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Renown Health is pleased to announce that Susan Lee, DO, MBA will serve as Chief Operating Officer for Renown South Meadows Medical Center. Dr. Lee begins her new role on March 7, and succeeds Chris Nicholas, who resigned last month for a position with a health system in Florida. Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, President & CEO, Renown Health, announced Dr. Lee’s internal promotion today by writing, “Embracing our vision to improve the health of our community, we are empowering leaders to play a greater role in improving physician, employee and patient experiences; growing services to our community; providing Reliable and Exact Care and meeting rigorous standards for operational excellence and efficiency.” Dr. Slonim noted that he was excited as, “Dr. Lee expands her role, promotes a spirit of unity across the enterprise, and continues to make progress on achieving goals central to Renown’s success.” In her new role as Chief Operating Officer for Renown South Meadows Medical Center, Dr. Lee will work with Jennifer Allen, MSN, director of nursing and the South Meadows leadership medical staff and team to lead South Meadows to achieve its strategic and operational goals. Dr. Lee is an experienced, dynamic physician executive and operational leader with a record of service growth, clinical quality, patient communication and execution. She is experienced in cross-functional collaboration and nationally recognized for organizational change management. Board certified in Internal Medicine and Psychiatry, Dr. Lee has based her clinical practice as a hospitalist on the mind-body connection and a collaborative model with patients and families. Dr. Lee joined Renown Health as the Chair of Medical Specialties in the summer of 2020 to manage hospital-based physician practices. She was promoted to Chief Medical Officer for Renown Regional Medical Center in February 2021 to oversee inpatient clinical operations, including length of stay, hospital capacity, care management functionality, interdisciplinary rounds and Medical Staff services. Since September of 2021, as Chief Medical Officer for Renown Acute Care, she has been responsible for clinical operations, strategic direction, hospital-based physician management, the Medical Staff Office, regulatory standards, and quality and financial outcomes for Renown Regional Medical Center, Renown South Meadows Medical Center and Renown Rehabilitation Hospital. Prior to serving at Renown, Dr. Lee served as Chief of Hospital Medicine at Carilion Clinic, a 7-facility nonprofit, integrated health system headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia. Dr. Lee is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst (MBA), Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) and Duke University (BA). She is an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the American Association for Physician Leadership. Renown South Meadows Medical Center, located in south Reno, is a 76-bed acute care community hospital offering exceptional surgical and medical services in a nurturing environment. Renown South Meadows Medical Center is home to south Reno’s only 24/7 Emergency Department and staffed with Board-Certified Emergency physicians. Renown South Meadows Medical Center offers advanced care for patients including comprehensive primary care; x-ray and imaging services; lab services; heart care; OB/GYN; physical rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation services; nuclear medicine and surgical services including orthopedics. As a not-for-profit organization, the Renown South Meadows Medical Center team embraces their role in improving the health and well-being of the people and communities served and provides necessary healthcare services regardless of race, creed, sex, national origin, handicap, age or ability to pay. In addition, Renown South Meadows Medical Center has been nationally recognized for providing the highest quality care and service, including: In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital rankings, Renown South Meadows was listed #1 in the State of Nevada (tied with Carson Tahoe Medical Center) for 2020. Renown South Meadows was rated High Performing for Hip Replacement and Knee Replacement and COPD. A hospital's score is based on multiple data categories, including patient outcomes, safety and volumes. Hospitals earning a High Performing rating were significantly better than the national average. Renown South Meadows Medical Center received The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® accreditation for Total Knee Replacement, Total Hip Replacement and Total Shoulder Replacement and was recognized as Top Performer on Key Quality Measures.® Dr. Lee says she "understands that health care today is as much about social skills and navigating multiple relationships as it is about clinical knowledge." Throughout her career, Dr. Lee has done much to contribute to a culture of innovation and transformation. Dr. Lee believes that, “providers need physicians, nurses and care teams who have high adaptability, flexibility, and, above all, the ability to care and be kind." Dr. Lee coaches teams to be responsive, empathic, have situational awareness and employ their clinical abilities at the highest level. She will often ask questions of her team to understand how they are "wired" to drive innovation and transformation- and to build culture and teamwork. She has hired and coached over 100 hospitalist physicians — many of them women — and promoted and served as a reference for hundreds of nurses, staff leader and advanced care providers. Dr. Lee serves as a peer mentor for other women, and men, who aspire to physician and healthcare leadership. The team at Renown South Meadows Medical Center is seeking great employees for careers in service; apply on line at https://careers.renown.org/.

