff members. KPS3 was named one of Inc's Fastest Growing Companies in the US and has also consistently been voted as a ‘Best Places to Work’ in northern Nevada. Kruse has several clients who have been with her and the company for all or most of the 30-year history. “Whether it’s for the community, a friend, family, a coworker, or someone in need, giving back has always been a part of Steph’s fabric,” says Greg Walaitis, Chief Development Officer of the Renown Health Foundation. “Stephanie brings strategic vision and is wholly dedicated to our community. Stephanie is a community asset, a compassionate leader and an exemplary Board member that is well deserving of this award. She holds a spot in her heart for organizations that address improved access to better health and human services, and we are fortunate to have her in Nevada.” In addition to her service at Renown Health Foundation Board, Kruse is active in many community organizations including the boards of High Sierra Industries/WARC, Access to Healthcare Network, the University of Nevada, Reno’s Foundation Board, and the Desert Research Institute. 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. About the NHA The Nevada Hospital Association is a not-for-profit, statewide trade association representing Nevada’s acute care hospitals along with psychiatric, rehabilitation and other specialty hospitals as well as health related agencies and organizations throughout the state. Allied with the American Hospital Association, the NHA is an independent organization headquartered in Reno, Nev.
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Keeping Your Brain Healthy, No Matter Your Age
It’s true there is no cure for dementia, yet studies suggest your life choices today can reduce brain decline in the future. How important is diet to brain health? Food is the foundation of your body. Fats, carbs and protein provide the energy for your cells and metabolism. So the quality and amount of food you eat directly affects your brain. Specifically, researchers are paying special attention to the link a high sugar diet and/ or an unhealthy fat diet may have on your brain. Your brain on sugar According to the Alzheimer’s Association, when too much sugar is in the bloodstream for long periods of time, it can damage the brain cells. Many people with diabetes may develop brain abnormalities, and these changes may increase chances of dementia — research is still being done to understand this connection. Many U.S. adults have prediabetes with blood sugar higher than normal. Insulin resistance often leads to diabetes. Insulin resistance has been linked to metabolic syndrome, which is a precursor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (heart attack, stroke). Some signs of metabolic syndrome include: Large waist size (40 inches or more for men, 35 inches and up for women) Low HDL (good) cholesterol level Higher than normal blood pressure — 130/85 and above Current research suggests too much sugar in the blood causes inflammation, which can damage brain cells. High carbohydrate foods, such as sweetened beverages, chips, white rice, white potatoes, bagels, cereals and desserts, have been shown to raise blood sugar. Although anyone can get diabetes, Hispanic Americans and African Americans are at greater risk.
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Prevention Against STIs Matters
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there are more than 20 million estimated new sexually transmitted infection (STI) cases in the United States each year, with rates continuing to increase. What you may not know is most STIs are preventable. We talked with Renown Adolescent Medicine Specialist, Caroline Barangan, MD to learn more about STIs. How Can You Get an STI? The CDC (Center for Disease Control) says that STIs are acquired through sexual contact. There are bacteria, viruses or parasites that can cause an STI which may pass from person to person in blood, semen, vaginal and other bodily fluids. How Do You Know if You Have an STI? STIs can have a range of signs and symptoms such as: Warts, bumps or sores on or near the penis, vagina, mouth or anus Swelling, redness or severe itching near the penis or vagina Discharge from the penis Vaginal bleeding that’s not your period Painful or uncomfortable sex Vaginal discharge that has an unpleasant odor, causes irritation or is a different color or amount than usual Weight loss, diarrhea or night sweats Aches, pains, fever and chills Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) Painful or frequent urination Sore throat if you engage in oral sex It’s important to know that the majority of people who have an STI commonly have no symptoms at all, which is why it’s important to get regularly tested once you have had any sexual activity. Young people less than 25 years of age should be screened on a yearly basis at minimum.
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Dreams Foundation Makes $10,500 Donation Benefiting NICU Babies
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.
