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Department Spotlight: Pharmacy
When it comes to each patientâs healthcare journey, medication is often a key chapter. After all, medication is one of the most common treatment methods to help patients on the road back to health. In 2023, 4.83 billion prescriptions were filled in the U.S., and with this number only anticipated to rise annually, having an expert pharmacy team on your side to make certain you are prescribed the ideal dosage to treat your condition, prepare your prescriptions on time and help you manage your medications responsibly is important. Fortunately, at Renown Health, we have best-in-class inpatient and outpatient pharmacy teams to fill both prescriptions and promises for excellent care. Renown Pharmacy plays a vital role in helping us foster a health system that prioritizes patient well-being above all else. This department exemplifies the impact that a unified, expert pharmacy team can have on patient outcomes now and in the future. The Masters of Medication Spanning three hospitals plus ambulatory locations across the health system, Renownâs growing pharmacy team â full of dedicated pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and even medical assistants â manages medications in a wide variety of patient settings, touching nearly every aspect of the healthcare continuum: Outpatient Retail Pharmacies Renown Regional Medical Center â 75 Pringle Way The Healthcare Center â 21 Locust Street Renown South Meadows Medical Center â 10101 Double R Blvd Inpatient Pharmacies Renown Rehabilitation Hospital Renown Regional Medical Center (including Renown Childrenâs Hospital) Renown South Meadows Medical Center COMING SOON: Conrad Breast Center Pharmacy (in honor of Kristina Ferrari) in the Specialty Care Center at Renown South Meadows Ambulatory Pharmacies Anticoagulation Services â Institute for Heart & Vascular Health (IHVH) Pharmacotherapy Program â IHVH and Renown Medical Group Locations Congestive Heart Failure Pharmacotherapy Program â Center for Advanced Medicine B at Renown Regional Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Pharmacotherapy Program â Renown South Meadows Endocrinology Pharmacotherapy Program â Renown South Meadows Clinical pharmacists at Renown bridge the gap between medicine and compassionate support, making sure each patient receives personalized care one prescription at a time. âThere are various roles pharmacists play within Renown,â said Clarissa Munoz, Clinical Pharmacist in the Renown Regional Inpatient Pharmacy. âStaff pharmacists work diligently to ensure correct medications are dispensed, and if compounded, make sure they were prepared properly. They also work hard to answer medication messages and phone calls, help verify orders and make sure ode trays/RSI kits are appropriately stocked and ready when needed. Clinical pharmacists work from satellite pharmacies on the floor and focus on reviewing patient charts and aim to provide additional interventions to the providers to optimize treatment strategies. We also serve as a resource for nursing staff and help answer medication questions.â âMy role in the pharmacy is pretty expansive,â added Chanelle Ajimura, Clinical Pharmacist in the Renown Regional Outpatient Pharmacy. âI maintain inventory to confirm patients can receive their medications in a timely manner both for our discharge and retail patients while balancing the Meds to Beds program, which offers medication delivery to the bedside and bedside medication counseling; collaborating with an interdisciplinary team to find the most affordable price for patients; and verifying that the dose, strength, indication, etc. is appropriate for the patient from start to finish.â âIn the pharmacy, I make sure patients are receiving appropriate drug therapy by checking for major drug interactions and ensuring appropriate dosing,â added Courtney Church, Clinical Pharmacist in the Renown Regional Outpatient Pharmacy. âI also make recommendations to providers so patients can get cost-effective therapy.â Our pharmacy technicians work behind-the-scenes ensuring efficient medication management, making a difference in the lives of patients every day. âA pharmacy technician is responsible for making sure the patient gets their medications on time and at the lowest price possible,â said Nate Graham, Pharmacy Technician in the Renown Regional Outpatient Pharmacy. âThis is done by working with patients, insurance companies and case workers. We fill prescriptions, enter prescriptions into our system, receive and send orders for medications and maintain a clean pharmacy with an accurate inventory.â âWe do a variety of things; the task people probably know the most is counting out the medications and putting them in the amber vials,â added Rachel Vallin, Pharmacy Technician in the Renown Regional Outpatient Pharmacy. âWe also help patients at the front of the pharmacy, ring out their prescriptions, answer some basic questions (deferring to a pharmacist as necessary) and billing insurance. Meds to Beds is my favorite part because I feel the most involved. I take medications to patients who are discharging up to their hospital rooms so they have it with them when they leave.â âAs a technician, I confirm that all medications of new admissions are available in our machines prior to admitting and then maintain stock during each patientâs stay,â added Tammara Axtman, Pharmacy Technician at Renown Rehabilitation Hospital. "I also assist our nurses when needed in regard to any of their questions with both EPIC and Omnicell.â Our pharmacy team is also on the move all across our health system, thanks to our Ambulatory Pharmacy programs. For patients experiencing a serious heart, lung, or endocrine condition that requires ongoing drug therapy maintenance and guidance, our ambulatory pharmacies step in to carefully monitor how their medications impact their health and well-being. âOur role as pharmacists in this department is non-traditional because we actually see patients in the exam rooms face-to-face,â said Cory Lankford, Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacist for Renownâs Anticoagulation Services. âWe modify their medication regimens and drug recommendations under collaborative practice agreements.â âBecause our role is so unique, we have a lot of opportunities to make a positive impact on patients,â added Janeen Abe, Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacist for Renownâs Anticoagulation Services. âWe do a lot of direct patient interaction, including counseling patients on their medications and helping them navigate through their disease state.â âAs a medical assistant in this department, weâre called the patient âliaisonsâ to orchestrate who they should go to whether itâs a nurse, a provider or a pharmacist,â added Kiara Scruggs, Medical Assistant for Renownâs Anticoagulation Services. âWe look at each patientâs medications and help with the Warfarin blood thinner monitor. We get to do a lot with patients." No matter the diagnosis, having Renown Pharmacy as an integral part of your healthcare team is a win-win situation for both you and them: you receive access to medication to help you heal, delivered to you with precision and care, and the pharmacy team has the opportunity to care for you and make a positive impact, a role they take seriously.
