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Preventing Skin Cancer A Doctors Tips
Want to protect yourself from skin damage from the sunâs harmful rays? Dr. Angela Walker, dermatologist with Renown Medical Group, shares what you can do to prevent skin cancer. What can people do to prevent skin cancer while enjoying the outdoors? There are several steps you can take to protect your skin from the sun. âI caution all of my patients to avoid the sun during the hours of 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. when UV rays are strongest. I also encourage people to wear sleeves on cooler days. And donât forget that we still need to wear sunscreen on cloudy days! UV rays can still cause sun damage on cloudy days. Preventing skin cancer also entails wearing sunscreen of at least SPF 30 everyday. Are hats also a good idea for skin protection? Yes, of course! Choose a wide-brim hat that shades the face as well as the back of the neck for extra protection against UV rays. When it comes to identifying skin cancer, what should people watch for? We use easy-to-remember letters when checking for spots on the skin; itâs called the ABCDEs: A - Asymmetry: One half of the mole or lesion doesn't match the other half. B - Border irregularity: The edges of the mole are irregular, blurred, or notched. C - Color variation: The mole has different shades of color or uneven color distribution. D - Diameter: The diameter of the mole is larger than the size of a pencil eraser (about 6 millimeters) or is increasing in size. E - Evolution: Any changes in the mole over time, such as size, shape, color, itching, bleeding, or crusting. These guidelines can help in identifying potentially suspicious skin lesions, but it's important to consult a dermatologist for proper evaluation and diagnosis. Early detection is crucial for successful treatment of skin cancer.
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The Expanded Role of OBGYNs in Women's Healthcare
Obstetrician-gynecologists (OBGYNs) see patients from menses (the monthly menstrual cycle that occurs as a part of the female reproductive system), pregnancy and childbirth through menopause and play a pivotal role in managing reproductive health and overall wellness. Dr. James Alexander with Renown Women's HealthâŻexplains. "As experts in women's health, we are uniquely positioned to recognize subtle changes or symptoms that might indicate broader health issues. This comprehensive approach allows us to serve as a valuable first touchpoint for various health concerns." Preventive Screenings: A Proactive Approach One key aspect is an OBGYN's ability to recommend preventive screenings based on yourâŻsymptoms, age, lifestyle and medical history. For instance,âŻlipid screeningsâŻare critical for monitoring cholesterol levels, which can be a significant factor in womenâs heart disease. An OBGYN keeps up with the current guidelines for routine screening as well as in women with risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or a family history of heart disease during your visit. By identifying risks and abnormal screening early, they can collaborate with you to implement lifestyle changes or treatments to reduce your risk of heart conditions. Schedule Your Screening Appointment Make an Appointment by Phone: 775-982-5000
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Understanding the Reasons Behind Heavy Menstrual Cycles
While menstrual cycles can be an annoying inconvenience for many women, heavy bleeding (menorrhagia) is not normal and can disrupt your life. A few days of heavy flow at the start of your period is usually nothing to worry about. However, if youâre frequently experiencing very heavy periods, you should discuss it with your gynecologist or primary care provider. Dr. Megan Fish, an OB-GYN with Renown Womenâs Health, discusses various reasons, evaluation and treatment methods when it comes to heavy menstrual cycles. What is classified as heavy menstrual bleeding? The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists considers heavy bleeding to be any of the following signs: Bleeding that lasts more than 7 days. Bleeding that soaks through one or more tampons or pads every hour for several hours in a row. Needing to wear more than one pad at a time to control menstrual flow. Needing to change pads or tampons during the night. Menstrual flow with blood clots that are as big as a quarter or larger. What are the most common reasons for heavier periods? A variety of reasons why someone might have heavy periods. Fortunately, most of these problems are treatable. Because each woman's period is unique, only a doctor can definitively determine the cause of your heavy periods. Some of the most common issues that cause heavy periods include: Hormone imbalances such as anovulation, thyroid disease and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Structural abnormalities in your uterus such as polyps or fibroids. Precancer and cancer such as uterine, cervical, vaginal, ovarian or endometrial hyperplasia. Infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, endometritis or vaginitis. Other medical conditions such as liver disease, kidney disease or Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. Medications such as blood thinners and aspirin, hormone replacement therapy, Intrauterine devices (IUDs), birth control pills and injectables. Pregnancy-related problems such as a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.
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Department Spotlight: Renown Health Foundation
Kick off 2024 with us as we celebrate the team behind our very own Renown Health Foundation! When you visit Renown Health, you take a look around and canât help but notice the robust programs in place. You look left and see our thriving Childrenâs Miracle Network Hospital at Renown, making a lasting impact on pediatric healthcare in our region. You look right and see the advanced William N. Pennington Cancer Institute, providing leading-edge treatments right here in our community. You look around you and notice an influx of smiling nurses from the Orvis School of Nursing at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) who receive tuition assistance, thanks to generous donations to the Gerald âJerryâ Smith Academic Practice Partnership. Then, you think to yourself: âThese programs must need a lot of money and support. So, how on earth is this all possible?â What you may not know is that these programs are funded by the generosity of our community, all made possible by the work of Renown Health Foundation. As the largest not-for-profit health system in northern Nevada, our mission to make a genuine difference in the health and well-being of everyone we serve flourishes because of the donations, sponsorships, endowments and more that our Foundation brings in from philanthropists all over the region. Making It Happen The reach of Renown Health Foundation has proven to be virtually limitless, with a clear focus on supporting and raising funds for programs and initiatives that enhance the lives of our patients and their families, all for the betterment of our community for years to come. Under their growing umbrella, the dedicated team at the Foundation makes miracles happen through administering a wide range of philanthropic programs, including: Childrenâs Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH), a nonprofit organization that supports the health of 10 million children in the U.S. and Canada every year. Renown Childrenâs Hospital is proudly recognized as a member of CMNH. Gerald "Jerry" Smith Academic Practice Partnership, a partnership between Renown Health and the UNR Orvis School of Nursing to provide 24 nursing students a year with full-ride tuition assistance and a guaranteed career in nursing at Renown. Fiannaâs Healing Garden, a healing garden bringing serenity to all at Renown Regional Medical Center, built from the vision of Fianna Dickson Combs. Miracles at Montreux Golf Tournament, an annual golf tournament that takes place at Montreux Golf & Country Club and consistently raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for Renown Childrenâs Hospital. A full slate of individual giving programs, including Legacy Giving, Employee Giving and Leadership Giving. But it doesnât stop there â the Foundation is helping our health system build more ways to care for our community by securing major gifts to fund advanced healthcare facilities and innovative healthcare solutions: William N. Pennington Cancer Institute, the premier oncology institute in the region providing a large array of personalized cancer care services, including Medical Oncology, Infusion Services, Clinical Research and more. Renown Institute for Robotic