Search

Beginning Thursday, January 14, 2021, in order to quickly vaccinate additional residents of Washoe County age 75 and older, Renown Health is pleased to partner with the Washoe County Health District to help distribute the initially available, limited supplies of COVID-19 vaccines.  Those who are 75 years or older interested in joining the waiting list for an appointment at Renown’s Drive Thru COVID19 vaccination clinic, will need to download Renown MyChart, if they currently do not have an account. Residents do not need to have a Renown Health provider to enroll. Residents will be notified through their MyChart account when appointments are available. The vaccine clinic is operating by appointment only. Due to limited resources and the limited vaccine available, initially the Renown COVID-19 Vaccination Program will concentrate on vaccinating those 75 and older at this time in Washoe County. Per Governor Sisolak, and the state’s vaccine rollout plan, once those 75 and older have the opportunity to receive the vaccine, the next general population priority group is those who are 70 and older. In addition, Renown Health patients and members of Senior Care Plus/Hometown Health aged 75 and older are will be notified through their Renown MyChart accounts as appointments become available. Once an appointment is confirmed, instructions are given on how to obtain the vaccine. “We remain steadfast in our determination to fight the good fight for our community. Being able to administer COVID19 vaccines is incredibly gratifying. The tragedy of COVID-19 is that the mortality rates, or the risk of dying, is highest in this generation,” said Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, President & CEO of Renown Health. “We are pleased to be part of the solution, to bring hope and to make a genuine difference in the health and well-being of others.”  Age increases risk for severe illness & hospitalization According to the CDC, the risk for severe illness with COVID-19 increases with age, with older adults at highest risk. The greatest risk for severe illness from COVID-19 is among those aged 85 or older. Severe illness means that a person with COVID-19 may require hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help them breathe, or they may even die. In Washoe County alone, there are 29,034 people 75 years or older and Renown is only receiving limited supplies of the vaccine. Older adults are at greater risk of requiring hospitalization or dying if diagnosed with COVID-19. As you get older, your risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19 increases. For those aged 75 and older, the risk of hospitalization is eight to 13x higher, with deaths 220-630 percent higher than for younger adults. Compounding the risk for COVID-19 for older adults is a weakened immune system. “Because the immune system generally weakens with age, it’s important that older adults get a vaccine to help their bodies form a defense against COVID-19” says Derek Beenfeldt, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Hometown Health, the insurance division of Renown. “Please get vaccinated, unless you are sick or have significant allergic reactions to vaccines."  You are advised not to receive the vaccine if: You are ill at the time of vaccination (fever, shortness of breath, vomiting, diarrhea or acute illness). You have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the previous 14 days. You have received any other vaccination in the last 14 days. You have a history of significant allergic reaction to this vaccine or any of its ingredients. Due to unprecedented demand, Renown is coordinating with local and state agencies to ensure every person has an opportunity to receive the vaccine over time. Downloading MyChart is not a guarantee of an appointment.   Register for MyChart to be notified when you are eligible to make an appointment to receive the vaccine Renown Health will contact residents when it is time for them to receive their vaccine. Please do not contact a Renown doctor/health care provider at this time to schedule a vaccine appointment. Instead, all are encouraged to register for a Renown MyChart account if you have not already. The intricacies of vaccine administration Renown Health has been able to distribute and administer the COVID-19 vaccine to a record number of people in the shortest possible time. Much of this success is due to the use of a convenient patient electronic medical record, called Epic MyChart, which allows people to be notified that the vaccine is available, schedule their appointments online, complete the consent form and have full documentation. In addition, the information automatically posts to Web IZ Nevada’s Statewide Immunization Information System.  Stay Up-to-date on COVID-19 Renown Health is prepared to safely screen, diagnose and care for patients with respiratory illness, including COVID19. To stay up-to-date on communications regarding Renown’s distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, FAQs and the scientific evidence behind the vaccine, visit https://renown.org/covid/ Join the Renown team Renown Health remains committed to hiring key roles in our organization to support the health and well-being of our community. To join the Renown family to Fight the Good Fight, apply online at https://careers.renown.org/     About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally owned and governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned notfor-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown’s institute model addresses social determinants of health and includes: Child Health, Behavioral Health & Addiction, Healthy Aging and Health Innovation. Clinical institutes include: Cancer, Heart and Vascular Heath, Neurosciences and Robotic Surgery. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®.