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The Unmatched Health Benefits of Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is an excellent winter workout that can help burn calories, strengthen muscles and boost cardiovascular health. Explore the top 8 snowshoeing spots and experience this ultimate workout adventure! Significant Health Benefits: Exceptional cardiovascular workout â burn up to 1,000 calories per hour! Low-impact muscle building Endurance building Balance strengthening and agility Improves your sense of well-being by connecting to nature Prepping for Your Adventure There are some crucial details to think about when it comes to snowshoeing, especially if you are a beginner. Make sure to pick the right kind of footwear to go on top of your snowshoes; a pair of comfortable waterproof boots are a great choice and remember to wear lots of layers. Several local places rent snowshoes if you arenât sure about spending money on a pair. Check out Bobos Ski and Board Patio or our local REI Co-Op. Check out REIâs Beginnerâs Guide to Snowshoeing for reference. 8 Cool Snowshoeing Spots 1. Galena Creek Park Close to Reno, this beautiful, low-altitude park offers several trails. Youâll find various creeks and streams under cover of pristine ponderosa pines. From beginner to advanced, the differing trail systems provide a challenge for everyone! Head west on State Route 431 (Mt. Rose Highway) for about seven miles until you see the park sign on the right side of the highway. 2. Tahoe Meadows â Chickadee Ridge This local favorite not only gives fantastic views of Lake Tahoe but the best part? â friendly little chickadees will eat seeds right out of your hand! Be sure to pack plenty of sunflower birdseed, as that seems to be their favorite. From the trailhead parking lot, head southeast into the open meadow. Then follow the ridgeline to your right (southwest). Continue southwest up toward the top of the ridgeline to the west, and youâll get to Chickadee Ridge in just under two miles. 3. Spooner Lake Trail The easy 2.5-mile loop around Spooner Lake is excellent for all skill levels. This alpine lake is surrounded by aspen trees which house varied bird species, so bring your binoculars! Dogs are allowed on a leash, and all-day parking is $10. 4. Kirkwood Ski Resort Youâll need a trail pass, but this South Lake Tahoe resort has various routes from beginner to advanced, with roughly 50 miles of terrain. Nighttime snowshoe treks during the full moon are also available throughout the winter. Kirkwood is located on Highway 88, close to Carson Pass. 5. Camp Richardson Heading north, you can find this well-established and favorite local snowshoeing spot. If youâre up for an adventure, you can trek up to Fallen Leaf Lake. Itâs located off Highway 89 and near Fallen Leaf Road. 6. Dry Pond Loop This moderate, 6.5-mile loop near Washoe Valley has impressive views of Carson Valley, Washoe Lake, and the Mt. Rose Wilderness. If you like the sound of rushing water, most of the trail meanders along Whiteâs Creek. This area is dog-friendly and kid-friendly, which makes it a family favorite. 7. Royal Gorge Soda Springs is home to this resort, which is well known for its cross-country skiing trails. Enjoy extensive trails leading deep into the trees with spectacular views. Find Royal Gorge from the Soda Springs exit on West Interstate 80. 8. Ash Canyon Creek Tucked away in the Carson Valley, these trails are filled with mountain bikes in the spring and provide excellent snowshoeing trails in the winter. Find it from Interstate 580 by taking the Highway 395 Business exit to Winnie Lane.