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Renown Thanks Community as COVID-19 Drive-Thru Ends
After administering more than 73,000 dose one and dose two vaccinations to our community, Renown's vaccine team will conclude its efforts at Renown's drive-thru site later this month. Renown Health has been pleased to work with the Washoe County Health District, the state, and the CDC to distribute the limited supplies of COVID-19 vaccines. Leaders of the COVID-19 vaccine taskforce at Renown announced today that Wednesday, May 12, 2021 will be the last day the organization will administer dose one of the COVID-19 vaccine to community members at Renown’s drive-thru clinic. Renown's vaccine clinic will remain open until all individuals who receive their first dose of the vaccine through Renown have the opportunity to receive their second dose. To date, Renown’s vaccine team has administered more than 73,000 dose 1 and dose 2 vaccinations to medical staff members, Renown employees, students, volunteers and eligible community members. “It has been an honor assisting our local and statewide health partners in the herculean feat of vaccinating the hundreds of thousands of area residents excited to receive the vaccine,” said Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, President and CEO of Renown Health. “As we conclude our efforts at our drive-thru vaccine clinic, we are glad to continue working closely with our community health leaders and be ready to assist once again should there be a need for our support in the future. We are proud to be part of the solution for our community and pleased to have made a genuine difference in the health and well-being of others throughout this unprecedented time in our history.” “As we look forward to a brighter future beyond the pandemic, we can’t help but reflect on the more than 73,000 vaccine doses our teams administered to our community,” said Melodie Osborn, RN, Chief Nursing and Quality Officer for Health Services at Renown. “From our nurses, pharmacists, security teams, public safety experts and countless volunteer staff, each dose of the vaccine was made possible—rain, snow or shine—by dedicated healthcare champions committed to the health and safety of northern Nevadans.” “We want to offer our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the public for placing their trust in Renown to receive their vaccines, and for their patience and support of this important work,” said Wendy Meyers, Manager of Health and Wellness at Hometown Health. “The masked smiles, emotional tears of gratitude and relief, heartfelt thanks, food deliveries and many other acts of kindness will forever hold a special place in our hearts.” Community members 16+ still interested in receiving the Pfizer vaccine at Renown on May 12 are invited to make an appointment through MyChart; and walk-ins will be accepted from noon to 2 p.m. Minors ages 16 and 17 must be with a parent or guardian to receive the vaccine. For assistance, please call 775-982-2781. To schedule your COVID-19 appointment in Washoe County outside of Renown, please visit covid19washoe.com. Renown will continue providing ongoing updates to help keep our community safe on our website at covid.renown.org. 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. Clinical institutes include; Cancer, Heart and Vascular Heath and Neurosciences. 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
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Biointellisense and Renown Announce Strategic Collaboration
BioIntelliSense medical grade vital sign monitoring and Renown Health’s centralized command center creates a scalable system to optimize critical healthcare resources and nurse workflow efficiencies DENVER, CO AND RENO, NV; DECEMBER 6, 2021 – BioIntelliSense, a continuous health monitoring and clinical intelligence company, has entered into a strategic collaboration with Renown Health, a not- for-profit integrated healthcare network of hospitals and care facilities serving over one million people in Nevada and northeast California, to provide more convenient, effective and personalized care to patients via continuous remote monitoring for both in-hospital patient care as well as at-home health management. This innovative program integrates BioIntelliSense’s FDA-cleared BioSticker™ wearable device into Renown Health’s state-of-the-art clinical remote monitoring services to address today’s significant healthcare workforce shortage challenges and enhance their patient-centered model of care. BioIntelliSense’s BioSticker continuously monitors data on a patient’s skin temperature, resting heart rate and respiratory rate, step, gait, sleep, activity levels, and more, including infection-like symptom alerts that supports COVID-19 monitoring. The BioSticker’s medical-grade trending and advanced analytics will be visualized and monitored by clinical staff within the Renown Transfer and Operations Center (RTOC). The Renown Transfer and Operations Center is powered by Renown doctors, nurses, technicians and national technology partners, including BioIntelliSense, to help ensure seamless care for patients and providers. Through this highly coordinated care logistics system, Renown will be able to customize health care to the needs of every patient; delivering the right care, at the right time and place across the integrated delivery system. Renown clinicians will be able to access near real-time information on patients’ vital signs and symptoms, enabling them to identify adverse changes in health sooner and intervene earlier. “Given the growing healthcare workforce crisis, routine patient monitoring has become more expensive and less frequent, especially during the ongoing public health emergency. With the BioSticker, vital signs monitoring can be provided for each patient far more frequently and at a fraction of the cost,” said James Mault, MD, Founder and CEO of BioIntelliSense. “Our strategic partnership with Renown Health serves as a gold standard demonstration project for other hospital systems. What we are learning from patients and providers at Renown will help create fully integrated, continuous care delivery that starts during the patient’s hospitalization enabling monitoring of their health status throughout their recovery process, and from the comfort of their own home after leaving the hospital.” During the first phase of the collaboration and during this phase one implementation, the BioSticker will be applied to all patients admitted to Renown’s community