Surgery, offering the latest advancements in surgical technology with robotic-assisted surgeries, which ensure precision, faster recovery and improved outcomes. Sophieâs Place, a state-of-the-art music therapy room currently in construction at Renown Childrenâs Hospital. This new space will be specially designed for children and their loved ones to enjoy the healing power of music and engage in the arts. Conrad Breast Center, the latest addition to the planned Specialty Care Center at Renown South Meadows Medical Center which will include breast imaging, infusion and surgery services along with a wellness center. Jeanne and Raymond Conrad donated a $5 million lead gift to support this important project and the Foundation team is currently working to raise an additional $6 million in 2024. It may go without saying that a day-in-the-life of these spirited team members is never a dull one. Every day brings on a new challenge to face and a goal to meet. âA day at the Foundation is a day full of emails, calls and visits with friends of Renown,â said Abbey Stephenson, Planned Giving Officer. âOur main goal is to raise funds to support the mission of Renown, and most of our outreach efforts are to encourage philanthropy and donations. We have a very collaborative team, so we can often be found in each otherâs offices strategizing about fundraising initiatives, communications and next steps with specific supporters.â âFor me, a typical day involves making sure I have a donor scheduled for coffee or lunch, working on proposals that may need research and preparing presentations,â added Jerry Cail, Major Gifts Officer. âStaying connected, I send thank you notes for any donations-usually once a week and make at least three âGrateful Patientâ calls to set appointments. I always make sure I am ready to contribute to any meetings I have for the Foundation." While the scope of the Foundationâs charitable efforts goes beyond hospital walls, they also thrive right here in our own health system. Through our Grants Program, Renownâs departments and programs can leverage the connections and skills Renown Health Foundation has in order to secure funding from a multitude of grant sources. "Grant funds from foundations, and local, state and federal governments benefit the patients and communities we serve to further our mission, vision and values,â said Pam Citrynell, Development Officer. âPast grants have supported the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment, facility development, pandemic recovery, research and clinical trials, physician and researcher recruitment, community health programs and educational training for our healthcare professionals.â Every Foundation team member lives their passion every day while at work, frequently expressing gratitude for the immense impact they have the opportunity to make. âI love coming to work because I get a very real opportunity to make a genuine difference and meet some fantastic people who believe in and support our mission,â said Leah Nelson, Director of Community Giving. âI have had the honor of meeting donors and the families they support. I couldn't be prouder of what our team has accomplished over the years and am excited for what is to come.â The impact of the Foundation teamâs tireless efforts extends far into the future, securing Renownâs lasting legacy in contributing to the continued health and well-being of our community. âPhilanthropy is not only a financial science but a very specific methodology where connecting resources are paramount; it requires careful intelligent management coupled with lots of hard work, patience, and vision,â said Yvonne Murphy, Development Officer. âThe work that the foundation does every day makes resources available to enhance the healthcare experience for all those who seek care at Renown. Our work impacts not only this present moment but in fact is a legacy that will bless this community beyond our lifetime.â
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Department Spotlight: Marketing and Communications
Nov. 12-18 is Health Care Strategy & Market Development Week. Please join us in celebrating the Marketing and Communications team at Renown Health! When you think of the brand of Renown Health, what comes to mind? Perhaps you think about our Fight the Good Fight motto that you see integrated throughout our commercials and advertisements. Or maybe your mind drifts to our signature purple that you saw on a print design or social media post. You may even think of a local news story that showcases the essence of who we are as an organization. Or you may gravitate toward the look and feel of our patient-friendly website. Managing the brand of our health system is crucial as patients look to Renown to be the voice of not-for-profit healthcare â and it takes a wide range of expertise to solidify that voice. The masters of our voice can be found within Renownâs Marketing and Communications (âMarCommâ) team. From branding and business-to-business to content and community relations, this robust department is the minds behind our reputation within the communities we serve. This team is chock-full of expert writers, speakers, designers and marketers who craft positive and memorable communications that lead to a lifetime of patient and employee loyalty. The Connoisseurs of Communicating As the keyholders of Renownâs brand position and promise, our MarComm team are experts at ensuring the community at large remembers precisely who Renown is and what our health system stands for. This all-hands-on-deck department encompasses a wide variety of talents: Marketing and creative services: Traditional and digital advertising, brand templates and collateral and brand image and awareness Communication and public relations: Employee and provider communications, intranet management, social media, media relations, photography and videography, community relations, crisis communications and strategic planning and advisement Digital specializations: Website and microsites, email marketing, customer journey mapping, blogs and chatbots Our Marketing and Creative Services team members are the ultimate dreamers, starting diverse campaigns from the ground up. âIn marketing and creative services, we are always dreaming up something new,â said Emily MacMillan, Manager of Marketing & Creative Services. âBetween our brand advertising, to service line campaigns to external partnerships, you can always find our team working on a marketing plan and creating ads, content, messaging, videos, graphics, emails, photoshoots and more.â âFrom Fight the Good Fight brand work to a service line promotion or a sponsorship creative package, the variety of projects my role allows me to bring to life for Renown is almost endless,â added Chad Norton, Senior Creative Specialist. âThat can make every day at my job nothing like the day before â which keeps things interesting and my creativity flowing.â For all things storytelling and public image management, Renown looks to the Communications team for expert guidance. âAs the Manager of Communications, I get to lead the most talented group of professionals I have ever had the pleasure of working with,â said Caroline Ackerman, Manager of Communications & Public Affairs. âSometimes there is an urgent matter to tend to, and we drop everything to support larger-scale communications. Other days, we get last-minute requests from our local media partners for TV interviews. On top of that, the communications team supports event planning and employee recognition. Itâs so fun to work in this hybrid space where we can get our work done from home while also being present at meaningful Renown events.â At Renown, we believe our external image is just as vital as our internal culture. Keeping our employees informed and engaged every step of the way is of utmost importance to MarComm. âWhile most of our department supports projects that focus on our patients, guests and visitors, our employee communications team supports internal clients (our employees),â said Dani Vogel, Communications Business Partner. âTherefore, I spend a good portion of my time working with internal departments and service lines to deliver important communications across the organization using a variety of channels. In a nutshell, my day starts with the question, âwhat do our employees need to know today?â We get to work with so many amazing internal teams.