Read More About COVID-19 Vaccines to be Administered to Those 75 and Older by Renown Health

Funds used to support those addressing demographic diversity and Social Determinants of Health to improve the health of our community. Renown Health, in keeping with its mission, vision and values and the organization’s long-standing commitment to addressing the social determinants of health, announced today it will make available up to $20,000 in fiscal year 2020 to fund projects and organizations aiming to increase the presence and participation of women, racial and ethnic minorities, LBGTQ+ people, people with disabilities, people of low socioeconomic status, and other underrepresented groups. Renown Health strongly prefers proposals that convincingly demonstrate their potential to improve the health and wellness of northern Nevadans. The organization wishes to express its interest in supporting programs that enhance collaboration, health literacy and communication, and enhance cultural competency. “Improving the health of our community is the foundation of our work. Our mission, vision and values are the essence of what makes us Renown. We are committed to fostering an environment of diversity, inclusion and cultural competence where all are appreciated, fully engaged and motivated to make a genuine, positive difference in the health and well-being of the people and communities we serve,” said Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, Renown’s President & CEO. As the Kaiser Family Foundation noted in recent research: “Researchers found that social factors, including education, racial segregation, social supports, and poverty accounted for over a third of total deaths in the United States in a year.” https://www.ajmc.com/contributor/sophia- bernazzani/2016/05/the-importance-of-considering-the-social-determinants-of-health# Annie Zucker, manager of Community Impact at Renown adds, “Social Determinants of Health have a major impact on health outcomes—especially for the most vulnerable populations. I am proud that Renown, as a not-for-profit healthcare organization, considers social determinants of health to enable more compassionate and comprehensive healthcare for the patients and families we serve.” According to the CDC, it has been well-established that poverty inhibits access to healthy foods and safe neighborhoods, and that higher levels of education influence better health. The impact of such factors on health is defined by Healthy People 2020 as social determinants of health: “Social determinants of health are conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.” When resources are available to overcome negative social determinants of health, they can have a significant impact on improving population health outcomes. “Through diversity, inclusiveness and cultural competence we are able to better understand and respond to the health needs of our communities. We are committed to continually cultivating an environment of cultural inclusiveness. When you have a culture that acknowledges and engages everyone, the opportunities for personal growth and organizational effectiveness are limitless,” said Hector Boirie, MBA, Chief Strategy Officer. “Renown Health provides access to care with dignity and respect for all. We recognize and respect every human being, regardless of race, creed, gender, age, handicap, national origin or ability to pay. We give competent, considerate and respectful care in a safe setting that fosters a person’s comfort and dignity and is free from all forms of abuse and harassment, including gender identity or gender expression,” says Melinda Mendoza, BSN, JD, CPC, CHC, CHPC, Chief Compliance Officer. “This is a Renown Health patient right and we are proud of our organizational commitment.” Renown Health is also an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. “I am so pleased to serve as Renown’s Chief Financial Officer. Less than 13% of the CFOs in the US are women. How proud I am to help lead an organization that focuses on attracting talent based on individual competency and kindness, rather than gender, race, religion or sexual orientation,” says Ann Beck. Renown Health strongly prefers proposals totaling approximately $2,500 or less as they anticipate funding 8 organizations. Renown Health has made this additional funding available for fiscal year 2020. It normally funds projects for only 6 months at a time, and Renown welcomes applications for renewal funding in subsequent years. All non-profit 501c3 organizations with offices serving residents of northern Nevada are invited to submit proposals by Thursday, June 25 2020. Renown Health will review proposals and make funding decisions by Monday, June 29, 2020. Renown Health will disburse grant funds by Tuesday, June 30, 2020. As non-profit hospitals, Renown must meet community benefit requirements to qualify for tax- exempt status, this includes funding programs that respond to public health needs and improve overall community health. To submit a ‘Renown supports Diversity & Inclusivity grant proposal,’ fill out the grant proposal submission form. For questions, contact Annie Zucker, manager of Community Impact at azucker@renown.org.     About Renown Health Renown Health is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Renown Health is a locally governed and locally owned, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. Renown is one of the region’s largest private employers with a workforce of more than 7,000. It comprises three acute care hospitals, Renown Children’s Hospital, Renown Rehabilitation Hospital, the area’s most comprehensive medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest and only locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown has a long tradition and commitment to continually improve the care and the health of our community. For more information, visit renown.org.