hospital, Renown South Meadows Medical Center in Reno, Nevada. Patients may wear the device throughout their hospital stay and continue to wear it when they leave for their homes, ambulatory, outpatient surgical, rehabilitation or skilled nursing settings. “We are excited to continue to enhance our relationships with patients by integrating technology that supplements our care teams and provides patients with a virtual care solution that will continuously track vital signs, making healthcare more accessible, affordable and convenient,” said Tony Slonim, MD, DPH, CEO, Renown Health. “We believe patients and their loved ones will have confidence in knowing that their Renown clinical team will be closely monitoring their health data and communicating with them regularly to deliver high quality, personalized care throughout their healing process.” Initially, this collaboration will focus on understanding the logistics of patient monitoring in the hospital and at home or remote sites using the BioIntelliSense remote care technology. Renown Health will then work towards streamlining and operationalizing the clinical workflow, while scaling the program, to measure clinical improvement and the economic impact on patient care. “We are entering a new era in continuous health monitoring, as innovative hospital systems like Renown Health are integrating remote care technologies that provide scalable, user friendly and cost-effective solutions for health screening, COVID symptom monitoring and remote patient monitoring,” noted Mault. “We anticipate that within ten years, our wearable devices will become the standard of care for those not feeling well, giving people peace of mind that they or their loved ones are being monitored 24/7 by a supportive clinical team and have the security of knowing that if their condition worsens, we can elevate their level of care – immediately and in real-time.” "We are excited to serve as the national training site for BioIntelliSense and continue to bring new technology that improves the patient and provider experience to colleagues. We will continue to develop a well-trained, inter-professional and flexible workforce with technology skills that match the current pace of health care innovation,” added Slonim. “Our team is excited to be improving health care access and affordability across the state, and especially with critical access hospitals serving rural communities. Remote patient monitoring technology offers great benefit to patients at or near their homes, and it may transform hospital care by expanding access to clinical expertise to patients, and extending and increasing workforce capacity for limited hospital physician, nursing and clinical teams. We are pleased to be working with Dr. Mault and the team at BioIntelliSense, on the demonstration project with the BioSticker for vital signs monitoring as we take another bold step in innovating health care for long-term success.” About Renown Health Renown Health is a locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. Renown is one of the region’s largest private employers with a workforce of more than 7,000. It comprises three acute care hospitals, the region’s only children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, the area’s most comprehensive medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown has a long tradition and commitment to improving the care and the health of our community. For more information, visit renown.org. About BioIntelliSense BioIntelliSense is ushering in a new era of continuous health monitoring and clinical intelligence for Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM). Its medical-grade Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) platform seamlessly captures multiparameter vital signs, physiological biometrics and symptomatic events through an effortless patient experience. The FDA-cleared BioSticker™ and medical grade BioButton® devices make remote monitoring and early detection simple. Through the platform’s advanced analytics, clinicians will now have access to high-resolution patient trending and reporting to enable medical grade care from in the hospital to the home. For more information on how BioIntelliSense is redefining remote patient monitoring through medical-grade and cost-effective data services, please contact us at info@biointellisense.com or visit our website at BioIntelliSense.com.
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Improving the Way we Deliver Quality Rural Healthcare
One of the most pressing issues in modern medicine is the need to improve rural healthcare. This challenge hits particularly close to home, as Renown Health is the only provider covering 100,000 square miles in northern Nevada, an area that’s mostly rural. People in rural areas suffer from chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and respiratory disease, at higher rates than the general population. One of the largest contributors to these health disparities is a lack of access to health services. Many rural communities have fewer providers and care facilities. This forces residents to travel farther to receive preventive care and medical treatment. We must identify ways to better support the health needs of the millions of Americans who live in rural communities. Ideas for improving rural healthcare Health systems must identify innovative ways to leverage existing resources and new technologies to care for patients in these communities. For example, telehealth can help diminish a person’s need to travel long distances to receive specialty care. Similarly, online classes can help educate patients about preventive behaviors. Remote monitoring technology also allows patients to track their health conditions from home. Additionally, we can address physician shortages by empowering health professionals such as nurse practitioners, physician assistants and technologists to care for patients. These providers receive excellent training and have demonstrated success in improving health outcomes. Renown Health cares for people from diverse backgrounds and we are dedicated to caring for patients in every community we serve. Renown Telehealth We’re leading the region in using video conferencing technology to provide the best care possible – no matter where you are. Renown Telehealth is telemedicine that gives you access to top-level care and better outcomes with less stress and fewer travel costs. Learn More
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First COVID-19 Vaccines Administered to Physicians Today
