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Renown Health is proud to embrace the Reno-Sparks culture that makes our community stand out, which is why we sponsor the Reno Rodeo, an early summer staple with roots in the community as deep as our own. One of our many ties with the Reno Rodeo includes Renown Regional’s own emergency room nurse and Miss Rodeo Nevada 2022, Gabby Szachara. A Reno native, Gabby developed a love for the Reno Rodeo at a very young age. “I loved watching the girls on the Reno Rodeo Flag Team when I was little and knew I wanted to be part of the Reno Rodeo someday,” said Gabby. “As I got older, I started to make connections and build relationships with some people in the rodeo scene, and they generously lent me their horses so I could participate in the Reno Rodeo Flag Team.” Gabby was on the flag team for three years before being crowned Miss Rodeo Nevada 2022 last year.  Before joining the Reno Rodeo Flag Team, Gabby was a student at the University of Nevada, Reno, and a member of the women’s volleyball team. In December 2017, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in public health. At first, Gabby was interested in a career in sports medicine – it made sense with her background in athletics. But, after working in the medical field as a certified nurse assistant and an emergency medical technician, she grew passionate about patient care and decided she wanted to become a nurse. “I’ve always loved teamwork and helping others,” said Gabby. “It’s important to me to be there for others, especially when it might be their worst day.”  In December 2021, Gabby graduated from Truckee Meadows Community College with a nursing degree and joined Renown Health this February. “I love Renown for various reasons. Everyone here is so nice and welcoming, and there is a great team dynamic,” said Gabby. “And I love that Renown’s main color is purple because that is my favorite!” When Gabby isn’t in her scrubs and caring for patients, she is in western wear and carrying out her duties as Miss Rodeo Nevada. “I do a lot of traveling across the country to attend other rodeos,” said Gabby. “I enjoy meeting so many wonderful people and experiencing the culture of different states.” Gabby’s main goals as Miss Rodeo Nevada are to promote the western way of life, agriculture, rodeo and community benefit. In addition, she visits local schools to talk with kids about how they can get involved in these areas and inspires them to turn their dreams into reality.  Gabby has a special place in her heart for the Reno Rodeo. “Reno is my home, and the Reno Rodeo is the heart and soul of summer in northern Nevada. Everyone comes together and dusts off their boots to have fun and also contribute money to important causes in our community,” said Gabby. “I love the comradery, the friendly and healthy competition and the great people.”  If you’re going to the Reno Rodeo this weekend, watch for Gabby and her horse, “Torque.”  And if you see Gabby in the halls at Renown Regional, give her a high-five for all her hard work as a nurse and Miss Rodeo Nevada!

Read More About Meet Gabby, Renown Regional ER Nurse and Miss Rodeo Nevada

Health systems across the country recently celebrated Patient Access Week from April 2-8. Join us in recognizing our Patient Access team at Renown!  Fighting the Good Fight starts the moment a patient steps onto the grounds of our health system. When patients visit Renown on their healthcare journey, they look to the experts to not only help them navigate through the complexities of the process but also ensure their experience with us starts off on the right foot.  Renown Health’s Patient Access Representatives (also referred to as “PARs”) are the faces of this entire process. As the key links between patients, providers and insurers, they strive to create a welcoming and respectful environment for everyone. PARs are committed to providing all of Renown’s patients access to the quality care when needed. After all, it’s in their name!  A Friendly Face  PARs are the front faces of almost all clinical areas at Renown. As the starting point for much of the patient experience, the day-in-the-life of PARs can vary. Checking patients in and out, getting demographic information, verifying insurance, answering phone calls, fostering communication between patients and their care teams, scheduling patients for follow-ups, explaining financial responsibilities and our financial aid programs, creating an overall positive experience and environment, the list goes on – but they all remain united under one goal: setting patients off on the right foot as they access care through our health system.  “Each day, PARs are met with new patients who are seeking solutions to different concerns,” said Macy Betts, PAR for Renown Women’s Health. “We are the front doors to this department. We are not just checking patients in and out; we are the first step to the patients receiving the care they deserve.”  “We take pride in our work,” added Tanya Quintanilla, Shari Longley and Nancy Arroyo Garcia, PARs for Renown Pediatrics. “Usually, we are the first point of contact within Renown, so we don’t take our role lightly. For example, when we see a newborn, we must ensure the registration has been verified, which consists of patient demographics, patient preferences and insurance verification. We need to be consistent and thorough because what we do affects every point of contact a patient may have within Renown.”  “As my team’s senior PAR, my day begins with gathering the outpatient therapy work queue numbers and assigning the team to work them,” added Logan Johnson, Senior PAR in Pre-Registration at Renown. “Our goal is to contact and schedule patients for physical, occupational and/or speech therapy as soon as possible so that they have the maximum benefit and can get back to a normal life as quickly as possible. Our encounters can make or break the entire experience.”  PARs never underestimate the power of good communication and compassion. Even during the busiest of times, our PARs work diligently to ensure all patients and their care teams fully understand the administrative side of whichever part of their journey they are about to embark on, lending a helping hand and a smile.  “Whether you’re communicating with patients, leaders or coworkers, communication is key,” said Jonathan Figueroa, PAR for the Renown Institute for Heart & Vascular Health (IHVH). “We try and make sure that we do everything possible to make their visit go as smoothly as possible.”  “Communication makes the world go round,” added Keith Madrona, Sherry Riley, Erika Rios and Andie Kilpatrick, PARs at Renown Urgent Care – Ryland. “Having a friendly attitude and demeanor is very important.  “The PARs in Labor & Delivery do so much more than just registering patients – from escorting expectant parents to their rooms, welcoming newborn babies, processing pre-estimates and more – and the patience and excellent communication I receive from other teams is what keeps me going,” added Nanci Barash-Vietti, PAR for Renown Labor & Delivery (L&D). “This is critical to the success and effectiveness of the PARs in our department.”  Shift changes for PARs mimic other teams at Renown, leveraging technology and both written and spoken communication to ensure the next shift begins successfully.  "When I come in, the night shift will give me a report on what is going on and what the schedule looks like during the day; then I log in to my computer and get everything that I will need for that day up on the screen,” said Allie Boracchia, PAR for Renown L&D. “Usually around this time we have a 7-8 a.m. induction scheduled for the first patient, so I will grab the pre-made packet that the night shift put together, the unit clerk will call the nurse to get a room number, and I take the patient to the room and have them sign all the forms. After the patient has the baby, then we admit them and finish registration. This is continuous all day long.”  Our PARs all agree that regardless of the setting, whether it be emergent or routine, every patient is looking for that advocate from the moment they enter through our doors.  “Being friendly, patient and understanding is a must,” said Sheryl Lundgren, PAR for the William N. Pennington Institute for Cancer. “It is so nice being able to brighten the days of patients who are living with a cancer diagnosis.”  “In the urgent care setting, a lot of the patients we see are not feeling their best, so it is important that we show them we care and are here to help make check in go smoothly,” added Sam Deithrich, PAR at the Renown Urgent Care – Los Altos.   “Patients are relieved that they are speaking to a real person that will help set up appointments,” added Rick Jordan and Celeste Landry, PARs in Lab Services at Renown South Meadows.   PARs embrace lifelong learning at Renown, especially as their roles differ day-to-day. They are always ready to jump in and assist on tasks that might be new for them, growing their skills on the job and never hesitating to say, “How can I help?”  “As a PAR, you are always learning new things, even when it seems like you know just about everything,” said Liz Cardenas-Ramos, PAR for Renown Endocrinology. “It’s been such a positive experience.”  “Giving yourself grace to learn and grow in Patient Access is the key,” said Maggie Savoie, PAR for Renown Primary Care – Fernley. “I find myself learning every day at Renown, and if you’re learning, you’re growing. Being able to take a breath and say, ‘this is a learning opportunity for me, and tomorrow I will be better a better PAR because I’ve gained this knowledge’ is an amazing way to stay positive in the position.”  “In L&D, we are all multi-tasking, and every day I am learning something new about my department and patients, as well as how to excel in my position,” added Nanci Barash-Vietti.  Renown PARs are the front lines to health care access, and they wear that badge with pride. Jeanette Flores, PAR in the Emergency Department at Renown South Meadows, sums up the role of Patient Access well: “Talk about first impressions!”  “I am proud of our team and the excellent care we give our patients,” said Dawn Linker, PAR for the Renown IHVH. “We want them to have a good experience.”  Impactful Accomplishments  The role of our Patient Access team members goes beyond the desk. A patient’s healthcare journey begins, and sometimes even ends, with the helping hands of our PARs, leaving a lasting positive impression of Renown.  "Our interactions with the patients make a difference before they see the provider, so we always demonstrate a welcoming and helpful atmosphere for the patients to feel like their needs are being met,” said Mary Dettling, PAR for Renown Endocrinology.  “I love seeing the difference we make in peoples’ lives,” added Shannon Leone, PAR for the Stacie Mathewson Behavioral Health & Addiction Institute. “We can get patients at their toughest and worst times. Watching them overcome their fears, traumas and addictions has been very rewarding.”  Our PARs don’t just make goals for themselves – time and time again, they surpass them, all in the name of patient experience and excellence.  “We have not only met our monthly point-of-sale scores, but we also have exceeded our stretch goal for the last eight months and our scores have been in the 50th percentile or higher,” said Jeanette Flores.  “Along with being the top point-of-sale collectors, we have also been known to be some of the sweetest and most helpful staff at South Meadows,” said Katie Morrill, PAR in the Emergency Department at Renown South Meadows.  As their teams grow, so does their impact on our patients. PARs are dedicated to providing the best customer service possible, and with their expanding teams, that service goes even further, even throughout the pandemic.  “A year ago, we only had one PAR; now, we have a full and amazing team,” said Alex Bucholz, PAR for Renown Advanced Wound Care. “We have come so far in a short amount of time.”  "During the pandemic, we have maintained a core group of individuals who come in every day and help keep this office and all its parts moving smoothly,” added Shannon Leone. “We have maintained a full patient load the last three years and never had to close our office for any reason. We have even had the opportunity to start our Medicated Assisted Treatment and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation programs.”  "We successfully operated and maintained our pediatric COVID clinic, which is the only one within our five clinics,” added Tanya Quintanilla, Shari Longley and Nancy Arroyo Garcia. “We feel proud knowing our tiny humans are protected with the COVID vaccine.”  Like many other teams at Renown, our PARs are masters at teamwork. Despite any obstacles that may happen along the way, they are always there for each other to ensure every patient gets the care and attention they deserve.  “We call ourselves the ‘A-Team’ here in Pulmonary,” said Shannon Birnberg, PAR for Renown Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine. “We have persevered through changes, additions and departures. We are most proud of bringing different personalities to the team and being super strong and effective.”  “I have noticed the team always steps up whenever needed,” added Brittany Hughes, PAR for the Renown IHVH. “Everyone has a great attitude and is very positive!”  “While our team is fairly new, we are growing together, learning our strengths and weaknesses and always pushing for stronger unity,” added Angel Freer, PAR in the Emergency Department at Renown Regional.  When our PARs find ways to simplify a process or make a workflow run more efficiently, they don’t waste any time in making that happen. They take any opportunity to enhance patient experience.  “Our team came up with a solution on how to get patients registered faster,” said Jess Castillo-Marquez, PAR in Lab Services at Renown Regional. “We came up with modalities which assign each PAR their own procedure in which they will be registering for during their scheduled shift. It has been a great success, helping our productivity and keeping our patients satisfied with our service.”  “We are proud of our successful implementation of our new therapy workflow,” added Logan Johnson. “Patients are now waiting much less to be contacted about their care.”  Our PARs know that teamwork makes the dream work, and their commitment to the patients they serve – and the goals they continue to blow out of the water – continue to inspire them daily.   “You are only as strong as your team,” said Aundie Yonker, PAR in the Emergency Department at Renown Regional.