Read More About Dr. Susan Lee to Lead Renown South Meadows Medical Center

Hospital safety grade reflects top national performance on patient safety through COVID pandemic. Renown South Meadows Medical Center in South Reno has earned an “A” Spring 2023 Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group. This national distinction recognizes Renown Health’s achievements in prioritizing patient safety by protecting patients from preventable harm and errors. The Leapfrog Group is an independent, nonprofit, national watchdog organization that upholds the standard of patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. It assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country. Grades are based on more than 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, and systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm. The new grades primarily reflect performance during the height of the pandemic. “We all play a role in protecting the health and safety of our patients,” said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Renown Health. “As the only locally governed not-for-profit healthcare network in the region, Renown’s success is shared with our patients and community. We celebrate and thank our physicians, nurses, and caregivers for their continued focus on making a genuine difference in the health and well-being of the people and communities we serve.” “At Renown, safety is the number one priority for everyone that comes through our doors,” said Jen Walker, MSN, RN, Vice President, Quality for Acute Services. "The hard-working staff at each facility, who day in and day out provide the best patient-centered care, also demonstrate clinical expertise, service and compassion. This has helped us achieve well-deserved high ratings across the system.” “We work to ensure that the care that our physicians, nurses and caregivers provide is of the highest quality, and safe, effective, people-centered, timely, equitable and efficient,” said Ross Albright, MD, Medical Director of Quality & Patient Safety, and the South Meadows Medical Center Emergency Department. “High-quality health care helps prevent disease and improve the quality of life. That is truly important to everyone on our team, and we are pleased to be nationally recognized for our efforts.” “Every day, we make choices about where we shop, who we bank with, what cars we drive, and what doctors we see. Yet despite our consumer culture, some people aren't aware they can choose what hospital they go to,” said Bret Frey, MD, President of Northern Nevada Emergency Physicians, a 65-physician group at Renown Health. “Your choice of hospital could be a life-or-death decision. Hospitals vary greatly on things like infection rates, surgical errors or patient injuries—and choosing to receive treatment by Board-Certified physicians, ER wait times, patient satisfaction rates, and other measures are important for consumers to know and consider when choosing an ER and a hospital.” “The Leapfrog ratings reflect the staff and system’s commitment to providing the highest quality of care for patients,” said Susan Lee, DO, MBA, Chief Operations Officer, Renown South Meadows. “Earning ‘A’ ratings showcases the commitment both physicians and staff demonstrate every day. We are proud to continue to deliver the best care possible to every patient.” “I applaud the hospital leadership and workforce for their strong commitment to safety and transparency,” says Leah Binder, President and CEO, The Leapfrog Group. “An ‘A’ Safety Grade is a sign that hospitals are continuously evaluating their performance so that they can best protect patients. Your team should be extremely proud of their dedication and achievement.” Developed under the guidance of a national expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,700 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public. Renown South Meadows also received a Leapfrog A score in Fall 2021 and Spring 2020. Renown Regional Medical Center received a B score for Spring 2023. For more information on the Leapfrog Group and the Spring 2023 scores, please visit: hospitalsafetyscore.org. About The Leapfrog Group Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps for patient safety. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections. 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