This week, many of the nation’s health care systems in communities across the U.S. began vaccinating physicians and health care workers caring for patients with COVID-19. Many of these health care heroes have been on the front-line of this pandemic and working around-the clock over the last ten months. Vaccinations signal hope for the future Here in Washoe County, today is the highly anticipated start date of what public health and medical experts hope is a nationwide wave of vaccinations that signal the beginning of the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s good news from Renown coincided with a dark new milestone for Washoe County—384 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, and over 13,579 active cases in our population of nearly 500,000. COVID-19 positivity test results and hospitalizations continue to be high across the country, our state and here in northern Nevada; straining hospital capacity, physicians and healthcare workers. Today we saw a bright light at the end of this dark tunnel. Renown began vaccinating health care workers caring for patients with COVID-19, and invited media to view the first vaccinations of those on the front-line of COVID-19. One vaccine, a Herculean effort of thousands “Although the vaccination process as you see it here looks relatively simple, it took a herculean logistical effort to implement the COVID-19 vaccination process that has begun today,” said Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, President & CEO of Renown Health. “Today, thanks to the synchronized efforts of thousands of people and organizations across the country, we give thanks for this vaccination provided to Luis Martinez, an excellent ambassador for the thousands of healthcare heroes caring for patients with COVID-19. The health and safety of our staff is our top priority, and we remain steadfast in our determination to fight the good fight for our community.” Luis, on the front-line of the COVID-19 pandemic, receives 1st vaccine from Renown Luis Martinez received the 1st of his Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine which received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration last week. He will receive the second and final vaccination in the series in 21 days. The first dose of vaccine was given to Luis outside of his vehicle so cameras could capture the experience. Renown’s COVID-19 Vaccination process includes pre-scheduling physicians and employees through the Epic MyChart electronic medical record used by Renown. Employees are masked, and in their personal vehicles, as they drive through the vaccination site. Each physician and healthcare worker provides their verification, identification, documentation and consent. They then extend their upper arm to receive the Pfizer vaccination. Following the receipt of the vaccination they have a 15-minute observation period to assure they do not experience any immediate side effects. These Tier 1A healthcare employees were encouraged to schedule their vaccination after their completed work schedule to have time to rest. As with all vaccinations, there is a potential for injection site reactions (redness, swelling and pain) as well as fever, fatigue, headache, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and/or joint pain. Fever is not an infrequent side effect, especially on the 2nd dose, so these vaccinated employees will self-monitor their temperatures, as they cannot work at Renown with a fever. In addition to Luis, you’ll see, first in his truck- Dr. Bret Frey, representing the Medical Staff and Emergency Medicine physicians at Renown; Nurse Matt Polak, Supervisor of Clinical Nursing of Renown’s Respiratory Intensive Care Unit representing Renown nurses; Holly Irwin, a Clinical Respiratory Therapist in her vehicle; Alexis Bertauche, Respiratory Specialist in his vehicle; Eric Whitney, the supervisor representing the 168 members of Renown’s Environmental Services team who have performed extensive disinfecting measures throughout the pandemic, physician representatives from partners at UNR School of Medicine, Reno Orthopedic Clinic, the Surgery Center of Reno and across the community. Brighter days ahead for Luis Luis has been working in Renown’s Alternate Care Site in the Mill Street parking structure since it opened to patients in mid-November. He’s been at Renown since 2016, where he started as a phlebotomist and was encouraged to explore career advancement in the medical field. He applied to work as a technician on Renown’s Clinical Decision Unit- a short stay unit within the hospital for people who need clinical care, but do not need to be admitted to the hospital. Luis worked with patients and clinicians in the Clinical Decision Unit for a year before requesting to work in Renown’s innovative Alternate Care Site, built for patients recovering from COVID-19, for additional care before they returned home. Luis was scheduled to take the Medical College Admission Test® in April of this year to fulfill his dreams of becoming a doctor, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to change his plans. He plans to reschedule his medical school admission exam in February. He is excited to begin his training, possibly at UNR School of Medicine, and hopes one day to be a physician caring competently and compassionately for those in need. Luis has so much to look forward to, after such a difficult year. Luis turned 33 in October, and on his birthday, contracted COVID-19 after attending a family party. He experienced fever and noticed how dramatically the COVID-19 virus affected his breathing, his lungs, and his energy level. After spending time at home recovering, Luis recovered, tested negative, and returned to work. As a result of his experience and his interest in medicine, Luis has done a lot of research on the vaccine. Luis is bilingual and volunteers with CARE Chest of Sierra Nevada, a non-profit organization that provides free medical equipment, supplies, and prescription assistance to underserved populations when he is not working at Renown. Vaccine one more tool to help fight pandemic “The best protection from COVID-19 will be a combination of getting a COVID-19 vaccine, wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet away from others, avoiding crowds, and washing your hands often,” says Amy McCombs, MSN, RN, CCRN, CNML, vice president of Quality for Acute Services for Renown, and the champion of the vaccination effort for Renown. “No one tool alone will stop this pandemic, it will take