Read More About Renown Health Awards Grants to Area Organizations Addressing Diversity and Inclusiveness

Renown Health has been working with the Washoe County Health District, the state, and the CDC to distribute the limited supplies of COVID-19 vaccines. Renown has completed more than 64,000 dose 1 and dose 2 vaccinations to date, which includes all of Tier 1A (Medical Staff members, Renown employees, students and volunteers) and eligible community members – which now includes everyone 16+.  “Renown is excited to continue along our goal of providing the opportunity for everyone who is interested in receiving the vaccine to be vaccinated at no charge,” said Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, President and CEO of Renown Health. “We would like local businesses to know we have thousands of open appointments in early May and we encourage our business colleagues to share this information with employees so they may easily schedule an appointment through MyChart and continue on the path to a healthier and safer northern Nevada.”  “Renown is excited to continue along our goal of providing the opportunity for everyone who is interested in receiving the vaccine to be vaccinated at no charge,” said Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, President and CEO of Renown Health. “We would like local businesses to know we have thousands of open appointments in early May and we encourage our business colleagues to share this information with employees so they may easily schedule an appointment through MyChart and continue on the path to a healthier and safer northern Nevada.”  Vaccine appointments for 18+ Anyone ages 18 and older may register for a free Renown Epic MyChart account. They do not need to have a Renown provider to enroll. With a MyChart account, they will be able to login and schedule their first vaccine appointment. These vaccines require two doses. After the first dose of the vaccine is documented in your MyChart account, you will get a notice to schedule your second dose. There are two easy ways to sign up for MyChart. Please see instructions in both English and Spanish. To schedule an appointment for a 16 or 17 year old: We have made special arrangements for minors ages 16 and 17. Please fill out this form, also found on https://covid.renown.org/vaccine/. Renown's Customer Engagement team will call the listed phone number within 14 business days to schedule the appointment. We appreciate your patience during this time as demand is high. Please note that a parent or guardian must accompany the teen when getting their vaccination. You are advised NOT to receive the vaccine if you: Are ill at the time of vaccination (fever, shortness of breath, vomiting, diarrhea or acute illness). Have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the previous 14 days. Have received any other vaccination in the last 14 days. Have a history of significant allergic reaction to this vaccine or any of its ingredients. “Hometown Health is proud to be part of an organization offering COVID-19 vaccines to our community at no cost,” said David Hansen, CEO, Hometown Health. “The business community in northern Nevada is an important piece of the vaccination puzzle, and as a community-focused organization, we are pleased that Renown can safely offer vaccinations to local businesses and contribute to an increased hope for the future.”  Renown will provide additional updates on our websites at covid.renown.org. Please see b-roll, photos and fly-over footage of our Drive-Thru COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic here.     About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Clinical institutes include; Cancer, Heart and Vascular Heath and Neurosciences. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®. For more information, visit renown.org

Read More About Businesses: Get Employees Vaccinated Against COVID-19 for Free

Beginning today, Renown Health has partnered with the Washoe County Health District to help distribute the initially available, limited supplies of COVID-19 vaccines. Renown announced today that they are able to immediately vaccinate 2,900 of the oldest adults in our community this week.  See photos and b-roll from today's first vaccinations of older adults here, as well as photos, b-roll and interview from Renown's past employee vaccination events. “We remain steadfast in our determination to fight the good fight for our community. Being able to administer COVID-19 vaccines to older adults in our community is incredibly gratifying for our team. The tragedy of COVID-19 is that the risk for severe illness with COVID-19 increases with age, with older adults at highest risk. Our oldest adults are also at greater risk of requiring hospitalization or dying if diagnosed with COVID19,” said Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, President & CEO of Renown Health. “The Renown team is pleased to help, with support of and the vaccine provided by the Washoe County Health District, to be part of the solution, and to make a genuine difference in the health and well-being of others. We all look forward to the vaccine becoming more widely available to all in the coming weeks and months.”  In Washoe County alone, over 18% of the population is 65 years or older, with 88,456 in that age group and Renown is only receiving limited supplies of the vaccine Renown’s COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic is operating by appointment only, and is based on Renown’s ability to obtain the initially available, limited weekly supplies of vaccine. Those who are 70 years or older interested in joining the waiting list for an appointment at Renown’s Drive Thru COVID-19 vaccine clinic, will need to download Renown MyChart, if they currently do not have an account. Residents do not need to have a Renown Health provider and it is free to enroll. Residents will be notified through MyChart when more of the limited supply of vaccine is made available to Renown, and additional appointments are open for scheduling. Please do not contact a Renown doctor/health care provider at this time to schedule a vaccine appointment. Instead, all are encouraged to register for a Renown MyChart account if you have not already. Pending vaccine availability, Renown anticipates releasing its next round of appointments to a random sample of patients age 70 and older as early as next week, Monday, January 18 by 12 noon. No additional appointments are available for this week. All 2,900 appointments for this week have been made and confirmed.  You are advised not to receive the vaccine if:  You are ill at the time of vaccination (fever, shortness of breath, vomiting, diarrhea or acute illness). You have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the previous 14 days. You have received any other vaccination in the last 14 days. You have a history of significant allergic reaction to this vaccine or any of its ingredients. Due to unprecedented demand, Renown is coordinating with local and state agencies to ensure every person has an opportunity to receive the vaccine over time. Downloading MyChart is not a guarantee of an appointment.  The intricacies of vaccine administration Renown Health has been able to distribute and administer the COVID-19 vaccine to a record number of people in the shortest possible time. Much of this success is due to the use of a convenient patient electronic medical record, called EPIC MyChart, which allows people to be notified that the vaccine is available, schedule their appointments online, complete the consent form and have full documentation. In addition, the information automatically posts to Web IZ Nevada’s Statewide Immunization Information System.  Stay Up-to-date on COVID-19 Renown Health is prepared to safely screen, diagnose and care for patients with respiratory illness, including COVID-19. To stay up-to-date on communications regarding Renown’s distribution of the COVID19 vaccine, FAQs and the scientific evidence behind the vaccine, visit https://covid.renown.org. About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally owned and governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown’s institute model addresses social determinants of health and includes: Child Health, Behavioral Health & Addiction, Healthy Aging and Health Innovation. Clinical institutes include: Cancer, Heart and Vascular Heath and Neurosciences. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project® . For more information, visit renown.org.

