RENOWN NEWSROOM

Nevada’s #1 ranked hospital system announces plan to hire 500 more physicians, nurses, clinicians for region In recognition of Valentine’s Day, Renown Health today announced a national physician, nurse, and clinical specialist recruitment campaign to help fill positions and expand access to community-based primary and specialty care across northern Nevada.   Over the last year, consumer demand for Renown physicians, providers and services has increased significantly. At the same time, the nationwide physician and nursing shortage that experts predicted has arrived. As a result, in an innovative partnership with over 7,000 employees, the health care system has launched a national recruitment campaign to ensure staffing to meet the needs of a growing patient base and community.     The new recruitment campaign, Fight for You, uses the tag line “Every day, we fight like you. Every day, we fight for you,” to appeal to clinicians and employees devoted to the not-for-profit healthcare system’s mission; to make a genuine difference in the health and well-being of the people and communities.” Watch the video here.    “We honor and celebrate every one of our 7250 employees,” said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President & CEO of Renown Health, “and have launched this campaign to recruit 500 more dedicated and committed clinicians to care for our patients. Our transformation as a health system demands that we invest in our employees to meet the current healthcare needs of our community. Fight for You is a vibrant campaign that will attract those drawn to Renown’s mission of caring for one and all.”    The campaign is supported by social media promotion on Google, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Compelling videos are being promoted on the health system’s website, social media accounts, and used at recruitment events to showcase the diverse faces of the Renown team. All open positions are listed on Renown.org/careers.  In terms of retaining current employees, Renown Health announced that starting April 1, 2023, they are expanding the 401(k)-retirement plan match based for Renown employees based on an employee’s seniority date. Under this expanded benefit, Renown will continue to invest 4% for employees who participate and have up to 4 years of benefit eligible service. And, for those employees with 5 to 9 years of service, Renown will match your contributions at 5% of your pay, 6% for those at 10-14 years, 7% for 15-19 years - and so on, up to 9% for those who have been at Renown for 25 years or more.    In addition, to support all employees in furthering their education, Renown is increasing educational reimbursement for full and part time employees to the IRS tax free maximum of $5250 and expanding the benefit to per diem employees in the amount of $2625. Per diem employees must meet the per diem requirements to be eligible for reimbursement.      “I am proud of the thousands of physicians, nurses and caregivers who provide exemplary, compassionate care, every day, to Nevadans in need,” said Melodie Osborn, RN, Chief Nurse Executive, Renown Health. “This campaign is about connecting people with a passion for healing and Renown’s mission, vision, and values of caring for the people who live here. Northern Nevada and Lake Tahoe are among the most beautiful places to live and work. We hope our campaign encourages others to consider growing and working for the #1 rated hospital in Nevada.”   As the region’s only Level 2 Trauma Center, Renown serves over 1 million people and 100,000 square miles. Nevada is one of the fastest growing states in the US and the population of Washoe County grew by over 50,000 people between 2010 and 2019, to a population of 471,519.  In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital Rankings, Renown Regional Medical Center is named #1 in the State of Nevada for 2021. No other hospital in Nevada earned recognition from U.S. News.  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. To join the Renown Health team visit www.renown.org/careers.

Read More About More Doctors and Nurses to Serve You! Renown Shares the Love, Investing in Care for Community

Students ages 16 and older can now submit applications for entry-level, non-clinical opportunities at region’s top employer and one of the nation’s Top Places to Work ® Obtaining a career in healthcare has been the goal of many who seek to make a positive difference in the lives of others and improve the health of their communities. Overall employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 13 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations; and this increase is expected to result in about 2 million new jobs over the decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Today, Renown Health leaders announced they are accepting employment applications for individuals 16 years old to work in entry-level, non-clinical roles; formerly teens needed to be 18 years or older to apply for employment at Nevada’s largest not-for-profit health network. “Many of us who work today as physicians, nurses and key members of the healthcare team, started out as teenagers working or volunteering in our local hospitals,” says Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President & CEO, Renown Health. “Supporting local teens with their first jobs in healthcare, and providing support for life-long careers, helps build the workforce of the future. We are excited to welcome the next generation of Renown employees as they partner with us to care for our community and Fight the Good Fight.” “For more than 160 years, the foundation of our success has been to hire the brightest and most compassionate people,” says Brittany Brown, MBA, Director of Recruitment. High school students curious about a career in healthcare are encouraged to apply to one of the many entry-level, non-clinical positions available now at Renown Health. All entry-level positions offer flexible schedules to account for school schedules. Named Ragan’s “Top Places to Work for 2022,” Renown Health fosters a caring culture of values that include caring, integrity, collaboration and excellence. Renown was awarded for championing their workforce and providing guidance, initiatives and resources that promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace, offering ample room for professional growth and providing effective communication that keeps employees engaged and informed. “Renown Health is rising to the occasion by expanding employment opportunities for high school students,” said Ms. Brown. “We hope to help teens develop career skills that will serve them today, and for a successful future.” The decision to lower Renown’s minimum employment age to 16 was rooted in the health system’s desire to support students in their long-term career goals and foster their interest in healthcare. Renown’s expert recruiters are poised to welcome teen applicants and be a resource for them throughout the hiring process. Along with offering education and career growth opportunities, Renown has extensive employee benefits available to full time and part time employees. Open part-time and per diem positions available for students who meet the new minimum age requirement of include, but are not limited to: Patient Access Representatives Patient Safety Assistants Patient Transporters Dishwashers Food Service Workers Housekeepers Renown Health also recognizes the value of experienced workers and believes in equal opportunities for all. Part-time, full-time and flexible positions are also available for people 55+ and retirees. Individuals may apply directly at renown.org/careers. Renown Health ensures equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. For more information, see our non-discrimination policy at renown.org. About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’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 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 Renown Health Lowers Minimum Employment Age To 16 Years Old