â âI internally project manage some of the marketing campaigns, from open enrollment to our annual report, and each project is different and requires its own approach,â added Colleen McLellan, Senior Production Specialist. âI create the framework for each project, such as establishing a kickoff and ongoing meeting cadence during the project, ensuring we track lessons learned and decisions made for each, create the folder structure in Sharepoint, and opening a project and maintaining the tasks and deadlines in Workfront. I am also often part of a quality circle, proofing ads and other materials created as part of a campaign. As with all of my colleagues in MarComm, we are often resources for where to learn more or find information for other departments.â âOne of my roles is to maintain the Brand HQ site and review approval requests,â added Aurora Boles, Creative Services Specialist. âI enjoy hopping on Teams calls to assist our employees with their questions about the site or templates.â Maintaining a high standard of digital excellence comes easy for the Marketing Technology team, who manage the complexities of Renownâs digital front door â starting with our website. âThink about how many health service lines Renown has to offer; now, let's create an organized set of pages for that specific service line on Renown.org â that a lot of pages!â said Sarah LaBarge, Digital Specialist. âIt takes time to curate the layout, work with providers and the Communications team to ensure the content is correct and create components and images for the page to give the user the best digital experience while continually updating and maintaining all our pages. We don't just have Renown.org; we have many other microsites that we maintain as well. It is a nice challenge to make both our team and users happy and have a good experience.â "The user experience is always at the forefront of whatever I do," added Tori Bowlin, Digital Content Editor. "When writing health blogs, emails, or health service web content, it's essential to attribute the information to one of our outstanding providers and link the post to a Renown Health Service or reputable source. A thoughtful workflow helps our customers make informed decisions regarding their health and well-being." As a not-for-profit health system, Renown reinvests right back into the community we serve. Our Community Benefit team serves as the overseers of this promise, ensuring our local non-profits that share our mission are able to deliver on their own goals. âI absolutely love the role of community impact and partnership liaison and the opportunity it provides to work with so many wonderful local nonprofits,â said Melissa Dahir, Community Benefit Liaison. âOur local community is filled with so many organizations designed to help those in need, and it is an honor to be contributing to and supporting the work these amazing groups do. My work with this department involves partnering with nonprofit organizations by providing funding for program support through groups identified in our Community Health Needs Assessment, and providing grants for traditional events such as community walks, golf tournaments, dinners, galas and more.â The MarComm teamâs paramount focus on maintaining a caring and collaborative culture stems from the impact they have on patients' lives and the crucial trust placed in the organization. For this team, no project to benefit the health and well-being of Renownâs patients is too big nor too small. âAs someone holding a core leadership position on this team, I can see firsthand that our team is all about culture and retention,â said Cristal Woodley, Senior Director of Marketing, Communications and Customer Engagement. âAt the end of the day, we have an impact on patientsâ lives and trust in the organization. Iâve surrounded myself with such smart people.â
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Department Spotlight: Patient Experience
At Renown Health, our commitment to the experience of all our patients and guests is not just a mission â it's a way of life. Our unwavering dedication to creating exceptional experiences for the communities we serve is what sets us apart. Every day, we strive to build a service culture of excellence, one that ensures that every person who walks through our doors has an extraordinary encounter that exceeds their expectations. Renownâs Patient Experience department is the team that fulfills this mission and more. These passionate individuals intimately understand that top-of-the-line service involves the entire healthcare continuum, from the first phone call when scheduling an appointment to the final discharge and follow-up instructions and everything in between. With this collective dedication, Patient Experience is consistently on a journey to redefine what it means to leave a lasting impact in the minds of patients, setting a new standard for healthcare excellence in our community. Our In-House Jack-of-All-Trades It takes a village to ensure every patient and guest continues to have a positive experience at every Renown location and maintains trust in our providers and employees. Our Patient Experience team serves as the mayors of that village, encompassing four main aspects of healthcare service: Service Excellence: Compiles, reviews and resolves patient complaints and concerns to help with service recovery and identify opportunities for improvement. Volunteer Services: Enhances the patient experience by leveraging dedicated youth, adult and college-aged volunteers in a variety of volunteer programs, including pet therapy, healing arts, hospice and more. Language Access: Provides qualified interpretation and translation services to assist our limited- or non-English-speaking populations. Data Management: Uses patient experience data, research and surveys to prioritize system, location and unit-specific service needs to improve clinical and quality outcomes. âBecause our department has many segments, no day is the same, which keeps the work week exciting,â said Shelbi Whitehead, Manager of Patient Experience. âWhether we are hosting a pet therapy parade for patients, de-escalating and rounding with upset patients to provide service recovery, offering interpretations for our Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients, or managing data for the organization, we have one goal in mind: to enhance the experience for our patients and guests at Renown Health.â  Cultivating a sense of community and fostering trust in our health system, the Service Excellence team steps in to ensure no concern goes unnoticed and every opportunity to make a positive chance is addressed. âMy day consists of listening to patient concerns, connecting with different department leaders and providing support, and working on projects to improve processes,â said Julianne Revilla, Customer Experience Specialist. âTo help enhance the patient experience, I round with patients on different floors to know more about their stay and experience with us. If they have any issues or concerns, I let floor staff know and do our best to resolve the issue in the moment.â âMy team and I have an amazing opportunity to work with multiple leaders throughout the organization to resolve any patient concerns and provide valuable feedback on how patients are doing while using services that we offer,â added Ricky Garcia Sanchez, Senior Patient Experience Specialist. âA typical day will involve calling patients, rounding with patients, communicating with leaders to resolve events, handling grievances and staying in compliance with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines.â âItâs all about hearing what is upsetting them and letting them know that we care about them,â added Shay Morgan, Customer Experience Specialist. âWe ask ourselves, what is the main concern the patient has, and what is it they are seeking? From there, we do our internal investigation through Midas and send it to leadership, and then we find a reasonable and appropriate solution or response to let the patient know we are looking into their concern.â As the only not-for-profit health system in the region, Renown depends on the dedicated service of our volunteers. Our Volunteer Services team deploys volunteers across many programs who make a significant difference in the lives of patients and their families. âOn a typical day, I may be going between the volunteer information desks assisting that team with anything that comes up while they are helping guests,â said Wendy Peukert, Volunteer Coordinator. âWe find wheelchairs for departments, provide guest escorts, deliver flowers and mail to patients, locate doctorsâ appointments or anything else that helps someone that walks in the door. We ensure all our programs go smoothly by planning ahead while also being flexible to be ready for anything that comes our way and by keeping communication open with our volunteers. Patients and guests being greeted by friendly, knowledgeable volunteers who show empathy and care is my goal!