Read More About Renown South Meadows Medical Center Earns 'A' for Patient Safety

Experienced leader to support physicians at Renown Regional and Renown South Meadows Medical Centers Renown Health is pleased to announce that Adnan “Eddy” Akbar, MD, will serve as Chief Medical Officer for Renown Acute Care, overseeing physicians at Renown Regional Medical Center and Renown South Meadows Medical Center. Renown Health is the region's only Level II Trauma Center, serving more than 1 million people and a 100,000 square mile reach – across Nevada, Lake Tahoe and eastern California. Dr. Akbar begins his new role on July 25, succeeding former Chief Medical Officer for Acute Care, Dr. Susan Lee, who was promoted to Chief Operating Officer at Renown South Meadows Medical Center on March 7, 2022. Thomas Graf, MD, CEO for Renown Health, announced Dr. Akbar’s internal promotion today by writing, “Embracing our vision to improve the health of our community, we are empowering leaders to play a greater role in improving physician, employee and patient experiences; growing services to our community; providing Reliable and Exact Care® and meeting rigorous standards for operational excellence and efficiency.” Dr. Graf noted that he was excited as, “Dr. Akbar expands his role, promotes a spirit of unity across the enterprise, and continues to make progress on achieving goals central to Renown’s success.” In his new role as Chief Medical Officer for Acute Care, Dr. Akbar will join Dr. Rahul Mediwala, Chief Medical Officer for Health Services, to lead physicians and clinicians across the Renown enterprise. Dr. Akbar will report directly to Chris Nicholas, Chief Executive Officer for Renown Regional Medical Center. Dr. Akbar is an experienced, dynamic physician executive and operational leader with a record of hospital operations, medical staff leadership and engagement, quality improvement, patient safety, patient experience, risk management, utilization management and clinical documentation improvement. Chris Nicholas, Chief Executive Officer of Renown Regional Medical Center wrote, “Over the last seven years and through all the physician leadership positions he has held, Dr. Akbar has had an intense focus on improving patient care, driving hospital and operational improvements, and demonstrating the best of Renown’s mission, vision and values. Renown has a national reputation for delivering health care that is affordable, accessible and of the highest quality and I look forward to working with Dr. Akbar to engage physicians and administrators in an agenda that supports this vision.” Dr. Susan Lee, Chief Operations Officer of Renown South Meadows Medical Center added, “As we considered the needs of the organization and our future, we determined that Dr. Akbar was the right person to lead physicians across Acute Services. In addition, Dr. Akbar has demonstrated strong and engaging leadership with physicians, nurses, the senior management team and across our hospitals and we are confident in Eddy’s ability to contribute to the great progress that Renown Health is making in becoming the best place to practice medicine and to receive care.” Dr. Akbar has been with Renown Health for seven years, previously serving as Secretary of Medical Staff, an Internal Medicine physician, Chair of the Department of Medicine, Division Chief for Hospital Medicine and most recently as a hospitalist physician of Renown Medical Group and Associate Chief Medical Officer of Renown Regional Medical Center. Dr. Akbar is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at University of Nevada-Reno, School of Medicine and a member of the Clinical Faculty at St. Georges University School of Medicine, Grenada. Dr. Akbar is fluent in four languages including Urdu, Pushto and Hindi. Dr. Akbar completed his residency in internal medicine at Cleveland Clinic. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine, and earned his medical degree from Aga Khan Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan. Dr. Akbar is completing his master’s in healthcare administration from Cornell University. Dr. Akbar’s research interests include observation criteria and appropriate utilization management of hospitalized patients, development and usage of dedicated Epic order sets to improve patient care and outcomes, advancement and development of Milestone appropriate care during acute hospitalization and transitional care policies to reduce hospital readmissions and improve patient care. In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospitals rankings, Renown Regional is #1 in the State of Nevada for 2021. No other hospital in Nevada earned recognition from U.S. News. Renown South Meadows was listed #1 in the State of Nevada (tied with Carson Tahoe Medical Center) for 2021. Renown Regional Medical Center is High Performing, its highest rating possible, for Heart Failure, Colon Cancer Surgery and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Renown South Meadows was rated High Performing for Hip Replacement and Knee Replacement and COPD. A hospital's score is based on multiple data categories, including patient outcomes, safety and volumes. Hospitals earning a High Performing rating were significantly better than the national average. The team at Renown Health is seeking great employees for careers in service; apply online at https://careers.renown.org/. About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®.