Three scholarship recipients honored with Cherie Elvin Memorial Scholarship for 2016 Reno Air Race tragedy; Ten others recognized with nursing scholarships by Renown Health Foundation donors. Thirteen area nursing students were the stars of the show today at an event celebrating nursing education. Renown Health leaders held the 2022 Nursing Scholarship Award ceremony to recognize future nurses making a genuine difference in the lives of others, and awarded scholarships to help them pursue their education. Scholarships were presented to thirteen nursing students who are also working at Renown Health and currently pursuing their nursing degrees. Today’s financial awards build on scholarship support from The Cherie Elvin Memorial Fund, which was created by the Elvin Family as a legacy to honor their mother, Cherie, who died at the 2011 Reno Air Races.  Melodie Osborn, RN Chief Nursing Executive; Jana Elliott, RN, DNP, Chief Nursing Officer for Renown Regional; Erin VanKirk, RN, Director of Nursing Education and Alicia Glassco, RN, Director of Medical-Surgical Nursing, presented the scholarships with Thomas Graf, MD, interim CEO of Renown Health during the event held at Mack Auditorium at Renown Regional Medical Center this morning. Members of the Elvin family attended the event via video link, and spoke to the group after watching a clip from Broken Propeller, an online documentary film by producer/director Christine Lazzarini that honors the heroes who responded to the tragedy on September 16, 2011. It was on that day that The Galloping Ghost, a highly modified North American P-51D Mustang racing aircraft, crashed into spectators while competing at the Reno Air Races in killing the pilot, James K. "Jimmy" Leeward, and ten people on the ground. Sixty-nine more people on the ground were injured. It was the third-deadliest airshow disaster in U.S. history.  The 2011 air race crash had an immeasurable impact on the entire Elvin family. Cherie, 73, lost her life, while Chuck, her husband of 52 years, their two sons and daughter-in-law all lost part of their right legs. The family received treated at area hospitals and is still grateful for the care, kindness and support received in northern Nevada. Cherie's son, Bill, and daughter-in-law, Rachel, spoke to the group saying, “As the Elvin family we honor and remember Cherie and work to support nurses in our community.” The care the family received from the physicians, nurses, hospital care providers, EMS teams, and the community inspired the Elvin Family to increase their funding from one scholarship to three scholarships.  Cherie Elvin Memorial Fund scholarships were presented to Alexis Perkins, Katelynn Mahone, Veronica Wentker, who all attend the nursing program at Carrington College.  To recognize the dedication and sacrifice, and to encourage others to pursue a nursing education, the nursing leadership team and Renown Health Foundation donors, for the first time, also awarded scholarships to ten additional recipients for a total of 13 awards. Each scholarship is valued at $1,000 and awarded to employees who are committed to working at the bedside, convey the fundamental qualities of a nurse and look to connect with patients recovering from traumatic situations. Kami Sherpa, who is a critical care technician in Telemetry, wants to work as a registered nurse in Telemetry or the Intensive Care Unit when she graduates. She is currently attending the Orvis School of Nursing at the University of Nevada, Reno. Kami wrote, “I lost my grandad at a very young age. When he died, I decided to become a nurse and to do my best to make every person’s hospital stay a good one. I am the first person in my family to go to school and to earn a bachelor’s degree. This scholarship means so much. I know my mom and my grandma will be proud. I promised them I would take care of people in need and ease their pain. Nursing is my passion in life.” Nursing is an extremely rewarding career, and it has the added benefit of being in high demand. However, getting through nursing school takes a lot of hard work—and it can be expensive. According to the  Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2019, there were approximately 3 million people working as registered nurses in the U.S. Demand for the role is expected to increase by 7% from 2019 to 2029. The average cost of nursing school can vary widely. The cost for a Bachelor’s in Nursing (BSN) can be comparable to any other four year degree. According to U.S. News, the average cost of tuition for the 2020-2021 school year was $9,687 for a four year public school, and $35,087 for a four year private school. Some may pursue other pathways, such as an online RN to BSN program, which can sometimes be more affordable ranging between $25,000 to $80,000 in cost. While this may seem costly, the median annual salary for an RN in 2019 was $75,330. “There has never been a more important time to recruit and retain qualified candidates to become nurses,” said Thomas Graf, MD, interim CEO of Renown Health, as he announced the increased commitment of donors to Renown Health Foundation.  “Your journey to become a nurse includes a lifelong commitment to learning and showing up as your best self,” said Jana Elliott, Chief Nursing Officer for Renown Regional Medical Center. “Treat each patient as the most important person in the world to you. There is no more important or fulfilling work than to serve as a nurse.” She added, “You are on an incredible journey filled with joy, fulfillment, and a deep sense of purpose. Being a nurse requires a passion for people, a profound belief in serving others; trust in your teammates, the ability to embrace change, flexibility and true grit. It is an incredible privilege to be a nurse and to serve others in what is, perhaps, their greatest time of need.  The scholarship recipients of the 2022 Renown Health Nursing Scholarships are: Jion Manicdao Emily Thomas Christian Roberts Blake Conger Alaina Galyean Sadie Chalupa Jillian Dutra Leslie Zolan Kami Sherpa Erin Kristin Ramos Renown Health values and encourages employees to continue their education and supports career aspirations and goals. The education assistance program offers loan reimbursement and repayment opportunities as well as educational and financial guidance from experts. College tuition, certification and certificate reimbursement is provided for employees who are currently enrolled in college/university or taking the extra steps to receive a professional certification or certificate. In addition, the organization supports employees who have previously completed their education and are now managing the burden of student loans.  Renown Health is currently hiring registered nurses and other positions at https://careers.renown.org/ As a not-for-profit health system, Renown relies heavily on community funding. To donate to the Renown Health Foundation and nursing education, please call 775-982-5545 or email foundation@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®. For more information, visit renown.org.