â âSome of my best days at Renown are volunteering with my dog Moose, who is a certified therapy dog, and watching the healing he provides to patients and employees,â added Shelbi Whitehead. At Renown, we believe that language should never be a barrier to receiving care. Our Language Access team ensures that this goal is realized through providing expert interpretation and translation services. âRenown has many different resources we use to ensure LEP patients and visitors receive a positive, quality visit to our health system,â said Seth Rubin, Supervisor of Language Access. âWith signage strategically placed at front desks and check-in areas, patients can point to their preferred language, and we can use the Language Line iPads, phone lines or a dual-role Qualified Medical Interpreter to communicate with the patient or visitor. Within EPIC, we can also set a patientâs preferred language indicating to Renown staff what language to use with the patient and prepare forms in that language. I always ensure all patients are provided with these proper language services, and I also help with employees taking our online interpreter certification course, as well as help when a department needs new Language Line equipment. Additionally, I enjoy meeting with community groups to stay informed on community updates, events and trends around language, immigration and more.â Renown values and utilizes the opinions of our patients across all corners of our health system Maintaining service transparency is a promise, and that promise is fulfilled by our Data Management team, who use all the research and survey tools at their disposal. âMy daily work includes a lot of updating scorecards across the network, working with the tech teams to ensure the patient data is getting to the right places, training leaders, analyzing market data and maintaining the reports that go to every corner of Renown,â said Brooke Cyphers, Market Data Analyst. âThrough a partnership with our patient satisfaction survey vendor, PRC, Renown ensures data integrity, neutrality and credibility in surveying patients in all our care areas. The data from completed surveys are compiled and disseminated to our providers and leadership at all levels with the goal of transparency and patient-centric practice. These surveys are incredibly important to process improvement directly targeted at addressing areas that have been mentioned by our patients. I love it when people reach out to dive into a particular initiative they want to track or an issue they want insights on.â In their relentless pursuit of excellence in service across many programs, the Patient Experience team remains steadfast in their commitment to delivering the highest quality care and experiences.
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6 Healthcare Action Items for the LGBTQIA+ Community
Every patient, regardless of how they may identify, greatly benefits from preventive healthcare and early detection. Members of the LGBTQIA+ community face unique considerations when it comes to their health, and a proactive approach to preventive screenings and vaccines is important in order to address their individual health needs. Dr. Karen Thiele, Family Medicine Physician with University Health and Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, breaks down key steps that LGBTQIA+ patients should take to safeguard their health. PrEP and PEP Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a strategy to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. It is an important measure for those who are HIV-negative but may be at risk of contracting it. The highest risk sexual practice is receptive anal intercourse, due to the relative fragility of rectal tissue. This medication can stop HIV from spreading in the body and help patients maintain their HIV-negative status. PrEP is available in both pill form, which is taken every day, and injection form, of which the first two injections are initiated one month after another while all other injections are initiated every two months. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is an antiretroviral drug regimen taken after potential HIV exposure to prevent an HIV-negative individual from converting to HIV-positive status. PEP is only for emergency situations and must be started within 72 hours of exposure â sooner is always better than later â and must be taken for 28 days. PrEP and PEP are available in many ways, including visiting your primary care provider (PCP) or an urgent care location.  HPV Immunization All genders and identities can protect themselves against human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can lead to the risk of cervical, mouth, head, neck, throat, anal, vaginal, penile and vulvar cancers. HPV is so common that nearly all sexually active people, regardless of sexual orientation and practices, will be exposed at some point in their lifetime. The HPV vaccine (common brands include Gardasil and Cervarix) is a safe and effective method to prevent HPV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This vaccine protects against infections that can lead to HPV-related cancers and precancers, as well as genital warts. While patients should start receiving the vaccine at 9 years old years old, unvaccinated adults up to the age of 45 can also receive the vaccine through their PCP â better late than never! STI Testing Sexually-transmitted infections form from bacteria, viruses or parasites that can be transmitted by person-to-person sexual contact through semen, vaginal, blood and other bodily fluids. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there are more than 20 million estimated new STI cases across the nation each year.  Luckily, most STIs are preventable. Annual STI testing for HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis is important to stay on top of your sexual health. Because these STIs may sometimes have no symptoms, screening is recommended regularly and with any change in sexual partners. Depending on the specific condition, tests for these infections include urine, swab and blood tests. Speak with your primary care provider on a screening schedule that works best for you. Prostate Exams Prostate exams look for early signs of prostate cancer in patients who still have a prostate. The CDC recommends those who are at least 55 years old get regular prostate screenings; however, for patients with a family history of prostate cancer, screenings may be recommended as early as 45 years old. These exams are done via two common methods â a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a digital rectal examination (DRE). Your provider can help you determine your risk and when you should start getting screened. Pap Tests and Pelvic Exams Patients of all genders who have a cervix, uterus, vagina and/or ovaries will benefit from regular pelvic exams and Pap screenings. A pelvic exam consists of a provider looking inside the vagina and at the cervix for anything unusual. A Pap test, also known as a Pap smear, involves your provider using a small, soft swab to collect cervical cells to check for early signs of cancer. Generally speaking, people with these organs should have a Pap test every three years starting at age 21 through the age of 30. After age 30, patients should receive a Pap test with HPV co-testing every five years until age 65. These recommendations are changing based on new research, so it is important to have a conversation with your PCP about the current guidelines so you can make an informed choice about what schedule you should follow. A gynecologist or your primary care provider can counsel you and perform these screenings. Mammograms and Breast Exams People with breast tissue, especially dense breast tissue, are at risk for breast cancer, and regular breast screenings are your best line of defense. At-home breast self-exams are the first step â you will want to check your breasts for any lumps, changes, fluid leaks, irregular tissue thickening or anything else that feels unusual. The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment tool, provided by the National Cancer Institute, is a good place to start to identify your risk. Talk with your primary care provider about the risks and benefits of starting screening at age 40 so you can make an informed decision about when to start. If you have any family history of breast or ovarian cancer, your PCP will offer you genetic testing for BRCA 1 and 2 mutations. Nevadans over the age of 18 can also get BRCA genetic test for free by enrolling in the Healthy Nevada Project. Mammograms are important screening tools, but for a significant portion of people with breast tissue, density of the breast tissue may make mammograms less helpful in detecting cancer. Your primary care provider can help you decide what additional imaging (such as breast ultrasound) might be best for you.