Read More About Adnan Akbar, MD, Appointed Chief Medical Officer for Renown Acute Care

Renown Health is pleased to announce that Samuel K. Weller, MHPA, will serve as Chief Executive Officer for Renown South Meadows Medical Center, a 118-bed acute care community hospital and Renown Rehabilitation Hospital, a 62-bed physical rehabilitation hospital in Reno, Nev. The position was formerly held by Chris Nicholas, FACHE, who was promoted in March 2022 to serve as CEO of 808-bed Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno. Renown Health is the largest and only locally owned not-for-profit, charitable healthcare network in Reno, serving over 1 million people and 100,000 square miles between Salt Lake City and Sacramento. As CEO, Mr. Weller will work with the South Meadows and Rehabilitation leadership, medical staff, and team to achieve patient care, efficiency, and operational goals.  “We are excited to have Sam join the Renown Health senior leadership team at this pivotal moment in our history,” said Dr. Brian Erling, Renown’s president and CEO. “Sam is a dyamic health care executive with a solid record of advancing acute and ambulatory operations while collaborating with physicians and clinicians to expand services, enhance clinical quality, and exceed customer service expectations. Sam leads with integrity and a people-first approach which are essential to deliver on our mission to improve the health and well-being of the people and communities we serve.” Mr. Weller comes to Renown from Centura Health where he served as Group Vice President of Physician Enterprise for Greater Colorado and Kansas, overseeing physician services across a Level 1 Trauma hospital, eight Level III Trauma hospitals, two Critical Access/Trauma IV hospitals and numerous primary care and specialty practices. He previously served as Director of Strategy and Ambulatory Practices for St. Anthony Summit Medical Center in Summit County, CO overseeing hospital and ambulatory operations for the Rocky Mountain region; and Group Manager Business Development in Denver. Mr. Weller is a graduate of Washington State University with a master’s degree in health policy and administration (MHPA) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Finance from Brigham Young University-Idaho. “I love health care because it is about people helping people,” says Sam Weller. “Renown is the most valued and trusted system of health for northern Nevadans, and working together, I am excited to help transform care for our community and improve the quality of life for generations to come.”  South Reno continues to grow, and consumer demand continues to increase for Renown medical providers and facilities. The South Meadows campus, which opened more than 15 years ago in February 2004, is currently improving existing facilities, and expanding service offerings to meet expressed needs of the community. Renown South Meadows Medical Center features private patient rooms for hospital stays, and will add additional private rooms, bringing the total to 73 private rooms when work is done this September.  Weller will assume his new duties on June 26.  Renown South Meadows Medical Center has been nationally recognized for providing the highest quality care and service.  In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital rankings, Renown South Meadows was listed #1 in the State of Nevada (tied with Carson Tahoe Medical Center) for 2020. Renown South Meadows was rated High Performing for Hip Replacement and Knee Replacement and COPD. A hospital's score is based on multiple data categories, including patient outcomes, safety, and volumes. Hospitals earning a High Performing rating were significantly better than the national average. Renown Regional Medical Center was listed #1 for the State of Nevada in U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital listing for 2021 and 2022.  Sam and the team at Renown South Meadows Medical Center and Renown Rehabilitation Hospital are hiring great physicians, nurses and associates for careers in service; apply online at renown.org/careers, and volunteers to assist patients and their families at renown.org/About/Volunteers. 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 associates, 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 is currently hiring great physicians, nurses and associates for careers in service; apply online at renown.org/careers and volunteers to assist patients and their families at renown.org/About/Volunteers.