Read More About Thirteen Area Nursing Students Recognized With Scholarships

Released in partnership with the Desert Research Institute: New research from the Healthy Nevada Project® finds that a confirmed diagnosis does not always result in changes to patient care. Presenting individuals with potentially life-altering health information doesn’t mean the individuals – or their healthcare providers – will act on it. Follow-up education and conversations about actionable care plans with patients and their doctors are key next steps, according to new research from the Healthy Nevada Project.  The Healthy Nevada Project is a genetic screening and research project that launched in 2016 as a partnership between DRI and Renown Health. The project now has more than 50,000 participants, with genetic sequencing provided by Helix.  Between September 2018 and September 2020, the Healthy Nevada Project successfully notified 293 participants that they were genetically at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, Lynch syndrome, or familial hypercholesterolemia – three common genetic conditions known collectively as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Tier 1 conditions. In a study published today in Frontiers in Genetics, Healthy Nevada Project scientists looked at the impact that notifying a patient of a positive finding for a CDC Tier 1 condition had on the care that the patient received in the months and years that followed.  According to their results, among the 293 Healthy Nevada Project participants who were notified of their genetic risk of a CDC Tier 1 condition, 71 percent of participants with electronic health records shared their findings with healthcare providers. However, only 30 percent of the electronic health records for these patients contained documentation of the genetic diagnosis, and only 10 percent of examined patients experienced a possible change in care after receiving the results of their genetic screening.  “The Healthy Nevada Project was implemented with a ‘hands-off’ approach where the participants receive their findings and decide with whom and when to share those findings. The findings were not automatically added to their electronic health records,” said Dr. Gai Elhanan, health data scientist at DRI and co-lead author of the study. “What we’re learning now is that to ensure that important genetic findings are integrated into the care journey it is important to make their inclusion into the electronic health records part of the study.” This study builds on previous Healthy Nevada Project research published in Nature Medicine demonstrating the importance of screening for CDC Tier 1 conditions, which affect about one in 75 individuals and can be mitigated or even prevented from developing into disease when detected early. This study found that as many as 90 percent of the CDC Tier 1 cases are missed by clinical providers during normal clinical care screenings and examinations. During the current study, the Healthy Nevada Project scientists found that 19 percent of studied participants had already developed one of the CDC Tier 1 conditions, and thus would have potentially benefited from earlier notification about their condition. The study team hopes that their findings will encourage individuals in Nevada to obtain genetic testing for these relatively common conditions. Even if individuals are older or have already suffered from diseases related to these conditions, testing could also prove beneficial to siblings, children, and grandchildren who may also be at risk and who could subsequently be screened in the event of a positive finding. The study team also encourages informing health care providers of the importance of incorporating genetic diagnoses into the pharmaceutical (for example, for Familial Hypercholesterolemia) and treatment advice given to patients.  “As a result of this analysis, the clinicians at Renown Health and the Healthy Nevada Project researchers have made significant changes, including obtaining informed consent from participants to report positive findings from their genetics reports directly into their electronic medical record,” said Daniel Kiser, M.S., assistant research scientist of data science at DRI and co-lead author of the study. “This will help both participants, their clinical providers, and the whole state maximize the long-term benefits of the Healthy Nevada Project voluntary population-based genetic screening.” Additional information: The full text of the study,  Incomplete Penetrance of Population-Based Genetic Screening Results in Electronic Health Record, is available from Frontiers in Genetics: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2022.866169/full?&utm_source=Email_to_authors_&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=T1_11.5e1_author&utm_campaign=Email_publication&field=&journalName=Frontiers_in_Genetics&id=866169.  This project was funded by Renown Health, the Renown Health Foundation, and the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development. Study authors included Gai Elhanan (DRI), Daniel Kiser (DRI), Iva Neveux (DRI), Shaun Dabe (Renown Health), Alexander Bolze (Helix), William Metcalf (DRI), James Lu (Helix), and Joseph Grzymski (DRI/Renown Health). For more information on the Healthy Nevada Project® or to request genetic screening, please visit: https://healthynv.org/ About DRI The Desert Research Institute (DRI) is a recognized world leader in basic and applied environmental research. Committed to scientific excellence and integrity, DRI faculty, students who work alongside them, and staff have developed scientific knowledge and innovative technologies in research projects around the globe. Since 1959, DRI’s research has advanced scientific knowledge on topics ranging from humans’ impact on the environment to the environment’s impact on humans. DRI’s impactful science and inspiring solutions support Nevada’s diverse economy, provide science-based educational opportunities, and inform policymakers, business leaders, and community members. With campuses in Las Vegas and Reno, DRI serves as the non-profit research arm of the Nevada System of Higher Education. For more information, please visit www.dri.edu. 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®. For more information, visit renown.org. About Helix Helix is the leading population genomics and viral surveillance company operating at the intersection of clinical care, research, and data analytics. Helix enables health systems, life sciences companies, payers, and government partners to accelerate the integration of genomic data into patient care and public health decision making. Learn more at www.helix.com.