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Sepsis: Causes & Symptoms
According to the Global Sepsis Alliance, 1 in 5 deaths worldwide are associated with sepsis. If not recognized early and treated promptly, sepsis is the final common pathway to death from most infectious diseases worldwide, including viruses such as COVID-19. We spoke with Jeremy Gonda, MD, a critical care physician from Renown Healthâs Sepsis Committee to increase public awareness of this preventable medical emergency. What is sepsis? Sepsis is a response to infectionâbacterial, viral or fungalâand can start anywhere in the body and spread into the bloodstream. The body is trying so hard to fight an infection that it begins releasing chemicals into the bloodstream that cause inflammation and the shutdown of multiple organ systems. âIt carries a very poor prognosis in general unless you catch and treat it very early,â said Dr. Gonda. âAny infection can lead to sepsis. Typically your immune system takes care of the infection. It doesnât progress, but in cases where the infection becomes severe, or the immune system doesnât function properly, people can certainly die. So thereâs, unfortunately, a very high mortality rate associated with sepsis.â According to theâŻCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, each year at least 1.7 million adults in America develop sepsis. While you can recover from sepsis if caught early, many sepsis survivors suffer from long-term physical and psychological effects. What are the signs of sepsis? One way to spot sepsis is to use the acronym SEPSIS: S â Slurred speech and confusion E â Extreme shivering or muscle pain/fever P â Passing no urine all day S â Severe breathlessness I â âI feel like I might dieâ S â Skin mottled or discolored Keep in mind that sepsis symptoms can vary depending on where the infection starts. âPatients may experience urinary burning if they have a urinary tract infection or a cough and shortness of breath if they have pneumonia first,â said Dr. Gonda. âHowever, often symptoms are more generalized or subtle such as fevers, confusion and malaise.â How do you develop sepsis? When germs enter your body, they can cause an infection. If you donât stop that infection, it can cause sepsis. Areas of infection that more commonly result in sepsis include: Lungs, such as pneumonia Kidney, bladder and other parts of the urinary system Digestive system Bloodstream (bacteremia) Catheter sites Wounds or burns Who is most at risk? People with compromised immune systems are at greater risk for sepsis, such as âThe very young, the elderly and any people who may have conditions that suppress your immune system,â said Dr. Gonda. âFor instance, if you have diabetes or if youâre an organ transplant patient who is on immunosuppressant therapy, youâre at somewhat higher risk.â Sepsis is often considered a hospital-acquired infection, but aâŻstudyâŻin The Journal of American Medical Association found that 80% of sepsis cases occur outside of a hospital. Thatâs why itâs especially important to remember any infection can lead to sepsis, and anyone can develop sepsis from an infection. What do I do? Timing is critical in the case of sepsis and septic shock. According to aâŻstudy on septic shock patients, there is a 7.6 percent decrease in survival for each hour treatment is delayed. On the other end, if treatment is given within an hour of the first drop in blood pressure, the survival rate is 80 percent. Because sepsis can be so deadly, itâs important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. âIf youâre not getting any better, if you think symptoms are progressively worsening â you should definitely be evaluated by a doctor,â said Dr. Gonda. You can help #StopSepsis by getting involved at worldsepsisday.org.