Read More About Samuel K. Weller Appointed CEO for Renown South Meadows Medical Center and Renown Rehabilitation Hospital

Only hospital in northern Nevada to receive national recognition for patient safety and quality Renown South Meadows Medical Center in south Reno has earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit watchdog organization that serves as a voice for health care consumers and purchasers, using their collective influence to foster positive change in U.S. health care. Leapfrog is the nation’s premier advocate of transparency in health care—collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data to inform value-based purchasing and improved decision-making. This national distinction recognizes Renown Health’s national accomplishments in ensuring safe, high-quality hospital care for patients. The Leapfrog Group is an independent, nonprofit organization that upholds the standard of patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. Developed under the guidance of a national expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,700 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 measures of errors, accidents, injuries, and infections as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.  Leapfrog sets their standards using peer reviewed literature and expert opinion, peer comparisons, and alignment with existing national standards or performance targets. “We are very proud to recognize physicians, nurses, clinicians and the entire team at Renown South Meadows Medical Center for achieving exceptional Leapfrog performance in Patient-Centered Care, Critical Care, Nursing and Bedside Care for Patients, Patient Safety, Medication Safety, and Care for Total Joint Replacement and Elective Outpatient Surgery Patients,” said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Renown Health. “As the only locally governed not-for-profit academic healthcare network in the region, Renown’s success is shared with our patients and community. We celebrate and thank our physicians, nurses, and caregivers for their continued dedication to making a genuine difference in the health and well-being of the people and communities we serve.” “Everyone who works at Renown South Meadows Medical Center should be proud of this ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade,” said Leah Binder, president, and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “It takes complete dedication at every level, and an ironclad commitment to putting patients first. I thank Renown South Meadows Medical Center’s leadership, clinicians, staff, and volunteers for caring so deeply for patients and their safety.” “We are proud of our affiliated physicians and teams who give their best every day, to ensure that every patient’s care and safety is their top priority,” said Sam Weller, MHPA, CEO, Renown South Meadows Medical Center. “We recognize that when you choose a hospital, you could be making a life-or-death decision. Not every hospital is the same. Performance on things like infection rates, surgical errors, or patient injuries varies considerably—and matters greatly. It’s important for consumers to know and consider these things when choosing what physicians, hospital, or Emergency Room to select for their care. We are very excited to be recognized as the only hospital to achieve this designation in northern Nevada, and only one of two in the state (the other being in Las Vegas).”   To see Renown South Meadows Medical Center’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) and via The Leapfrog Group newsletter.   The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public. Renown Regional Medical Center received a B score for Fall & Spring 2023. For more information on the Leapfrog Group and the Spring 2023 scores, please visit: hospitalsafetyscore.org. About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated health care network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,400 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 locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. For more information, visit renown.org.  About The Leapfrog Group Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps for patient safety. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog's other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections. For more, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram and sign up for our newsletter.

Read More About Renown South Meadows Medical Center Earns Highest "A" Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group