Read More About Study Shows Importance of Ensuring Participant and Provider Follow-up After a Genetic Screening Result

Recognized as national leader in LGBTQ+ care by Human Rights Campaign Foundation for 2022 All people who need medical care should be able to see their doctor or have a hospital visit without worrying about being mistreated, harassed or denied service outright. Data from the national CAP survey shows that LGBTQ+ people experience discrimination in healthcare settings; and that discourages them from seeking needed care. These results highlight the importance of protecting LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in healthcare. Renown Health and UNR Med caregivers, supported by community LGBTQ+ and Transgender Allies and partners, are working to bridge the gap for LGBTQ+ patients and families, and to become a more inclusive organization. This week, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation recognized Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nev. as the first and only hospital in Nevada designated with a perfect score, and at the highest level of support as “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader.” The Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) is the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey of healthcare facilities on policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees. We constantly strive to be among the best in the nation for quality, safety and patient experience," said Dr. Thomas Graf, interim CEO and Chief Clinical and Quality Officer. "This recognition confirms what the Renown Health team is dedicated to – providing the best patient care possible. Quality and safety are the responsibility of every employee and physician at Renown, and we are proud that the Renown Regional Medical Center team has been chosen among the best in the state and nation for our commitment to LGBTQ+ patient-centered care.” “Renown Health is proud to join the state of Nevada, which also earned top rankings on the Human Rights Campaign State Equality Index, and the City of Reno on the Municipal Equity Scorecard for LGBTQ+ equality,” said Sy Johnson, MBA, interim president and Chief of Staff. “The Human Rights Campaign HEI offers a powerful way for organizations to affirm that they are committed to LGBTQ+ patient-centered care and extend non-discrimination protections to our LGBTQ+ employees, who play a key role in ensuring sensitive, knowledgeable LGBTQ+ care.” “We at UNR Med are so proud to be partners with Renown in this effort,” said Nicole Jacobs, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)Associate Dean, Diversity and Inclusion; Clinical Psychologist / Professor; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UNR Med. “The designation of being an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equity Leader demonstrates Renown’s strong commitment to advancing equitable healthcare in Nevada, our core and shared values and our shared mission of addressing the healthcare disparities in our backyards.” A record 906 healthcare facilities actively participated in the 2022 HEI survey and 496 of those earned an “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Equality Leader” designation. Renown Regional Medical Center is the first and only hospital in Nevada recognized by the Human Rights Campaign. No other hospitals in the state met their stringent standards for the 2021 rankings. “Every person deserves to have access to quality healthcare, be respected and heard by their doctor and feel safe in the facility where they are receiving care,” said Tari Hanneman, (she/her) Director of Health & Aging at The Human Rights Campaign. “The Healthcare Equality Index, at its core, strives to ensure LGBTQ+ people are protected and affirmed by their healthcare providers and feel safe seeking services. Our HEI active participants are truly pioneering the healthcare industry by implementing robust, comprehensive LGBTQ+ inclusive policies that hopefully, because of their work, will become standard practice The HEI evaluates and scores healthcare facilities on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars: Foundational Policies and Training in LGBTQ+ Patient-Centered Care LGBTQ+ Patient Services and Support Employee Benefits and Policies Patient and Community Engagement Suzanne Hendery, MA, APR, Chief Customer Officer, who led Renown’s application process, noted the remarkable progress reflected in the team 2022 HEI submission includes: Updated Medical Records with Preferred Name and Pronouns. Kathleen Zaski, BSN, RN, Director of IT Applications explains why this is so important. “Your name and identity are core to who you are as a person, and here at Renown, we aim to take care of you as a whole person and to provide the highest level of quality care to our community – all while ensuring the experience is exceptional and tailored to the individual. Our medical records system supports our doctors, nurses and care team in capturing this vital information. We are now able to capture every person’s preferred name, sex and sexual orientation to better care for them.” Allowing visitation without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity. Whitney Hansen, PhD, Director of Service Excellence says, “I know how important it is to our patients and their families that Renown serves our entire community and that we provide a welcoming, safe space and sense of belonging to all. We are proud of Renown’s visitor policy, inspired by family members, who requested that the policy encourage two family members per day be able to visit a loved one hospitalized at Renown.” Gender Neutral Restrooms. Chris Baker, CHFM, Director Facilities Engineering, whose team has created over 48 gender-neutral restrooms across Renown says, “Ensuring that private restrooms are equally available to everyone on our campus is just one way we can provide a more inclusive, caring space for the people we serve.” In addition, Renown clinicians and caregivers received recognition in the following areas: Every staff member receives training in LGBTQ+ patient-centered care Both “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” are included in both the patient non-discrimination policy and in Renown’s employment nondiscrimination policy Offering transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits to employees and members of Renown’s not-for-profit health plan, Hometown Health Providing substantial support and awarding grants to area organizations addressing diversity and inclusion, LGBTQ+ community Pride events and collaboration with LGBTQ+ organizations as an ally “I’m extremely proud of the people I get to work with every day who make achievements like this possible, says Brian Colonna CHC, CHPC, CHRC, Director of Compliance. “This is a meaningful designation, said Bethany Sexton, MA, Chief Transformation Officer. “I feel so proud to be part of a team and organization that helps translate our mission as an organization into action that matters for every member of our community.” Mitch Harper, Director of Network Performance, said, “We have just begun on this journey. We recognize there is still so much more to improve upon in becoming an inclusive organization. We are working to create a safe and welcoming environment for our community and our employees. Access to basic human services should not be contingent on an individual’s skin color, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or beliefs.” Sean Savoy, Manager of Spiritual Care at Renown said, “Good news indeed! So glad that Renown Health has achieved this milestone with HRC – a leader in civil rights for sexual orientation-gender identity minorities. I look forward to the continuing work around striving to achieve clinical equity, cultural competency, and respect for our LGBTQIA patients and employees.” For more on LBGTQ+ care and providers at Renown, visit renown.org/diversity/lbgtq-at-renown/ Join the Renown team Renown Health is now 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 on line at careers.renown.org/ About the Human Rights Campaign Foundation The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public’s understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work. 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®. For more information, visit renown.org.