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Department Spotlight: Finance
Help celebrate the end of tax season by recognizing Renown's Finance team! The financial health of every organization is integral to their mission delivery. A health system like ours is no different â and it comes with many intricacies that require a top-notch finance team. The work of financial professionals in healthcare goes far beyond just balancing the books and ensuring bills are paid on time; their work is instrumental to the sustainability and growth of every organization. The Finance department at Renown Health makes a genuine difference by partnering with every team across our health system to safeguard their financial vitality. From accounting and payroll to financial planning and analysis, this team manages our financial resources effectively to assure we can continue providing the highest quality of care to all patients. Money-Minded The team members in Renownâs robust Finance department run the gamut of financial expertise: Accounts Payable pays all our bills to our vendors. Tax and Treasury handles our business licensing and investments. Accounting records our financial transactions, prepares financial statements and reports transactions to the public and the government. Payroll ensures all our employees are paid for their service. Financial Planning and Analysis focuses on long-range planning and evaluates projects for a positive return on investment. As our in-house finance experts, this teamâs workdays are anything but ordinary. Every day â and even every month and season â looks different than the last. On top of it all, these team members know exactly what it means to represent Renownâs cultural commitment to collaboration. âWe handle a varied set of tasks daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly,â said Minty Huynh, Database Administrator for Renown Health. âWe could be churning through a planning cycle involving multiple reports and leader meetings, or we could be diving into details about why a specific department has a charge that brings them over budget.â âGiven that my role is tied with a lot of other finance and accounting departments, there is a lot of variability in the role on a day-to-day, week-to-week and monthly basis,â added Michaell Poertner, Financial Systems Administrator for Renown. âRegarding cross-functional collaboration, we meet with team leaders to address any issues or concerns they have with process or data, then work to alleviate those concerns. We all work together to ensure we record and account for our businesses within established rules and regulations.â Helping lead our leadership team through financial and strategic goals plays a major part in Renownâs success. Our Finance team has nailed this down to a science. That guidance is driven by two key aspects: data and determination. âOur team performs specific activities around planning and budgeting, financial effectiveness of current operations and planning for the future,â said Deirdre Maurer, Director of Financial Planning and Analysis for Renown. âWe analyze data and provide support for our operations teams. Additionally, we manage Axiom, our financial performance management tool used for all our financial activities: capital planning and tracking, budgeting, long-term planning, management reporting and productivity.â The excitement of solving problems and presenting high-quality analyses drives this team to succeed. However, given the complexities of their everyday work, one may believe that they stay siloed in their own areas. The reality is the opposite â these team members appreciate each other immensely and attribute many triumphs to their colleagues. âI get to work on puzzles every day, such as taking capital projects and building a complete package of reports and documentation to support the many assets at Renown,â said Debra Reyes, Accountant for Renown. âI need and appreciate everyone: Accounts Payable for reclassing items, Finance for project funding, leadership for direction and departments across our health system for working with me on serial numbers and in-use information for capital items.â Our entire Finance team is committed to providing the necessary support and guidance to everyone at Renown, ensuring our financial well-being every step of the way. âThe finance team supports business partners in managing current and future financial well-being,â said Nancy Perryman, Principal Financial Analyst for Renown. âWe are here to help and work with every department that needs it.â Change Agents As an organization, Renown Health went through a significant change in 2022 that helped set us on a positive financial trajectory. Last year, our senior leadership decided to transition from a July 1 to June 30 fiscal year to a calendar fiscal year from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 to link up with Hometown Healthâs fiscal year and the fiscal years of most health systems nationwide. From July 1 to Dec. 31, Renown navigated through a âstub period,â which was an opportunity for our team to build upon and deeply analyze our financial health in preparation for a strong, year-long fiscal year. This transition was accomplished with the dedicated, efficient Finance team, who led Renown through this tough time. In addition, their proactive approach to our calendar year planning during the stub period directly impacted Renownâs margin improvements and financial longevity into 2023 and beyond.  âChanging our fiscal year meant that we needed a special audit only a few months after our last audit for the six-month âstubâ period between the old and new fiscal years,â said Shanna Entin, CPA, Senior Accountant for Renown. âThere are a lot of challenges with a smaller audit, as some are familiar while some are new, but Iâm proud to say we knocked that audit out of the water.â Despite this uniquely busy season, none of the Finance departmentâs additional duties fell by the wayside. They celebrated an expedited five-year plan completion, planning turnarounds and much more, all while guiding Renown through the stub period. âI am proud of this team for finishing our rolling forecasting within two weeks and completing the five-year plan within another couple of weeks,â said Michaell Poertner. âWe converted our system to a calendar fiscal year and ensured data integrity was maintained the entire time." âWeâve had many great accomplishments involving expedited planning cycle turnarounds such as our five-year financial plans in two weeks, the calendar year 2022 finances in another two weeks and a fiscal-to-calendar year conversion,â added Minty Huynh. âWe are proud of having pulled together to deliver our plans to the board on time.â Who can forget the ramifications of the pandemic? During this trying time, our Finance team supported COVID-19 initiatives to ensure all our care teams had the resources they needed to provide the highest standard of care for our most critical patients. âI am proud that our team was able to support the accounting team with data to reinforce the funding we received for COVID-related expenses,â said Deirdre Maurer. âOur team continues to be here to help any Renown employee, which we are happy to do.â And the successes of our finance change agents keep on coming â full speed ahead. âSimply put, we rock,â said Debra Reyes. âWe have been able to record assets with more details than before, such as adding locations, serial numbers and more. We have had great audits because our reporting and eye for detail have been keen. We understand each otherâs strengths and weaknesses, becoming friends in the process." Falling in L.O.V.E. with Renown  Respect, reputation, relationships â this is the Finance departmentâs âRenown Why.â Acknowledging Renownâs community impact and giving back to the health system that provided vital support during some of their most daunting times were common themes among this team for why they joined our purple family. âI wanted to give back to the organization that had given me so much,â said Shanna Entin. âIn March 2009, the ICU team went above and beyond trying to keep my late husband alive. He was a professional ski patroller caught in an avalanche while doing snow control work in Lake Tahoe. Even though he succumbed to his injuries, I will always be grateful to them for not giving up on him. Some 21 months later, my current husband landed in the same ICU with a flailed chest and various injuries from a skiing accident. The care he received in those nine days healed him enough to continue his care at home.â âI chose to work at Renown because we spent much time at this hospital when I was younger,â added Nancy Perryman. âMy sister and I interacted with patients and delivered homemade cards to the elderly, and nurses brought us hot chocolate. Renown felt like home as much as possible when we were here with my father. Then, as an adult, when my father was in his final days, our family surrounded my father, and the amazing Renown staff surrounded us.â âRenown is a well-known name within the Reno area, and I wanted to work with a company with a good reputation and longevity,â added Michaell Poertner. Now, why do they stay? For this department, the answer is simple: their colleagues. Like many other departments at Renown, the encouraging and uplifting team atmosphere inspires them to continue making a difference. It helps them remain dedicated to Renownâs mission and vision. âWhat keeps me at Renown is the awesome team of professionals I get to call my colleagues,â said Shanna Entin. âWe take our jobs seriously. And at the same time, dealing with life is always prioritized over work. So many people are willing and able to jump in to cover you when life throws a curve ball.â The proof âis in the puddingâ â many members of this team have a 20+ year-long tenure at Renown, and they remain loyal to this day, excited for the journey ahead of them. âI applied here in 1999 to be an Accounts Payable Clerk at Renown South Meadows while I was wrapping up my courses at Career College of Northern Nevada; Iâm thankful Iâm still here,â said Debra Reyes. âI have a very interesting history with Renown and have experienced a wide range of things. Thatâs why I stay â for what lies ahead.â âI chose to work at Renown 20 years ago to make a âgenuine difference,â and I like that Renown had and still has a focus on the community and quality healthcare,â added Deirdre Maurer. âI am here today because I enjoy the people, our values and our continued commitment to our patients, community and each other. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of a great organization.â The gratitude among this team transcends beyond office walls, and they welcome any fellow finance experts to consider joining their department and embracing the future together. âIâm thankful every day, even on the hard days,â closes Debra Reyes.