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Patty Warren A Woman of Strength and Resilience
Meet and get to know Patty Warren, our featured Sterling Silver Club member this fall. You may recognize her from the latest Senior Care Plus commercial on television, where she joins a coffee chat discussing the many benefits of being a Senior Care Plus member. Sheâs one of the kindest souls youâll ever meet â and has a positive outlook on life that we should all strive for. Patty's Story Patty was born and raised in a small Kansas town called Baxter Springs, where she grew up with an older brother, an older sister and two younger sisters. She and her siblings all enjoyed playing sports like softball and basketball, in addition to playing instruments. Patty developed a love and passion for music at a young age that carried into her adulthood. âI wanted to be an opera singer,â said Patty. âI decided to go to college at Pittsburg State University in Kansas where I majored in vocal performance.â After college, Patty moved to Manhattan in New York City to audition to be an opera singer, but she soon realized it wasnât what she wanted to do after all. She eventually decided to work in the brokerage industry.  After living and working in New York for three years, Patty moved back to Kansas where she later met the love of her life, Michael. âIn 1992, I had put a dating ad in the local newspaper,â said Patty. âI received over 30 responses, and I went out on quite a few dates.â Then she had her first date with Michael, and the two of them quickly realized how much they liked each other. He asked her to marry him on Valentineâs Day in 1993, and they went on to get married in front of the Justice of the Peace on May 3, just a few months later. âWe had a small wedding so that we could move into our first home together,â said Patty. A few years later in 1999, Patty and Michael moved to Arizona, where they lived for 22 years. Patty worked at Edward Jones Investments for 18 of those 22 years and loved her job and the people that she worked with. She retired in January 2021 during the pandemic, and three days later she and Michael moved to Sparks, Nevada.
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3 Ways to Foster the Wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ Kids and Teens
Ensuring a healthier and more inclusive future for LGBTQIA+ children and teens is of utmost importance to health systems in our community, especially Renown. Supporting the physical and mental health of youth in this community is key to those efforts, especially as they face unique challenges in terms of identity acceptance and social integration.  Dr. Caroline Barangan, Adolescent Medicine Physician with Renown Childrenâs Pediatric Specialty Care, discusses what you as a parent, caregiver, friend or support system can do to be a safe space for children and teens who identify as LGBTQIA+. 1. Create a Safe Space at Home The most important action you can take for your LGBTQIA+ teen or child is to accept and support them for who they are, regardless of how they identify. âBeing a teenager is already difficult enough, especially within the LGBTQIA+ community, which puts them at risk of being stigmatized, rejected and targets for bullying,â said Dr. Barangan. Your supportive words and actions can make a huge difference as a profound expression of love and understanding. Being patient and willing to learn are the foundations to a healthy and loving relationship with your LGBTQIA+ teen or child. 2. Encourage Regular Check-Ups with a Primary Care Provider (PCP) Establishing your child or teen with a PCP is not only important when an illness occurs but also for annual preventative visits and regular check-ups. âA primary care provider can screen for high-risk behaviors that would put a patientâs health in jeopardy, such as sexual experience, substance use, suicidality and self-harm,â said. Dr Barangan. âThese screenings are an opportunity to provide the education and support these kids and teens need to stay healthy.â One of the main concerns LGBTQIA+ youth often have is that they will experience judgment from their provider, or the PCP will disclose sensitive information, including their sexuality or gender identity to their parents, when they are not ready to do so. Dr. Barangan emphatically reminds us that this legally cannot happen. âIf a patient asks me to keep something confidential, unless they disclose that they have plans to harm themselves or others, I am legally not allowed to share that information with anyone without their permission,â said Dr. Barangan. 3. Locate Local Resources Northern Nevada is home to a variety of resources for the LGBTQIA+ community at large, including youth members of this community. "Finding resources to help them develop in a positive way and provide them with the information they need, whether it be in school, the household, the community or through a medical or mental health provider, is incredibly important,â said Dr. Barangan. Below is a list of local LGBTQIA+ community resources open to you and your children: Our Center LGBTQIA+ Health Services at Northern Nevada HOPES Northern Nevada Pride Festival & Community Parade (happens every July in Reno) Sassabration (happens every September in Carson City) Lake Tahoe Pride (events and resources shared on Facebook)
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Nurturing Your Child's Back-to-School Mental Health