Renown Health is pleased to announce that Kate A. Ward, Pharm.D., BCPS, has been promoted to serve as Vice President, Oncology for Renown Regional Medical Center.    Dr. Ward has over fourteen years of service to the organization, most recently as Director of Clinical Pharmacy responsible for the oversight of all clinical pharmacy activities at Renown Regional Medical Center, Renown South Meadows Medical Center, and Renown Rehabilitation Hospital. Additionally, Dr. Ward is the Residency Director of the Post-Graduate Year 1 (PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency at Renown. Over the last decade at Renown, Dr. Ward has served as Pharmacy Clinical Manager, Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator and Clinical Pharmacist.   Dr. Ward will bring her pharmacy clinical service experience (including ICU, Outpatient Infusion, Pediatrics, Oncology and Emergency Services), Inpatient Care, Clinical Research, and Hospital Formulary Management, Electronic Medical Record Integration and Optimization to this important new role.   As a dyad partner with Max J. Coppes, MD, PhD, MBA, Director of the William N. Pennington Cancer Institute at Renown, she will bring her clinical, operational, regulatory, and administrative experience to lead the oncology division. Dr. Ward, Dr. Coppes and the dedicated team will advance Renown’s mission to expand care, prevention, screening, research, and education with the goal of establishing the first National Institutes of Health, NCI designated Cancer Center for our State.   “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Ward as our new Vice President of Oncology. She brings a wealth of experience and a passion for advancing patient care. Dr. Ward will play a pivotal role in sharing the future our oncology division and furthering our commitment to providing exceptional care,” said Chris Nicholas, CEO of Renown Regional Medical Center.    As a licensed pharmacist, Dr. Ward holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Colorado, Health Sciences Center. The Pharm.D. is a professional degree like a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). As a doctorate, it represents the increasing responsibility pharmacists have in healthcare systems and the high trust Americans have in pharmacists.    Dr. Ward completed her residency at Stanford Hospital and Clinics. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with her bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences. Dr. Ward is active in several professional associations and currently serves as a Pharmacy Board member for HealthTrust; Vice Chair of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists® Council on Therapeutics; and Vice Chair for the Silver State Scripts Board for the State of Nevada. Dr. Ward was the 2022 recipient of the Nevada Society of Health System Pharmacists (NVSHP) President’s Award. 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 locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. To join the Renown Health team, visit renown.org/careers.

Read More About Exceptional Talent Joins William N. Pennington Cancer Institute at Renown; Dr. Kate Ward Brings Expertise and Vision as Vice President of Oncology Division

Most Wired Hospitals Use Technology to Deliver Better Patient Care & Experience. The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) has released their coveted Digital Health Most Wired Survey results for 2022, recognizing Renown Health with Most Wired status. Among the more than 38,000 organizations surveyed by CHIME, Renown Health ranked above peers in categories like analytics and data management, population health, infrastructure and patient engagement. The survey assessed the adoption, integration and impact of technologies in healthcare organizations at all stages of development, from early development to industry leading. Renown Health earned a Most Wired level 7 (of 10) achievement for use of technology for better patient care and patient experience in both CHIME’s acute and ambulatory surveys. This is Renown’s sixth consecutive year on CHIME’s Most Wired list, and Renown is the only healthcare organization in Nevada recognized with this prestigious award. “New and emerging technologies have transformed healthcare in recent years,” says Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President & CEO of Renown Health. “We are proud that our physicians, nurses, clinicians, and employees continue to be nationally recognized for their efforts to implement clinical systems and digital health tools to improve care for patients. Improving care through advances in technology and IT systems allows us to realize meaningful outcomes including increasing patient access to healthcare services, improving patient experience, and reducing costs across the entire system.” “To care for all those we serve, Renown’s IT team has open discussions and collaboration with care providers to think creatively and strategically about how to deploy advanced technologies that enable the best clinical outcomes for our patients,” says Chuck Podesta, Chief Information Officer, Renown Health. “Renown’s proactive approach to technology supports our mission– and is one of the many elements that set our organization apart. We are honored by CHIME’s recognition of our teams and processes to better care for patients.” “When clinicians have instant access to the information that they need to make care decisions; patients benefit,” says Sarah Kramer, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer, Renown Health. “Our technology investments include a single, unified electronic medical record system that spans all major hospital areas including inpatient, outpatient, emergency, intensive care, and surgical units. Having a single digital electronic medical record for our patients makes it possible for an entire team of clinicians across the continuum of care able to review a patient’s chart without needing to request that a physical chart be transported to them, which can take time and resources and sometimes delay care decisions. Our automated medical record system allows the right information to flow to our clinicians when and where they need it, ensuring safe and effective care. Patients also have ready access to all their medical information through the MyChart ® smartphone app, and are able to self-schedule for mammograms and lab appointments, message their primary care providers and refill medications as needed.” “The medical record is not the only area that benefits from an infusion of health IT,” says Melanie Morris, MSN, RN, Director of the Renown Transfer and Operations Center (RTOC). “Renown is pleased to serve as a model of coordinated patient care for the nation. Similar to how air traffic controllers manage traffic in and out of airports, the Renown Transfer and Operations Center (RTOC) team sees a birds-eye view of what’s happening with patients across our entire integrated delivery system. Having access to real-time information is critical because every action we take is tied to improving the health and well-being of our patients. Time and accuracy are always of the essence, and this Center drastically improves the efficiency of the entire Renown Health system.” Success in digital health increasingly determines the quality of patient care, and the scope of the CHIME Digital Health Most Wired survey reflects the progress of leading healthcare providers as they reinvent healthcare for a new century. The survey and recognition program serves as a comprehensive digital health checkup for healthcare organizations worldwide. “We are proud to honor your team’s exceptional dedication to excellence in digital health,” said Russell P. Branzell President and CEO, CHIME. “Your pioneering performance in the industry inspires other organizations by example. Patients in communities around the world receive better care when you drive change through digital transformation, as you have proven through your success in this rigorous program.” About Renown Health Renown Health is Nevada's largest, 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 locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown is currently enrolling participants in a community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®.  About CHIME The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) is an executive organization dedicated to serving chief information officers (CIOs), chief medical information officers (CMIOs), chief nursing information officers (CNIOs), chief innovation officers (CIOs), chief digital officers (CDOs) and other senior healthcare IT leaders. With more than 5,000 members in 58 countries plus two U.S. territories and over 190 healthcare IT business partners and professional services firms, CHIME and its three associations provide a highly interactive, trusted environment enabling senior professional and industry leaders to collaborate, exchange best practices, address professional development needs, and advocate the effective use of information management to improve the health and care in the communities they serve. For more information, please visit chimecentral.org.