Read More About Renown Regional Named Health Equity Leader for Nevada

Recognized as a workplace that champions caregivers, diversity and professional growth by Ragan Communications Renown Health has been recognized among Ragan’s “Top Places to Work” for 2022. Ragan’s award winners represent organizations that value internal communications, foster collaborative and innovative workplaces that champion caregivers, cultivate a culture that thrives with diverse ideas and backgrounds and supports professional growth and well-being. In selecting Renown Health for this honor, Ragan judges noted that Renown Health earned its spot as a top place to work by “taking swift action to respond to pandemic challenges.” They noted that “the teams at Renown Health, serving northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California, practice emergency preparedness 365 days a year. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, those teams took swift action to ensure Renown and the community remained ready and prepared.” Renown had the foresight to create an Alternate Care Site (ACS) in the Mill Street parking structure of its Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nev. No other organization in northern Nevada, public or private, prepared for an overflow of patients with COVID-19. Until January 2021, the ACS served hundreds of hospitalized patients and allowed caregivers to remain on campus with access to lab, pharmacy, imaging, food and other crucial services. Patients are now cared for within one of Renown’s hospitals or monitored in their homes 24/7 by clinicians in the Renown Transfer and Operations Center. Many employees worked remotely throughout the pandemic; Renown’s human resources department listened to their employees' thoughts and opinions. Positive feedback about remote work (which included decreased commute times, fewer distractions, improved work-life balance and a reduced carbon footprint) resulted in allowing more than 700 employees to continue working remotely, with having the option to “hotel” onsite at any time. In June 2020, the Renown Laboratory team sprang into action to help meet the growing demand for COVID-19 testing. Renown expanded staffing and in-house testing capabilities, allowing Renown to swab and process up to 1,000 COVID tests for patients each day and share results within hours. Working with the mayor’s COVID-19 task force and local faith and community leaders, the hospital also provided free COVID-19 testing for communities of color to address health equity needs. After several weeks of employee and volunteer drive-thru vaccination events, Renown also supported the Washoe County Health District and the state in vaccinating more than 70,000 neighbors and caregivers. Aristotle, supervisor of clinical nursing in Neurosciences says, “As a leader on my unit, I love the fact that I get to see the growth and development of my team, and be a part of a support system that helps elevate them in to the future endeavors to really breed that culture of excellence at Renown.” See his video here. Reviewers at Ragan stressed, “Employees want to work at organizations like Renown that champion their workforce and provide guidance, initiatives and resources that promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace, offer ample room for professional growth and provide effective communication that keeps them engaged and informed.” After listening to employees, Renown announced a number of additional benefits to promote ways to increase work/life balance; support rest-and-recuperation strategies, and new financial resources essential to sustaining happy, high-performing teams. In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital Rankings, Renown Regional Medical Center is named #1 in the State of Nevada for 2021. No other hospital in Nevada earned recognition from U.S. News. Renown Health is hiring key roles to support the health and well-being of our community, and encourages those with a passion for service to join the Renown family to Fight the Good Fight. Apply on line at careers.renown.org. About Renown Health Renown Health is a locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital rankings, Renown Regional Medical Center was listed #1 in the State of Nevada. Renown has a long tradition and commitment to improve the care and the health of our community. 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 Named Top Place to Work