Read More About Department Spotlight: Patient Access

The month of September recognizes several cancer-related health observances. Join us in celebrating our Medical Oncology team at Renown!  No person ever wants to hear the words, “You have cancer.” Those three short yet impactful words immediately change the course of someone’s life. As these patients Fight the Good Fight against cancer, there are a lot of intimidating unknowns that can take over their minds. What happens next? What will my treatment be like? What is my prognosis? How will I be able to handle this physically and emotionally? What will it take for me to beat this?  Who is better to be by their side than the devoted team members at the William N. Pennington Cancer Institute at Renown Health? From helping patients manage the process of complex paperwork and referrals to delivering personalized oncology and hematology treatment options tailored to each individual diagnosis, those fighting virtually any type of cancer are never alone, thanks to this team. The William N. Pennington Cancer Institute always lives up to that promise, guiding patients through the daunting journey of cancer treatment ahead, one step at a time.  Courageous Against Cancer Our exceptional Medical Oncology department inherently understands that each moment in life is precious, especially for patients battling cancer. This team is dedicated to orchestrating the most comprehensive plan for each patient, seamlessly weaving together diagnoses and treatments, oral chemotherapy, medication management, clinical trials, radiation oncology and more.   With the many patients they impact, there’s no question that there is never a dull moment in the day of the life of a healing hero like those in this department.  “No day is the same in Medical Oncology,” said Hollyann Dehm, Registered Nurse. “As a nurse, we wear many hats in the clinic. Our role is to educate patients on their treatment plans and specific drugs they are receiving, triage symptom calls from patients, refill medications and implement our oral chemotherapy program.  We help provide direct patient care by accessing ports, drawing labs and giving IV hydration when needed.  We also help fill out family and medical leave (FMLA)/disability paperwork, help with physician orders, help obtain prior authorizations for prescribed medications and treatments.”  “We do our best to let our patients know that they will not be going through this alone,” added Danielle Say, Physician Scheduling Coordinator. "We will be here for them every step of the way, guiding them and making sure their treatment is as smooth as possible and making ourselves available to them as much as we can. We end up getting to know many of our patients on a very close, personal level, and this helps to build that trust.”  “Our day-to-day activities include seeing patients and helping to manage their therapies as well as their toxicities,” added Dr. Harry Menon, DO, Oncology Physician. “We work closely with our infusion room staff and have a robust team to help us deal with these complex patients. We also work very closely with our surgical and radiation oncology colleagues in a multidisciplinary fashion to provide comprehensive care for our patients.”  The Medical Oncology team excels not only in providing cutting-edge cancer care but also in their compassionate approach to helping patients reduce the anxieties they understandably feel. Recognizing that a cancer diagnosis can be an emotionally overwhelming experience, this dedicated team combines medical expertise with unwavering support to create a healing environment.  “When patients are referred to our department, a lot of them have many fears and questions,” said Heather Cortez, Medical Assistant. “A majority of what our team does is focused on the mental support that our patients require to help them have the most successful outcomes. One thing I have learned about cancer care is that positivity in the face of adversity is everything. Just being there to listen to our patient’s concerns can make all the difference. Helping them to navigate their many appointments and taking the time to explain things in a patient and compassionate way, is part of how our team serves this vulnerable population.”  “The uncertainty is one of my patients' biggest fears: How far has my cancer progressed? How long will I have left? Is treatment even an option?” added Mary Wilson, Senior Medical Assistant. “The best advice that I can give my patients is that they are not alone. While this battle is going to be one of the hardest parts of their lives, they are surrounded by constant support to try and help with any burdens they may be facing. I also tell my patients that we have to take the little wins no matter how small they may be, because while cancer treatment is a physical battle, it is also a large mental battle."  “While we don’t have answers to all the questions patients and their family members may have, we do our best to listen to their questions and concerns regarding their cancer diagnosis and treatment and guide them through their cancer journey," added Hollyann Dehm. “We provide emotional support and education on their type of cancer, managing their pain and side effects of their treatment.  We also connect them to nurse navigators and our social worker who also help identify barriers to care and provide the patient with resources.”  Whether it's explaining treatment options in understandable terms or offering emotional support through difficult moments, this department is committed to empowering patients on their journey toward healing. Their holistic approach not only treats the disease but also nurtures the spirit, all while being a strong advocate on each patient’s behalf.  “Getting a cancer diagnosis can be the worst news that a person can hear; what we try to do is focus on improving quality life and focus on goals that help to promote quality of life,” said Dr. Harry Menon. “If the option for a cure is on the table, we try and focus on that goal in concert with promoting quality life. I try and have our patients focus on what they can control, with the understanding that even if some things are out of our control, the way we approach and manage those things, including our mindset, is still within our control.”  “In our clinic, we truly value our patients and how they are cared for,” added Mary Wilson. “The amount of compassion our team shows is incredible. Patients constantly commend our team on how much they feel like the provider's care. Our providers and staff are not afraid to advocate for patients and that truly is an accomplishment in and of itself.”  “We know patients are only hearing a small amount of the immense volume of information we provide them, so we encourage them to ask questions until it makes sense because the timeframe is different for every patient,” said Lillian Morton, APRN of Medical Oncology. “Cancer is an anxiety inducing lack of control whirlwind – if we can help by being responsive to patient calls and messages, we do so.”  With their harmonious and integrated approach, each patient’s treatment journey progresses uninterrupted, bringing them closer to a brighter and healthier future.

Read More About Department Spotlight: Medical Oncology