a combination of all of us using all of these efforts to fight the spread of this virus. Though there has been positive news about vaccine development, no one knows when those vaccines will be ready for widespread use. In the meantime, everyone must remain vigilant, take precautions and follow public health orders.” “This vaccination is a game-changer in terms of improving the health of our community,” said Paul Sierzenski, MD, MSHQS, Chief Medical Officer, Acute Services, Renown Health. "Given the demands of this COVID-19 pandemic, we are pleased to be able to provide this vaccination to help in the fight. We will follow CDC recommendations for a tiered approach to vaccine distribution. Our goal is that by spring, all Renown physicians; employees and their family members; and all Hometown Health members and Renown patients interested in receiving the vaccine will have an opportunity to be vaccinated.” The COVID-19 vaccine is not mandatory for all Renown employees, but is strongly advised. Renown is covering all costs of the vaccine, and it is being offered free of charge to employees. Register for Renown Epic MyChart now. To streamline the notification, consent, scheduling and reminder process for vaccine distribution, as well as to post to Web IZ Nevada’s Statewide Immunization Information System, all who are interested in receiving the vaccine through Renown will need to enroll and obtain an Epic MyChart account. Stay Up-to-date on COVID-19 Renown Health is prepared to safely screen, diagnose and care for patients with respiratory illness, including COVID-19. To stay up-to-date on communications regarding Renown’s distribution of the COVID19 vaccine, FAQs and the scientific evidence behind the vaccine, visit https://covid.renown.org/ Join the Renown team Renown Health remains committed to hiring key roles in our organization to support the health and well-being of our community. To join the Renown family to Fight the Good Fight, apply on line at https://careers.renown.org/ Support the Renown team Renown Health, a charitable, not-for-profit organization, is so grateful for our community’s support during these unprecedented times. To donate to Renown patients or providers, visit https://www.renown.org/donations-covid-19/. About Renown Health Renown Health is a locally governed and locally owned, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. Renown is one of the region’s largest private employers with a workforce of more than 7,000. It comprises three acute care hospitals, a rehabilitation hospital, the area’s most comprehensive medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest and only locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown has a long tradition and commitment to continually improve the care and the health of our community. For more information, visit renown.org. About the Washoe County Health District The Washoe County Health District has jurisdiction over all public health matters in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County through the policy-making Washoe County District Board of Health. The District consists of five divisions: Administrative Health Services, Air Quality Management, Community and Clinical Health Services, Environmental Health Services and Epidemiology & Public Health Preparedness. More info can be found here.
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Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and Renown Health Announce New Contract Agreement
New contract protects affordability for Northern Nevada Consumers. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (Anthem) and Renown Health (Renown) today announced they have reached an agreement on a new contract. The agreement protects affordability and provides Anthem members with continued in-network access to all Renown hospitals and physicians. This agreement applies to Anthem consumers enrolled in employer based HMO and PPO plans and provides continued in-network access to Renown affiliated care providers and facilities. “We are pleased to continue working with Renown to maintain and improve access to healthcare for consumers and employers in Northern Nevada. Our members remained our number one priority as we worked hard and in good faith to find common ground and reach an agreement that helps achieve greater affordability,” said Mike Murphy, president, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nevada. “We value the relationships we have with the care providers in our network, which are important to creating choices for our consumers and fulfilling our mission of improving the lives of the people in the communities we serve.” Anthony Slonim, MD, D.Ph., FACHE, President and CEO of Renown Health stated, “We appreciate the collaborative approach of both teams to reach resolution. As this community’s only not-for-profit healthcare organization, our mission is to make a genuine difference in the health and well-being of the community. As doctors, nurses and care givers, we want to ensure the greatest access, experience and highest-quality care for every member of our community including those insured by Anthem.” Consumers with questions can contact Anthem by using the toll-free number on the back of their current Anthem identification card or going to anthem.com/renown. About Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield: Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is the trade name of Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service, Inc. HMO products are underwritten by HMO Colorado, Inc., dba HMO Nevada. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Nevada is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @AnthemBCBS or @AnthemBCBS_News and on Facebook at Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. About Renown Health: Renown Health is a locally governed and locally owned, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. Renown is one of the region’s largest employers with a workforce of more than 7,000. It comprises three acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, the area’s most comprehensive medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest and only locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown Health’s commitment has extended beyond traditional health care to include community health and well-being. For more information, visit www.renown.org.Additional Media Contacts:Mike BowmanAnthem Blue Cross Blue Shieldmichael.bowman@anthem.com916-584-6043
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