Passionate about food and coffee? Interested in serving patients and health care heroes? Courteous and diplomatic? Have a high school diploma? Read on to discover the career for you. When you think about the word LOVE, do you think about delicious FOOD or a mug of hot COFFEE? When you talk with friends, do your conversations start and end discussing a new recipe, a new restaurant or TV food show?  Do you get great satisfaction from preparing a great meal? Do you dream about being able to make a steaming hot latte with almond milk in minutes? Are you a nurturer who envisions creating and delivering a hot, delicious, nutritious meal to someone recovering from a surgical procedure or recovering from an illness? Would you enjoy making a special celebration meal for a family who has just delivered a baby, a cake for a wedding at a patient’s bedside, or for a family reunited with papa after receiving good news about his cancer recovery?  Are you looking for some career options to keep you connected to great food and coffee? Renown Health is now offering a number of career options that encourage you to satisfy your love for food; earn money, paid vacation/sick time, great health benefits; have a regular schedule; advance your career and earn a college or university degree at the same time.  There are some outstanding benefits to working in food-related careers at the region’s top employer and the region’s largest non-for-profit, charitable organization. Renown employees work every day to make a genuine difference in the lives of others, and we are looking for you to join us.  Many food services professionals started their careers in entry-level positions and worked their way up. Other benefits to working at Renown include transferable career skills, free or discounted food and the opportunity to give back and serve your community.  Whether you are just starting your career or looking for a new challenge, you are sure to find something that is perfect for you. Many positions require only a high school diploma or a GED. Start exploring today with our list of nine terrific food and beverage-related careers available today at Renown Health and apply online at renown.org.  1) Be a Barista at Starbucks; Renown Regional Medical Center, full/part time, all shifts If you love talking to people, have a good sense of humor and like to move fast, then this job is a great fit for you. You will meet people from every field and make friends with many of them. You will learn to be an expert in handcrafting delicious, perfect beverages—while proudly wearing the green Starbuck’s apron. You will be a part of the first Starbuck’s in the area to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Average Starbucks barista hourly pay is at the national average of approximately $12.32. In addition, you will receive paid training, tips, a full Renown Health medical, retirement, paid vacation/sick time benefit package and access to internally posted positions. You will need a high school diploma or GED; however, experience is not necessary for this entry-level position. Starbuck’s employees can drink as many lattes as they want—as most beverages are free for employees during work breaks! 2) Chef It Up as a Hospital Cook & Cook Lead; Renown Regional Medical Center, Renown Rehabilitation Hospital, full/part time, all shifts.  If you love preparing nutritious, appetizing food for others, understand the importance of individual requirements for medical and cultural diets, this may be the perfect job for you. Most people landing a job as a Cook in a hospital have five or more years of experience working in a restaurant but do not have a college degree, yet they are able to earn an average salary range: $26,860 – $61,870. Benefits include a predictable schedule, which may mean more time with your family and at home. You will also receive vacation and sick days, and health, vision and dental benefits. In addition, you would be fueling physicians, nurses and others to get through a long workday, making a genuine difference in the lives of others and having a positive impact on society.  3) Special Delivery! Food Servers; Renown Regional Medical Center, full/part time, all shifts. If you love assembling and serving meals to patients, this is the job for you. You will setup, prepare and clean up for patient meal service and may serve as the link between Nutrition Services and patients. You may also transport food carts to the patient room floors and help with kitchen general cleaning and sanitation. 4) Show Your Creative Side as a Food Prep Artist; Lead Sandwich Artist; Renown Regional Medical Center, full/part-time, all shifts In this role, you will make and serve salads, desserts, and sandwiches with fresh ingredients and promptly serve them to hungry and happy customers. Lead Sandwich artists are in demand at the Subway restaurant located within Renown Regional Medical Center.  5) Making it Just for You! Nutrition Representative; Renown Regional Medical Center; per diem, all shifts In this role, you will meet with patients, help them review their meal options, and ensure their special and customized meal is delivered to their room. As a customer service agent, you will answer the phone for food orders, enters the meal choices into the computer system and understand menus, diet restrictions, recipes and food inventory.  6) Cashing In as a Food Services Cashier; Renown Regional Medical Center; full/part-time, all shifts 7) Food as Medicine as a Clinical Dietitian; Renown Regional Medical Center; part time, days Patients recovering from illness need to fuel their bodies with the most nutritious foods. In this role, you will provide nutrition education and counseling, clinical nutrition assessments, planning and evaluation of infants, children, adolescents, adults and geriatric patients, and work to meet the patient's physical, cognitive and psychosocial needs through proper nutrition and education.  8) The Answer is YES! Manager of Hospitality; Renown South Meadows Medical Center; full time As our manager, you would deliver exceptional customer service in all aspects of food and environmental services. You would get to build, hire, train and lead an engaged team and provide the highest quality service to meet the needs of patients, employees, visitors, and physicians. 9) Customer Service Fanatic? Retail Food and Beverage Supervisor; Starbucks You would be very popular-leading the operations of Starbucks and Subway franchises at Renown Regional Medical Center. You would ensure lead and empower and train your team to be the best- and be sure you budget is balanced and the customer service is exceptional.  At Renown Health, we share a boundless vision that inspires us to learn, grow and exceed expectations for patients, their families and one another. A career with us offers you: • An uplifting and progressive environment focused on community health and wellness initiatives. • A culture that values your contributions and supports your personal and professional development. • Affiliations with the University of Nevada, Reno, Desert Research Institute and other organizations that help spur innovation and opportunity. To apply for these career opportunities and others, please visit us 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®. For more information, visit renown.org.