The back-to-school season is here, and ensuring your child's successful transition involves more than just school supplies and schedules. At Renown Childrenâs Hospital, and in collaboration with Nevada Pediatric Psychiatry Solutions, we understand the vital role that mental health plays in a child's overall well-being and academic performance. Below we'll guide you through essential tips for a smooth back-to-school experience, with a special focus on nurturing your child's mental health. How to Support Your Childâs Mental Health from Home Remember, the below strategies can be adapted to align with your child's personality, learning style and household dynamics. Flexibility and understanding are key in tailoring these tips to suit your child's unique needs. 1. Be Open to Communication: Recognize that effective communication is the cornerstone of understanding your child's feelings and concerns. Create a safe space where your child feels comfortable expressing their thoughts. Listen to learn, without judgment. Make it a point to validate their emotions and ensure they are heard. Encourage sharing experiences,worries, friends and challenges they may be facing. Having open conversations about sensitive topics opens the door for discussion and understanding. Make yourself available. 2. Establish a Routine: A consistent routine can offer a sense of stability and predictability for your child, and anticipation helps to decrease anxiety and establish a sense of control. Join forces and design a daily schedule that includes time for schoolwork, play, physical activity, meals and relaxation. Be flexible about the structure to allow room for last-minute changes including extra activities based on that dayâs needs as well. Always add time for play and bonding. 3. Practice Compassion: Back-to-school can come with big emotions. Listening reflexively and acknowledging these feelings can help you and your child act positively on these big emotions. 4. Get Involved: Actively engage in your child's school life by participating in school events, meetings and discussions. Show interest in their educational journey, ask about their experiences and provide guidance when needed. Being present in their academic pursuits not only boosts their confidence but also strengthens the parent-child bond. 5. Use Positive Reinforcement: Celebrate your child's achievements, no matter how small they may seem. This allows for a sense of accomplishment and boosts self-esteem. Praise efforts, progress and perseverance, whether it's completing an assignment, making a new friend or overcoming a challenge. This positivity encourages a growth mindset and resilience. 6. Organize a Schoolwork Zone: Create a comfortable workspace at home dedicated to school-related tasks. Customize the area based on your child's preferences and needs. Having a designated space for studying and completing assignments promotes focus, reduces distractions and enhances their overall learning experience.
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Department Spotlight: Renown Transfer and Operations Center
Stepping into the Renown Transfer and Operations Center (RTOC) means stepping into a transformative hub of excellence where lives are saved and healthcare is reimagined. As a cornerstone of Renown Health's commitment to exceptional patient care, the RTOC serves as a dynamic nerve center that seamlessly coordinates medical resources, ambulance rides, hospital bed space, remote home systems, hospital transfers and emergency preparedness. In this best-in-class facility, the boundaries of what is possible in healthcare are constantly pushed, and new horizons of patient care are discovered.  Staffed with a dedicated team of skilled professionals, the RTOC harnesses the power of advanced technology and compassionate expertise to ensure that patients receive the highest level of care and support, no matter where they are. Through a synchronized network of communication, coordination, and compassionate care, the RTOC team ensures that patients receive the critical support they need when it matters most, working tirelessly to redefine what it means to deliver world-class healthcare.  A National Standard Charged with the goal of overseeing the placement and transportation for every patient, the RTOC officially launched in 2021 as northern Nevadaâs first and only transfer center of its kind and a nationally celebrated facility. As Renownâs highly coordinated care logistics system, this team uses the cutting-edge technology at their fingertips to customize healthcare to the needs of every patient, manage patient flow and drive healthcare innovation. âCompared to where weâve started to where we are now, itâs a 180-degree difference,â said Kelli McDonnell, Manager of RTOC. âWhen we first started building our facility right before the pandemic happened, we took what was six conference rooms and classrooms and turned it into a command center that organizations across the country admire and come to Reno to see what we do. Mel Morris, the Director of RTOC, was recruited exclusively to build our facility with her history of building successful hospital command centers. Many people didnât realize what a transfer center was or that Renown was the only center in the region â and we only continue to grow.