Read More About Renown Vaccinates 2,900 Older Adults This Week Against COVID-19

Renown Children’s Hospital pediatric ophthalmologist Dr. Mitchell Strominger hosts state-wide virtual event to provide routine vison screenings for children and Walk with a Doc. Renown Children’s Hospital pediatric ophthalmologist Dr. Mitchell Strominger is set to host a virtual Walk with a Doc event on Sunday, June 14 at 10 a.m. for elementary school children and their parents. During this free event, Dr. Strominger will give a brief, kid-friendly talk about the importance of routine vision screenings and show parents how to conduct a vision screening with their kids at home. He will close out the morning session with a live Q&A. Following the event, families are encouraged to get outside and enjoy a walk in the great outdoors. The event is sponsored by Renown Children’s Hospital and free to participants, however you must register to receive the link to attend. “Vision is important for learning, experiencing new things and interacting with others, which is why it’s critical for children to get vision screenings early and routinely,” said Dr. Strominger. “The best time to screen a child’s vision is kindergarten through third grade as the cells in the brain responsible for vision are continuously developing up until age eight. If we detect vision problems early, we here at Renown Children’s Hospital have the expertise and technology to correct these vision problems and enable children to live healthy, productive lives.” Individuals who register for this event will be emailed a vision-screening sheet to help facilitate an at-home screening, as well as a form to send back to their child’s pediatrician or pediatric ophthalmologist upon completion to determine the best course of action. Dr. Strominger added, “Many parents and schools have put off vision screenings due to COVID- 19 school closings, hesitations of safely leaving their homes or potential financial costs. I am pleased to host this virtual event on behalf of Renown Children’s Hospital, to engage kids and parents in a conversation on the importance of vision and to remind the community that we are here to help and provide the care they need, both in-person and virtually—be it over a smart phone, tablet or computer screen.” This virtual event will take place in the newly renovated Fianna’s Healing Garden which re-opens later this month and has been funded 100% by donations through the Renown Health Foundation. Located in the heart of Renown Regional Medical Center, the healing garden serves as place to enjoy the serenity and beauty of the outdoors. Dr. Strominger is one of 26 pediatric subspecialists recruited to Renown Children’s Hospital since 2016, thanks to the Pennington Foundation's $7.5 million donation made to the non-profit Renown Health Foundation to expand children’s health services. June marks the four-year anniversary of the Nevada Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (Nevada APP) participation in the national Walk with A Doc event. Dr. Strominger is the secretary and treasurer for the Nevada AAP. From pediatric specialties, 24/7 ER care and surgery, to imaging, pediatric ICU and child life specialists, Renown Children’s Hospital is dedicated to helping kids feel welcome, safe and well cared for. Through each visit, parents can expect the highest level of care for their child’s health and well-being from birth and beyond. To support Renown Children’s Hospital and help local children in need get access to vital health services like routine vision screenings, please visit the Renown Health Foundation.     About Renown Health Renown Health is a locally governed and locally owned, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. Renown is one of the region’s largest private employers with a workforce of more than 7,000. It comprises three acute care hospitals, Renown Children’s Hospital, Renown Rehabilitation Hospital, the area’s most comprehensive medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest and only locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown has a long tradition and commitment to continually improve the care and the health of our community. For more information, visit renown.org.