Read More About Food is Love! Nine Career Options at Renown to Satisfy Coffee Enthusiasts & Foodies

Listening to what employees need most now and for the future; ensuring families are healthy, financially secure The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate last week for the first time since March 2020. This will mean a higher cost of borrowing on credit cards, student and home loans, car financing and more. It could also mean more returns from savings accounts, depending on the institution. This news, coupled with concerns about mental health and physical well-being as caregivers come through the pandemic has presented leaders at Renown with a unique opportunity to reframe approaches to how to help their employees grow, feel financially supported and engage as part of a healthy and thriving team. After listening to concerns of employees and their leaders, Renown Health’s Human Resources department and leading industry partners have announced a number of additional benefits to promote ways to increase work/life balance; support rest-and-recuperation strategies, and new financial resources essential to sustaining happy, high-performing teams. Renown Health is hiring key roles to support the health and well-being of our community, and encouraging those with a passion for service to join the Renown family to Fight the Good Fight, by applying on line at careers.renown.org. Expanded and new employee benefits for 2022 include: 1. Expanded Physical Health, Medical and Dental Plan Benefits. The MOBE program, offered at no charge, offers each employee a personal Health Guide to support four core elements of health; diet, sleep, physical movement and emotional well-being to help build healthy habits, fuel a better life, provide energy and promote healing. This year, Renown expanded its Medical Plan coverage, adding new benefits, without increasing rates paid by employees. Renown offers health insurance benefits through Hometown Health, northern Nevada’s largest and only locally owned not-for-profit insurance company with wide-ranging medical coverage. Hometown Health offers access to the largest network and highest quality clinical services provided by 1,200 medical doctors and specialists in 150 sites of care, including those with Renown Medical Group; urgent care centers; lab and imaging services; and the state’s #1 Us News & World Report hospitals, Renown Regional Medical Center (2022) and Renown South Meadows Medical Center (2021). New medical benefits added this year include telehealth visits with a $0 copay; Renown Pharmacy prescriptions with no deductible; and if employees and their families need to travel out of the area for essential care, there is now a travel stipend offered for University Medical Center in Las Vegas or to University of Utah Health. The organization also reduced the cost for health insurance premiums paid by part-time employees (20-30 hours). In addition to improved health benefits, the dental network was expanded through MetLife Dental, with no increases in dental rate premiums paid by employees in 2022. As a non-profit organization, Renown is able to offer employees the ability to establish Flexible Spending Accounts as way to use tax-free dollars to pay medical expenses not covered by other health plans. 2. Enhanced Wellness and Mental Health support programs. Renown Health is home to the Stacie Mathewson Behavioral Health & Addictions Institute. As leaders, they are working to remove the stigma and barriers to using mental health services when needed; reinforcing that seeking help indicates strength, not weakness. This includes encouraging team members to take a day off to refresh and recharge or take advantage of confidential, mental health counseling visits at no charge. Renown updated their policy to include mental and emotional well-being as eligible for use of sick leave. Through the pandemic, to be sure employees had the time should needed, leadership added 80 hours of sick time to employee’s sick banks as well as $0 copay for Teladoc behavioral health sessions and nutrition services (virtual). Renown encourages physical fitness and inspires the health and well-being of employees by supporting participation in races (on foot or via bike) in their communities. Employee who race, run, walk, triathlon or bike may submit for reimbursement for an individual entry fee up to $100. 3. Appreciating and Engaging Employees. Many teams may now be working on-site, hybrid and remotely, which means getting together to make new memories is more complicated. Renown Health leaders continue to bring camaraderie and bonding into the workplace by investing in holding monthly Pride events for staff, hosting everything from online socials to game nights to help re-establish bonds. At Renown, employee engagement also takes the form of employee recognition programs. The Everyday Amazing program encourages employees to thank each other for outstanding service via an online platform, and earn certificates and points towards gift cards and prizes. Employee and organization-led leadership and career education programs are encouraged, as well as paid volunteer opportunities (four hours each quarter), and matches of up to $1000 for non-profit organization boards on which Renown Health employees serve. Renown offers events and yearbooks to help employees celebrate their history and accomplishments, as well as Celebrate Amazing, a special event to honor Service Milestones, Top Talent and Women of Achievement award winners. Renown supports the community and engages medical providers and employees to attend events with the Reno Aces, UNR football and basketball games, the Great Reno Balloon Race and hundreds of community events each year. 4. Living Debt Free with Financial Wellness Programs. A free financial wellbeing program from Salary Finance is available at no cost to employees, with a salary-linked loan product. This benefit enables employees to borrow or save money directly through their paycheck. Salary-linked loans allow employees to access affordable credit that they can easily repay through their salary, helping them pay down existing debt or avoid high-interest credit cards, overdraft fees, or payday loans. Salary Finance provides affordable borrowing options in times of need, as well as a financial education component, which helps employees understand their current level of financial content specific to their needs. Since launching, over 40% of employees have engaged with the Salary Finance offering, and over 500 have accessed affordable credit through Renown's custom-branded Salary Finance Financial Wellbeing Hub. “It has made a wonderful impact and has lessened my frequent stress regarding my debt," said a Renown employee enrolled in the program. In total, it is estimated that employees have saved nearly $275,000 on interest, and that number continues to grow as more employees take advantage of the benefit. The Greater Perks program from Greater Nevada Credit Union, the official credit union for Renown employees, offers a number of benefits including a $100 bonus for opening a new checking account, $25 when opening a new “I Can Save” account, $500 credit towards an appraisal for a home loan, low-cost rates on short-term personal loans and auto loans, and regular online financial wellness seminars. Membership with the credit union is not required to take advantage of Greater Nevada Mortgage’s offerings. In addition, donors have supported, through the Renown Health Foundation, funds for help employees who have suffered a personal financial catastrophe, and are in need for emergency funding to pay bills, with no repayment required. 5. Educational Assistance Reimbursement, Student Loan Repayment, Continuing Education for Learners. Renown values and encourages employees to continue their education and supports career aspirations and goals. The education assistance program offers loan reimbursement and repayment opportunities as well as educational and financial guidance from experts. College tuition, certification and certificate reimbursement is provided for employees who are currently enrolled in college/university or taking the extra steps to receive a professional certification or certificate. In addition, the organization supports employees who have previously completed their education and are now managing the burden of student loans. Employees also have the option to invest in a 529 college savings plan, an investment program designed to help people save for future education expenses for children/dependents at almost any private or public college or accredited higher education institution. 6. Onsite Childcare & Adult Care Assistance. Figuring out the childcare puzzle has been a hurdle for working parents through the pandemic. Renown is one of a select number of health systems that offer onsite childcare. Renown Health Child Care Center welcomes employees' children ages six weeks to six years (and not yet in kindergarten). The center is licensed for 176 children and features 11 classrooms: three infant classrooms, four toddler and four preschool classrooms. Staff help parents with resources to find care for their children onsite, or with licensed daycare providers in the community. Employees increasingly are caring for older adults in their families. As a non-profit organization, employees are able to contribute to tax-free savings FSA accounts that cover dependent care for children and older adults. 7. Flexible Schedules and Locations. Renown now provides the ability for medical providers and employees to work on-site, hybrid and remotely. This year as many employees working remotely moved out of state to be closer to friends or family, Renown kept pace, employing a Professional Employment Organization called Tri Net, in a co-employment model to assist with national benefits and tax administration. Renown is now able to recruit and retain remote employees from Maine to Minnesota and offer, for a wide range of positions in IT, finance and other support services, remote and flexible schedules that are attractive to many across the country. For clinicians, there are a large variety of positions now available at over 100 locations across the state. On March 7, Renown increased the cap of shift differential to 10% up to $6 an hour and added a weekend differential for staff for up to 5%. At Renown’s hospitals, there are employment positions available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to serve the community. Other providers and employees take advantage of a compressed workweek, 12-hour shifts and other options, which allow them the flexibility to live their best life at work and at home. 8. Renown’s Retirement Savings Plan. Retirement savings plans including a full 401(k) plan through Vanguard are available for employees to save for retirement. Employees can contribute from1-75% of pre-tax pay (up to annual IRS limit) and receive a matching contribution from Renown of 4% when you contribute 4% or more to a 401(k) plan. Rollovers of a former employer's 401(k), 403(b), 457 or other qualified plan can be made into a Vanguard plan at any time. In addition, in-service withdrawals are allowed at age 59 1/2 from 401(k), and a new Roth 401(k) option was added. Join the Renown team: Renown Health is now 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 on line at 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®. For more information, visit renown.org.