â This best-in-class facility, and the masterful team behind it, handles: Coordinating all incoming patients transferred from neighboring hospitals and 27 counties across northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe, northeast California and neighboring states. Matching patients to the most appropriate bed placement using diagnostic, triage and Epic electronic medical record clinical information in conjunction with medical staff expertise to outline a plan of care that determines the best bed assignment given the patientâs needs. Coordinating video-enabled Telehealth monitoring capabilities for Renownâs four Intensive Care Units (ICUs), as well as Renown patient Telehealth and virtual visits. Monitoring Remote Home systems with Masimo during the COVID-19 pandemic, where some patients received hospital-level care in the comfort of their own homes while Renown clinicians monitored and evaluated their data and plan of care. Serving emergency and disaster management for area hospitals, first-responders and the community with local, regional and statewide emergency and disaster management for sudden-onset emergencies. The RTOC is home to many different critical roles for our health system, including Transfer Center Nurses, Ride Line Coordinators, RTOC Coordinators and more, many duties of which each team member cross-trains on to be able to fill in whenever needed. While their roles may differ, their commitment to their patients remains the same â and they all work together to achieve the same outcome: delivering the right care, at the right time and place. âAs an RTOC Coordinator, we do a variety of different things,â said Anna Schaffer, RTOC Coordinator. âWe do triage coordination to help our nurses and hospitalists get patients in the emergency department admitted, and we also do bed control to find patients appropriate bed placement. Communication is important, so we always make sure to stay closely connected with the charge nurses on those floors.â âWe start with a basic âneed to knowâ and place patients accordingly,â added Karly Brown, RTOC Coordinator. âWe get surgery numbers, ICU capacity and discharges and find beds for all patients as quickly as possible. We have the advantage of being able to see the entire hospital.â âI primarily schedule transportation for patients at the hospital who are either going home or going to a skilled nursing facility,â said Sarah Clark, Ride Line Coordinator. âI get requests from case managers to schedule rides, and I work with REMSA and other ambulance services to schedule them. It relies a lot on appropriate and efficient communication and critical thinking.â Patients in facilities across northern Nevada and northeastern California, especially the rural communities, look to the RTOC to help guide ambulances, bed coordinators and hospital staff in finding care for our rural patients. âAs a transfer center nurse, I facilitate incoming patients from rural facilities in Nevada and surrounding areas in California,â added Meg Myles, Transfer Center Nurse Specialist. âThere are days we may take up to 30 direct admissions from these areas.â âWe are the point of contact for inter-facility transfers, whether we are sending patients out or bringing them into Renown,â said Lisa Lac, Transfer Center Nurse Specialist. âWe take phone calls from those rural areas, identify what services are needed, connect them to the appropriate provider and coordinate any transfers.â âSimply put, we are the bed wizards,â said Addison Rittenhouse, RTOC Coordinator. The RTOC team continues to break barriers and push the boundaries of medical excellence through leveraging the technology at their fingertips and their unwavering dedication to the health of our community. Inspiring a new era of medical possibilities, these team members have achieved a multitude of accomplishments for both their department and their patients since the birth of the center. âWe have significantly reduced the time it takes to get patient admit orders in, thanks in part to the new Triage Coordinator role, and we provide easier access for patients to transfer to us from other facilities,â said Beth Rios, RTOC Coordinator. âWe have taken a bigger role in helping the smaller hospitals in our area in caring for patients and improve patient throughput.â âAs a team, weâve done a lot of work in creating an engaging and positive environment, and our internal morale committee has been a huge help with that,â said Kelli McDonnell. âWeâve been working tremendously over the last year and taking all the feedback that we received from the Employee Engagement Survey to make improvements. We had 100 percent survey participation within five days, which is incredible.â âI am so proud of our escalation and problem-solving skills,â said Becca Dietrich, RTOC Coordinator. âWhen an issue is raised to us, we will always find a timely solution on our end so our care teams can focus on the issue in front of them. We are the eyes in the sky, seeing movement everywhere.â Each day in the life of our RTOC team members is a testament to their commitment, resilience and timework, making a profound impact on countless lives.
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Senior Care Plus Loves Pickleball
Senior Care Plus is pleased to announce we are now a proud sponsor of Jam On It Pickleball, open to the community seven days a week at the Reno Sparks Convention Center. Weâre excited to help promote this fun activity to our members, employees and the public. Pickleball has many wonderful health benefits â particularly for seniors. Itâs a low-impact game that raises the heart rate, improves hand-eye coordination and increases mobility. In addition to the obvious physical benefits, pickleball is a great social activity. Getting out of the house and playing a fun, easy-to-learn game with others is a great way to make new friends while improving your physical and mental health!  Ralph Barbato, a Senior Care Plus member from Reno, is a huge fan of pickleball and all it has to offer. âPickleball has made such a positive impact on my life. I love the physical and mental health benefits along with the social aspect â itâs a great way to meet new people and Iâm excited to have it in our community,â said Ralph.