Read More About Elementary Schoolers: Take Part in Free Virtual Vision Screening

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

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

In order to quickly vaccinate additional residents of Washoe County age 70 and older, Renown Health has partnered with the Washoe County Health District to help distribute the initially available, limited supplies of COVID-19 vaccines. Due to the unprecedented demand of local residents, Renown now has a full “waiting list” for those interested in the COVID-19 vaccine, and will be working through the list to offer appointments as they become available.  Renown continues to vaccinate physicians and its essential workforce for COVID-19, and to provide nasal swab testing for those with a lab order from their provider, for COVID-19 symptoms. In addition, Renown has stretched to support the Washoe County Health District to meet the needs of those aged 70 and older who are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.  Over this past weekend, more than 3,000 of Washoe County’s oldest residents were able to obtain an appointment, and receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Renown’s Drive Thru COVID-19 vaccination clinic. Please see b-roll, photos and fly-over footage here. Eligibility is one thing; availability is another. The County provided Renown with another 3,000 vaccines to administer this weekend. Renown posted 3,000 appointments for those on the MyChart electronic waiting list and 100% of appointments were booked within an hour. “We want to help the Health District, and we are working to vaccinate as many people as possible, given our limited staffing, volunteers, space and vaccine,” says Melodie Osborn, RN, Chief Nursing & Quality Officer for Health Services. “We are glad to step in and help; and our goal is to always provide an exceptional vaccine experience. Our team and our systems are definitely feeling the pressure as we see unprecedented demand for this vaccine. We ask the public to be patient with us, and to help support us in this important work.” Scheduling limited Both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines require two doses, the second administered three to four weeks after the first. Renown is working to be sure those who receive their first dose also obtain their second dose in a timely manner. This includes 7,000 physicians and health care workers, and will now include those older adults vaccinated with their first dose. The complexity of the vaccine dosage requirements continues to draw down on the number of vaccines and appointments available.  Renown MyChart and phone systems strained under the demand Last Thursday, when Renown announced that those who are 75 years or older could join the waiting list by downloading Renown Epic MyChart, so many people logged in that the system was strained to accommodate the additional demand. Renown has now doubled the capacity of the Epic MyChart system to be sure all goes smoothly.  Renown Health has been able to distribute and administer the COVID-19 vaccine to a record number of people in the shortest possible time. Much of this success is due to the use of Epic MyChart, a convenient patient electronic medical record which allows people to schedule their appointments online, complete the consent form and have full documentation for the future. In addition, the information automatically posts to Web IZ Nevada’s Statewide Immunization Information System. Also last Thursday, older adults without cell phones, computers or someone to assist them, called Renown’s customer service phone line for assistance. So many people called the phone line that it crashed. Service has been restored, but is limited, due to the hundreds of calls coming in daily that are answered by a limited number of trained staff members. Medically-trained vaccinators needed To expand capacity and to assist in the administration of vaccines, Renown Health is seeking those who are medically trained to give vaccinations to join their team on a seasonal basis to support the health and well-being of our community. Those who are trained and interested may apply online at https://careers.renown.org/ Register for MyChart which puts you on the waiting list to receive the vaccine Renown encourages anyone interested in getting on the waiting list to register for a Renown MyChart account if you have not done so already. Doing so will add you to the list of people aged 70 and over waiting for an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine. Please do not contact a Renown doctor/health care provider at this time to schedule a vaccine appointment. Due to unprecedented demand, Renown is coordinating with local and state agencies to ensure every person has an opportunity to receive the vaccine over time.  You are advised not to receive the vaccine if: You are ill at the time of vaccination (fever, shortness of breath, vomiting, diarrhea or acute illness) You have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the previous 14 days You have received any other vaccination in the last 14 days You have a history of significant allergic reaction to this vaccine or any of its ingredients Support the Renown team Renown Health, a charitable, not-for-profit organization, is so grateful for our community’s support during these unprecedented times. To donate to help Renown help our community, visit https://www.renown.org/donations-covid19/.   About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally owned and governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown’s institute model addresses social determinants of health and includes: Child Health, Behavioral Health & Addiction, Healthy Aging and Health Innovation. Clinical institutes include: Cancer, Heart and Vascular Heath, Neurosciences and Robotic Surgery. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®. For more information, visit renown.org.

Read More About Update: Renown's COVID-19 Vaccine Program Increasing Demand from 70+ Exceeds Limited Supply