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Department Spotlight: Infection Prevention
Hygiene in healthcare is an essential backbone to providing the safest, most optimal care to every patient. From everyday handwashing techniques and getting all necessary vaccinations to surveilling our health system before the onset of outbreaks, at Renown Health, creating and maintaining a low-infection environment is a group effort. From ensuring fundamental infection prevention practices are carried out to identifying process improvement opportunities, Renownâs Infection Prevention (IP) department is here to help care teams be successful in their role. This effort is led by members who are devoted in sharing evidence-based best practices to our patients, employees, healthcare organization partners and community. Making âZeroâ A Reality Reducing healthcare-associated infections is possible when core infection prevention practices are incorporated into the daily care of our patients. These team members are dedicated to Renownâs commitment to creating a culture of Excellence, caring for our healthcare environment, and our care teams. âOften times, when asked what we do in our work it can be a challenge to answer because unpredictability is built into almost every day; and in that, we as a team must divide and conquer,â said Susanne James, Manager of Infection Prevention. Every day, each team member is assigned a day to perform required surveillance activities. Whether they are reviewing patientsâ infections and isolation and evaluating lab orders for possible infectious processes or reporting communicable diseases to the local health authorities and the CDC, every Infection Preventionist participates in improvement projects and address issues as they arise. The Infection Prevention team plans, organizes, manages and evaluates the Infection Prevention Program and ensures IP policies reflect current best practice. They work closely with all departments at Renown in order to achieve high levels of standards that are implemented to reduce transmission of infection. âAs a team, we perform âInfection Prevention Environment of Care Roundingâ on all units and departments to ensure our environment complies with regulatory requirements,â said Erika Clark, Operations Analyst at Renown Health. "We work together with Facilities and Site Practice Leaders to ensure a safe environment.â The pandemic challenged all Renown teams to find creative solutions for issues no one ever imagined. Our Infection Prevention department worked tirelessly alongside Renown's Hospital Incident Command Structure (HICS) and care teams in creating several lines of defense against COVID-19, including: Launching Renown's Alternate Care Site to meet the need for critical patients. Bringing on the new lab tests and specimen collection criteria. Managing demand for personal protective equipment (PPE). Bringing vaccines to staff and then to the community. Managing ill employees and our visitors. Keeping all locations informed on pandemic status and changes (which were occurring at breakneck speed). These initiatives enabled Renown's care teams to focus on providing the safest care possible to patients saving countless lives. This solidified the fact that together, the team can accomplish anything. âInfection Prevention is proud to be a valued and respected member of the care team,â said Susanne James. âWe appreciate being a trusted resource and take this responsibility seriously as this enables us to provide staff the best possible tools to be successful.â Fight the Good Fight Against the Spread of Disease Educating patients and providers plays a huge part on the Infection Prevention stage. This team provides educational materials on a range of topics, some of the most important are, proper hand hygiene and the use of PPE. All these materials can be found throughout our health system and serve as an important reminder â infection prevention starts with all of us. âWe partner with every aspect of the health system â environmental services, nutrition services, lab services, facilities, pharmacy, physical therapy and occupational therapy, respiratory care, patient access, security, nurses, providers and quality...just to name a few!â said Susanne James. Our Infection Prevention team also partners with Washoe County Health District and other public health agencies to report â and in turn, stop the spread of â diseases and exposures. These close partnerships poise our team to do what we do best: Fight the Good Fight. âI greatly appreciate everyone in the IP department for sharing their expertise as I learned a new position,â said Erika Clark. âI love working with my team and how closely we work with other departments to ensure excellence in all we do.â Our health system is ever-changing. But according to the experts in our Infection Prevention department, the three main ways to prevent illness and disease that remain the same time and time again are to: Clean your hands. Hand hygiene is the most effective way of preventing the spread of infections. The CDC recommends washing your hands with warm soap and water for 15-20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Clean your hands often and assist our patients to do the same. Learn expert hand-washing advice here. Get vaccinated. Immunizations are one of the top methods you can embrace the fight against preventable diseases, such as COVID-19, flu, measles, tetanus and more. Discover how you can get vaccinated with Renown. Keep germs from spreading. Practice good hygiene by covering your cough or sneeze or wearing a mask and sanitizing frequently touched spaces. Stay home if you feel ill to prevent the spread of illness and infection. Be sure to bring up any illness concerns with your primary care provider. âEvery aspect of our health system has an infection prevention component, and we work daily to ensure our staff, patients and visitors are providing and receiving care free from potential harm or infections,â said Susanne James. âWe are often the first call staff make when they have questions, concerns or just need someone to help improve process or outcomes.â Reveling with Renown Proudly defining themselves as a âsmall but mightyâ team, the six-person Infection Prevention department moves mountains to ensure the safety of anyone who walks through Renownâs doors. The tight-knit nature of this team can be felt from miles away, and to them, being âsmall but mightyâ is not a hindrance, as they have the support of the IP Champions and the entire health system. Â âI originally came to Renown in 2018 as a nurse traveler, the facility and people I worked with immediately made an impact on me,â said Brian Stroud, Infection Preventionist at Renown Health. âMy wife and I chose Renown and Reno due to the positive impact the people had on us. Everyone is welcoming, helpful and caring. Now, I am a full-time employee, and the team has made my transition into infection prevention trouble-free." Renownâs mission of providing a genuine difference for the health and wellbeing of the community is heightened and echoed by the Infection Prevention team. âI chose Renown because of the reputation Renown has earned in the community because of the excellent care and level of services provided,â said Shannon Oriola, Infection Preventionist at Renown Health. âI absolutely love this team and my Renown family!â âWhat brought me to Renown was the opportunity to acquire diverse skills which then motivated me to pursue my masterâs degree,â added Paul DeLeon, Infection Preventionist at Renown Health. âWhat keeps me here is the people â Renown attracts hard working, ethical and caring people.