Read More About Renown Health Honored with 2022 Digital Health Most Wired Award

Chuck Podesta, national IT leader to use technology to improve the health and well-being of Nevadans. Renown Health is pleased to announce Charles (Chuck) Podesta has been named Chief Information Officer. Podesta is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience leading some of the nation’s top healthcare IT teams. He has literally worked from coast to coast and is excited to bring his talents to Nevada. “We are pleased to bring an experienced and talented leader like Chuck Podesta to lead our information and technology areas at Renown,” said Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, President & CEO of Renown. “As Chief Information Officer, he will have the opportunity to foster a culture of innovation and excellence in information technology which serves hundreds of thousands of people across the state and the nation. Chuck will use the power of technology to bring a new level of convenience to patients and providers and will use his talents and team to improve the health and well-being of Nevadans.” Chuck most recently served as Interim Chief Information Officer for UCONN Health’s John Dempsey Medical Center, School of Medicine and Clinical Research IT. Prior to that, Chuck served as CIO for UCI Health/UC Irvine School of Medicine and the University of California Health System. He also served as CIO for University of Vermont Health Network/Fletcher Allen Health; Steward Health/Caritas Christi Healthcare; Berkshire Health; Baystate Health and UMASS Medical Center, all in the New England area. Podesta specializes in creating, resourcing and implementing strategic technology plans; maximizing the power of the Epic electronic medical record; streamlining governance and priorities; aligning IT and medical informatics needs across affiliated entities including a medical school environment, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), Clinically Integrated Networks (CINs) and medical practices; partners to implement best of breed customer-driven digital tools; leads participation in state-wide health exchanges (HIE) and coaches and mentors IT teams.   “Chuck’s experience and strengths in a variety of diverse and complex environments make him the perfect leader for us at this important time in our history,” explains Josiah (Sy) Johnson, Chief of Staff for Renown. Chuck will assure we are leading with innovative and contemporary approaches and integrating technology and expertise in our ongoing pursuit of excellence in improving health and healthcare in Nevada. “I am honored and excited to join the Renown Health family and the northern Nevada community,” says Chuck Podesta, Chief Information Officer. “I am impressed with the innovation and transformation at Renown; which has earned it a reputation as one of the nation’s leading health systems. I look forward to joining Renown Health at this exciting time in its history. I am excited to bring my skills and experience to create a positive experience when people use our technology. I am looking forward to leading the organization on this important journey.” Podesta is a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and an active member of CHIME, HIMSS and the Society for Information Management (SIM). Podesta will begin at Renown on July 12.   About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, local not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,200 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 Renown Health Welcomes New Chief Information Technology Officer