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Sterling Silver Shining Brightly Tami
Shining Brightly We all carry a light inside of us. Some people seem to have a constant glow while others flicker brightly here or there depending on what theyâre doing or who theyâre with. But for another select group, the light they embody is closer to a sunrise, illuminating and embracing everything and everyone it touches. Do you think thatâs a bit heavy-handed or just a writerâs poetic exaggeration? Well, thatâs because you havenât met this issueâs featured Sterling Silver Club member, Tami, yet. But thatâs about to changeâŠÂ This Little Light of Mine As an infant, Tamiâs adoptive parents were drawn to her light, even though the couple had come to an orphanage in Washington state hoping to find an older child to add to their family. âMy parents always said that after seeing and holding me, they had to take me home,â Tami remembers and then smiles. âThey also liked to tell the story of how they sold their prize baby bull, Johnny Apollo, to pay my adoption fees!â Tami has fond memories of making mud pies and climbing trees as a child and feels privileged to have been raised by older parents. âThey both lived through the Great Depression and my dad proudly served in the U.S. Navy in World War ll,â says Tami. âI certainly attribute learning to love and give unconditionally through their humble ways. I had the honor of taking care of them both for about 10 years before their passing. When asked who my heroes are, though I have several, they are at the top of that list for sure.â Today, Tami is married to her high school sweetheart, Richard. Theyâve been together for 43 years and have five children â and 10 grandchildren â of their own. Helping Others Through Darkness Tami started a highway construction business with her family in 2000, but focused 18 years of her career around her love of teaching, with seven years spent as Vice Principal of Academics at Reno Christian Academy. One of her greatest joys during that time was implementing Prime Time, a program that set aside special time for students who had experienced recent traumatic events. âI used puppets, sewing, crafts â any activity the students would respond to,â explains Tami. âBut mostly, I listened.â And when one of her students shared, âI just want someone to listen to me for an hour todayâ â thatâs what she did. âWe sat on the sidewalk and ate Fudgsicles and giggled at the silliest things,â Tami recalls with some emotion. âAnd when we both left smiling, I was reminded that the most beautiful moments are when we are simply present with an open heart.â
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Department Spotlight: Clinical Engineering
Renown Health strongly supports and advocates for innovative medical technology. Our diverse lineup of medical equipment enables our care leaders to provide quality care to every patient. But what if a piece of technology breaks down? What happens when our care teams are ready for technological upgrades? Where do employees go when they have a question about a complicated piece of equipment? Enter the Clinical Engineering department. This sophisticated team is staffed with intelligent, science-minded individuals who are ready to jump in and help at any given second. From newborn incubators to robots that clean the hospital floors, these team members are the med-tech masters that keep our health system running. Equipment Experts Upon entering the Clinical Engineering departmentâs workshop, you are welcomed with an abundance of high-tech equipment undergoing repairs and upgrades. The department takes care of more than 26,000 pieces of equipment throughout the entire healthcare network, including the technologies at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, which they just took over this past year. To the average person, this may seem overwhelming; however, for this team, this is the exact environment they thrive in to make the technology magic happen. âI am motivated and engaged every day at work,â said Tony Martinez, Supervisor of Clinical Engineering for Renown. âOur department is fast-paced and rewarding, and thatâs a big plus.â While some team members enter the department as equipment generalists, this team offers training to develop their skills on certain pieces of equipment, eventually becoming specialists.  âEvery month, we encourage our colleagues to undergo specific training on more delicate equipment,â said Tony. âOnce we get to that point in their training, we assign different equipment to our team members every month. They pick up the experience very quickly.â As a Clinical Engineering Technician for Renown, Rylie Nickerson took advantage of the training and educational opportunities offered to her and is now a ventilator specialist especially for Renownâs neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). âRegardless of whether Iâm working on ventilators or on another piece of equipment Iâm assigned to, Iâm always thinking about how I can help the patients, nurses and doctors,â said Rylie. Raul Hernandez, a Clinical Engineering Specialist for Renown, is the go-to person for anesthesia, heart-lung bypass, red cell saver and life support equipment. He embraces the fact that, regardless of whether you are a specialist or a generalist, there is no typical day working in this department. âEvery day brings different challenges,â said Raul. âI really enjoy the mental exercises I do every day. They keep me grounded and focused.â On top of their day-to-day work and any special projects or emergencies that come up, the team is on an ongoing preventative maintenance schedule. Think of this work like your carâs oil change â routine maintenance to prevent something from breaking down in the future. âAt any point, we might have 100-200 extra pieces of equipment to handle during preventative maintenance,â said Taylor Gray, a Clinical Engineering Technician for Renown. âWe are always helping each other through any issues.â Our Clinical Engineering team shows exactly what it means to be collaborative. Even though their to-do lists are ever-growing, this team never feels alone. They know they can always lean on each other for support, regardless of the workload. âWe always have each otherâs backs,â said Taylor. âI feel so happy and satisfied in my job, and my coworkers are a large part of that.