â "My wife and I loved coming out to the Nevada mountains on vacations," added Russ Laarman, Infection Preventionist at Renown Health. "After being in Michigan for 47 years, we took the plunge and made NV our home. The experience has been great! I work with a great team that is very knowledgeable and works hard to ensure positive outcomes for our patients and colleagues at Renown.â Their pride shines through with their own individual accolades, both inside and outside of work. This past year: Shannon Oriola received a scholarship from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) for âimproving outcomes through knowledge and practice,â which provided her with a $1,000 scholarship to attend the annual APIC conference in Indianapolis. Paul DeLeon earned his Certification in Infection Control and Prevention from APIC. Erika Clark completed Renownâs High Potential program, a six-month program that gives employees hands-on learning experience with several competencies, including emotional intelligence, effective communication, building successful relationships and organizational knowledge. Brian Stroud and his wife Charla became official Nevada residents. Russ Laarman scaled Mount Whitney. ...And the list keeps growing! Charged with the goal of keeping disease spread at bay, our Infection Prevention team remains vigilant and dedicated to their mission. Their commitment to Renown and to keeping our health system clean and healthy proves the age-old saying true: not all heroes wear capes. âIâm so very proud of the work Infection Prevention does every day, working with the vast teams throughout the health system to improve lives,â said Susanne James. âWe would like to thank all of you for protecting the health and safety of your colleagues, our patients and the community.â
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Preventing Spinal Cord Injuries: What to Know
If you're not taking safety precautions during mountain sports, you could be at risk for a spinal cord injury. Dr. Benjamin Pence of Renown Rehabilitation Hospital explains the best way to prevent this serious injury. Mountain sports are a big part of the winter season here in our area, but if youâre not practicing all the proper safety techniques, you could end up with a serious spinal cord injury. Benjamin Pence, MD, Renown Rehabilitation Hospital, is here to offer tips to prevent this serious injury while youâre out enjoying what the Truckee Meadows has to offer. What is the spinal cord? The spine stretches from the base of your skull to the coccyx (commonly referred to as the tailbone). Your spine is made up of 24 vertebraeâseven cervical, which are in your neck, 12 thoracic, which are in your chest, and five lumbar, which are in your lower back. There are ligaments and muscles attached to each vertebra. These facilitate back movement and protect the bones from damage. There is cartilage between each vertebra which acts as a shock absorber for your spine. Finally, the spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of the nervous tissue and support cells that is enclosed in the spinal canal and send signals from the brain to everything from your arm and leg muscles to bowel and bladder function. The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system.
Read More About Preventing Spinal Cord Injuries: What to Know
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Your Ultimate Cold and Flu Survival Guide
While viruses can attack year-round, colds, flus and other respiratory illnesses are typically more prevalent during fall and winter. People spend more time indoors, which allows viruses to pass more easily from one person to another. The cold, dry air can also affect the respiratory system, making it more susceptible to germs. According to the CDC, flu activity in the U.S. often begins to increase in October and peaks between December and February. âFlu seasonâ can last as late as May. When it comes to the cold and flu, prevention and preparation are key. Getting the flu shot and a COVID-19 vaccine is the first and most crucial step in protecting against these two respiratory illnesses. Preventative actions, such as washing your hands, covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and getting enough sleep can also help you avoid getting sick. However, despite your best prevention efforts, the time may come this winter when you start to feel a little scratch in your throat or a fever coming on. By taking steps ahead of time to assemble a cold and flu survival kit, youâll be more prepared for whenever illness strikes, allowing you to stay home, rest and avoid spreading germs. Tips for Managing Symptoms Keep these tips in mind to ease your cold or flu symptoms: Stay home and rest Drink plenty of fluids Treat aches and fever with over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen Manage a cough with over-the-counter expectorants or suppressants Run a humidifier or sit in a steamy bathroom to ease congestion What to Stock in Your Flu Survival Kit Be ready when a cold or the flu strikes by having a flu survival kit filled with these get-well essentials stocked in your pantry, fridge and medicine cabinet: Over-the-Counter Medications: Take advantage of over-the-counter medications to make yourself feel better and ease most common flu symptoms of fever, headache, cough, muscle aches, sore throat, and runny or stuffy nose Pain relievers - Ibuprofen (Motrin and Advil) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol): for fever and aches Decongestants: for sniffles and congestion Cough expectorant (guaifenesin): for a âwetâ cough to help clear secretions from the lungs Cough suppressant (dextromethorphan/DM): for a severe âdryâ cough to block the cough reflex Cough syrups and drops Drinks: Water Herbal tea Low-sugar sports drinks Pedialyte Foods: Chicken soup Broth Vitamin C-containing fruits and vegetables Oatmeal Toast (add some avocado, honey or egg) Miscellaneous items: Tissues Lozenges Protective mask Thermometer Humidifier When to Seek Care and Where to Go Most healthy adults who have a cold, the flu, or other mild respiratory illnesses donât need to see a care provider and will recover at home with self-care measures. Because these are viral illnesses, antibiotics wonât work against treating them. Your care provider may be able to prescribe an antiviral medication that can relieve your symptoms and shorten the duration and severity of your illness; however, this needs to be started within 48 hours of symptom onset and is often only prescribed to individuals at high risk for developing complications from the flu or those experience severe symptoms. Primary Care or Urgent Care Contact your primary care provider or visit an Urgent Care if you are at an increased risk, including those who: Are 65 years of age or older Have chronic medical conditions Are pregnant or recently gave birth Have a weakened immune system Find a primary care provider If you are otherwise healthy and not at increased risk of complications, seek medical advice if your flu symptoms are unusually severe, such as mild difficulty breathing, a severe sore throat, coughing that produces a lot of green or yellow mucus, or feeling faint. Emergency Care Go to the Emergency Department if you are experiencing emergency warning signs such as severe pain (chest, abdomen), concern for heart attack or stroke (slurred speech, new localized weakness), severe dehydration (needing IV fluids) or severe shortness of breath.