Earning its third five-year accreditation, Renown's neuro-diagnostic lab remains Nevada's only accredited ABRET facility. The Renown Institute for Neurosciences is pleased to announce that the neuro-diagnostic lab at Renown Regional Medical Center has been re-accredited by the American Board of Registration of Electroencephalographic and Evoked Potential Technologists (ABRET). ABRET’s lab accreditation process evaluates technical standards, the quality of a laboratory’s output, and lab management. “Renown Health is a leader and a destination for health in treating neurological disorders and advancing innovations in neurology. The specialists at the Renown Institute for Neurosciences provide comprehensive brain, nerve and surgical support along with a full range of diagnostic and additional procedures and a disease-specific, patient-focused approach to care,” says Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, FACHE, President and CEO, Renown Health. “This prestigious honor from ABRET means Renown’s Electroencephalogram (EEG) Laboratory has met strict standards and is recognized as a place where patients and physicians can confidently receive quality diagnostics.”  “In addition to re-accreditation from ABRET, the Institute for Neurosciences has earned a Gold Seal of Approval by the Joint Commission and offers advanced treatment options including t-PA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator) and biplane angiography. The Level III accredited Epilepsy laboratory implements some of the newest treatments available,” said Renown’s Chief Medical Officer, Paul Sierzenski, MD, MSHQS, CPE, FACEP. “Renown patients also have access to the most promising new therapies through national clinical trials, which have been shown to significantly improve patients’ health and well-being.” “I am proud to recognize our dedicated team of caregivers for their continued passion and excellence in maintaining the highest standards in patient care,” said Renown Institute for Neurosciences’ Division Chief, Dr. Rolando Ania. “It is all thanks to their tremendous efforts that we remain the only ABRET accredited laboratory, as well as the only nationally accredited epilepsy center (NAEC Level III), in the state of Nevada.”  Using a collaborative approach, specialists at the Renown Institute for Neurosciences use leading-edge diagnostic tools to identify neurological conditions and treat patients with the most effective techniques available.  What is a Neuro-diagnostic Lab? A neuro-diagnostic lab allows care teams the technology to evaluate how a patient’s peripheral, autonomic, and central nervous systems function, and aid in diagnosing and treating conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and other diseases of the nervous system.  What is an Electroencephalogram (EEG)? An Electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test that measures and records the electrical activity of the brain. During the test, special sensors called electrodes are attached to the patient’s head and hooked by wires to a computer. The computer then records the brain’s electrical activity on the screen. Using a collaborative approach, specialists at the Renown Institute for Neurosciences use leading-edge diagnostic tools to identify neurological conditions and treat patients with the most effective techniques available.  Renown Health hospitals are ranked as Nevada’s top hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.     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®. About ABRET The American Board of Registration of Electroencephalographic and Evoked Potential Technologists (ABRET) is the credentialing board for EEG, Evoked Potential, Long Term Monitoring, and Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring Technologists. ABRET was organized in 1964 through a joint effort by the American Society of Electroencephalographic Technologists (ASET) and the American EEG Society (AEEGS) (now the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society). The Laboratory Accreditation Board was founded in 2004.

Read More About Renown Neuro-Diagnostic Laboratory Nationally Recognized