â Celebrating the Genuine Difference The Clinical Engineering department is driven by their desire to help and take care of the entire health system, and in turn, make a genuine difference for the communities we serve, from the medical staff to the patients.  âThe satisfaction you get in our field when we impact patientsâ lives and their healing process is so motivating and engaging,â said Tony Martinez. âItâs a great feeling.â The team knows the common saying âWalk a mile in someoneâs shoesâ very well; so well, in fact, that they take it to the next level, doing everything they can to prevent frustrations and extended down times. âWe try to walk a mile in someoneâs shoes before they get angry,â said Reagan Jordan, Director of Clinical Engineering for Renown. âYour satisfaction is our mission, and our team continually works to improve their outcomes every day.â This department is where the entrepreneurial spirit and science-focused mind meet. For people like Raul Hernandez, who came from a business background as well as decades of medical technology experience, Renown helps him bring both his personal and business skills into focus. âThis environment is very beneficial for Renown, me, and of course, the patients,â added Raul. Being members of a team that is committed to excellence and purpose inspires them to reach new heights in patient care. âI am constantly reminded of the positive impact we have by witnessing the individual experiences we have and hearing the enthusiasm and thankfulness in their voices,â said Raul. âIt gives me a great sense of pride to work at Renown.â "There is a strong feeling of mutual respect here,â added Ed Trejo, a Clinical Engineering Technician at Renown. âWe are always here to help.â The proof is in the data. The Clinical Engineering team scored as one of the top departments in the recent Renown employee engagement survey, with their results sitting at more than 94 percent.  âThis speaks to not only our department leadership but also the team as a whole,â said Reagan. âI am extremely proud of them. Despite the pandemic, they are knocking it out of the park.â For this department, coming to Renown is easy; staying at Renown is even easier. âStaying at Renown is the easy choice,â said Raul. âAnd this team is only going to grow.â Workflow Whizzes and Kindness Champions âRolling with the punches,â as Tony Martinez says, comes naturally to the Clinical Engineering team. With the constant workflow of equipment coming into the shop, every team member has learned how to be experts at prioritizing, especially based on the needs of our organization. Even though their jobs can bring a lot of intensity, this departmentâs positive attitude radiates throughout the hospital. Upon entering the workshop, everyone is greeted with a smile from every team member, along with an immediate willingness to dive into the complex world of engineering. âThe experience of helping other people with their unique needs is invaluable,â said Taylor Gray. If this work environment sounds enticing, great news â the Clinical Engineering team is growing. Motivated, aspiring engineers with a passion for healthcare and an associateâs degree in a related field are welcome.  Military experience is also valued very highly in this team. As many of our military servicemen and servicewomen gain specialized engineering experience while enlisted, the military-to-engineer career ladder at Renown is especially strong. In fact, according to Paul Joseph, a Clinical Engineering Technician at Renown, the majority of their teammates come from a military background.  Above all, being capable of prioritizing on the fly, thinking critically, having an open-mined outlook and being self-driven are the top skills that this department values. As Ed Trejo states, âIf youâre willing to wear different hats, you will do very well here." âGo with the flow, and expect the unexpected,â added Rylie Nickerson. Those who join this team feel at home. The warm embrace of the teamâs kind nature and the supportive environment they all foster inspires an efficient workflow that helps our entire hospital system function at the top of its game. At the end of the day, everyone who joins the team, or anyone who even interacts with the team in any capacity, will be in good hands. Mandy Noriega, a Clinical Engineering Technician for Renown, closes these thoughts with a great reminder to each and every one of us: âAfter all, teamwork makes the dream work.â
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Meet Multifaceted Member Don Chang
Renaissance Don  The Sterling Silver Club is honored to have thousands of members whoâve led and continue to lead incredibly vibrant and diverse lives. And weâre absolutely thrilled when those members volunteer to share their stories and experiences so we can all appreciate and learn from them.  This issueâs featured member is no exception. From his love of cooking, travel and music to his drive to learn new languages, take on new hobbies and keep himself active and fit, Don is an aspiring Renaissance man who may already be deserving of the title.  Revolutionary Family Roots  Donâs father, who was born in Beijing, China, earned a masterâs degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and was working on his PhD there on a full scholarship from his home country when the Chinese Communist Revolution occurred. In order to stay in the United States and avoid potentially being thrown into prison by the new communist regime (a fate that befell some of his family members), his father married Donâs mother, who was a U.S. citizen and also a student at Berkeley. Together, they started a family.  âMy father met my mother in a class and received his green card by marrying her,â says Don. âThey proceeded to have six kids in nine years, I was number three. Dad never finished his PhD, but clearly earned what we like to call his âPSKâ degree â Papa with Six Kids.â Proud (of) Papa: Donâs father was a professor of metallurgy and a brilliant research scientist who was responsible for virtually every breakthrough in the development of titanium in the 1960s.
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Sterling Silver Club Member Masterpiece
A Gallery-Worthy Member Artistry usually refers to a personâs ability to express their unique creativity in powerful and surprising ways. But there is also an art to living your life in ways that celebrate who you are, your limitless potential, the people you love and the community you care about. So imagine our delight to discover a Sterling Silver Club member and artist whose artistry of life reaches far beyond gallery walls. An Early Love of Art Born in Chicago, Illinois, Debbie arrived as the last of her parentsâ three children and has two older siblings, Cynthia and Henry (a.k.a. Skip). As is usually the case, school played an important role in their shared childhood and Debbie remembers being drawn to art assignments in class from an early age.  âWhen I was a young girl, I loved working on various art projects at school,â she recalls. âI always found myself learning something new and then teaching it to everyone I knew.â Later, Debbie would play violin in the school orchestra, join the swim team, and to continue to learn about art and its broader influence. âI remember taking a class and learning about color theory,â recounts Debbie. âI was so impressed with how colors relate to one another and also discovered how primary and secondary colors can be used together to make everything from products and advertising to what we wear more pleasing to the eye.â Expression-ism. âArt allows you to express yourself,â says Debbie. âAnd Iâve always been quite happy being expressive.â Though Debbieâs affinity for art was obvious, it wasnât destined to be her career⊠at least initially. After earning degrees in marketing and public relations at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois and George Williams College of Aurora University in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, respectively, Debbie began what turned out to be a career in technology. In the Chicago area, she held positions as a systems analyst and computer programmer and a role in marketing and public relations for a computer software company. Then it was off to Los Angeles, California with her new husband, David, where she worked in sales and education for another software company. The couple returned to Elmhurst, Illinois to start their family but eventually moved to and settled in Minden, Nevada where David had an insurance business for 23 years and their children grew to become the adults their grandparents dreamed of. âMy mom and dad would be most proud of our children,â beams Debbie. âThey (her parents) always hoped for the best for them and would be over the moon that they are doing what they want to do, two of them in the field of medicine.â Debbie and David now live in Carson City, Nevada and their three children have established lives of their own. Jeffrey, the oldest, is a pastor and holds two masterâs degrees. Rachael is an OB/GYN provider in Southern California and a graduate of University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med). And their youngest, John-Henry, is finishing up his medical training and will soon be a trauma surgeon. Furry Family Members Debbieâs other âkidsâ are of the four-legged variety. âMercedes and Bentley are really our luxury pugs,â she admits. âBut are named after famous characters from books, not luxury cars.â She also says they are goofy, much-loved and simply melt the hearts of everyone they meet â âalways!â
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Suicide Risk How to Spot a Friend in Crisis
How can you tell if a friend is in trouble or struggling with suicidal thoughts? And how can you support them in finding help? Are you feeling virtually exhausted? Life is always challenging, but the mental fallout of a global pandemic is real. Contributing to the loneliness epidemic is the shifting American lifestyle. More Americans live alone (28%) now than ever before, and fewer have kids. First, letâs acknowledge this is a time of anxiety and worry for everyone. Economic uncertainty, job transitions, grief, and loneliness are a perfect storm for mental stress. Even before the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic mental health was a concerning issue, now it is a relevant topic of crisis. Secondly, anyone can struggle with suicidal thoughts. Those suffering from drug addiction are especially vulnerable. In particular the U.S. is currently seeing a rise in drug overdoses by almost 18% due to the pandemic. Unfortunately, suicide is responsible for one U.S. death every 11 minutes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Not to mention the millions who think about it, make a plan or attempt it. It is important to remember that suicidal thoughts, plans or intent must be helped immediately. Understanding Suicide Risk To clarify, depression is not a choice. No one wishes for endless days of feeling down, sleepless nights, and feeling as if you are in a dark tunnel. Currently, one in five Americans will experience a mental illness this year. This means one of your friends is struggling, right now. Specifically, consider this: When your body feels pain it talks to your mind. When your mind is suffering who does it talk to? So, how can you tell if a friend is in trouble? According to the National Institute of Mental Health be on the lookout for some depression clues below. Signs and Symptoms of Depression Persistent sad, anxious, or âemptyâ mood Feelings of hopelessness, or pessimism Irritability Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities Decreased energy or fatigue Moving or talking more slowly Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions Signs and Symptoms of Suicide Risk Expressing feelings of hopelessness or having no purpose Talking about feeling trapped or being in unbearable pain Talking about being a burden to others Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs Sleeping too little or too much Withdrawing or isolation Displaying extreme mood swings. Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself (Reference: Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) How to Help a Suicidal Friend It can feel awkward to approach the subject of suicide with a friend, but take any of the above warning signs seriously. Other ways you can help are by: Encouraging self-care and making sure they take care of basic needs Listen to their worries without judgement Ask them what they need from you, then follow through with action Let them know they are not a burden Donât minimize or invalidate their feelings Point them to helpful resources Be their advocate and get them help If someone you know is in a life-threatening crisis situation, call 911 immediately. Suicide Risk Resources: National Suicide Prevention 24/7 Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Ayuda En Español: (Spanish National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) 1-800-628-9454 Crisis Text Line: Text HOME (or CONNECT) to 741741 to chat with a crisis counselor 24/7 free of charge. The National Alliance on Mental Health: 1-800-950-6264 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: (SAMHSA) 24/7 helpline 1-800-662-4357