Read More About 8 Financial & Wellness Benefits for Employees

BioIntelliSense medical grade vital sign monitoring and Renown Health’s centralized command center creates a scalable system to optimize critical healthcare resources and nurse workflow efficiencies DENVER, CO AND RENO, NV; DECEMBER 6, 2021 – BioIntelliSense, a continuous health monitoring and clinical intelligence company, has entered into a strategic collaboration with Renown Health, a not- for-profit integrated healthcare network of hospitals and care facilities serving over one million people in Nevada and northeast California, to provide more convenient, effective and personalized care to patients via continuous remote monitoring for both in-hospital patient care as well as at-home health management. This innovative program integrates BioIntelliSense’s FDA-cleared BioSticker™ wearable device into Renown Health’s state-of-the-art clinical remote monitoring services to address today’s significant healthcare workforce shortage challenges and enhance their patient-centered model of care. BioIntelliSense’s BioSticker continuously monitors data on a patient’s skin temperature, resting heart rate and respiratory rate, step, gait, sleep, activity levels, and more, including infection-like symptom alerts that supports COVID-19 monitoring. The BioSticker’s medical-grade trending and advanced analytics will be visualized and monitored by clinical staff within the Renown Transfer and Operations Center (RTOC). The Renown Transfer and Operations Center is powered by Renown doctors, nurses, technicians and national technology partners, including BioIntelliSense, to help ensure seamless care for patients and providers. Through this highly coordinated care logistics system, Renown will be able to customize health care to the needs of every patient; delivering the right care, at the right time and place across the integrated delivery system. Renown clinicians will be able to access near real-time information on patients’ vital signs and symptoms, enabling them to identify adverse changes in health sooner and intervene earlier. “Given the growing healthcare workforce crisis, routine patient monitoring has become more expensive and less frequent, especially during the ongoing public health emergency.  With the BioSticker, vital signs monitoring can be provided for each patient far more frequently and at a fraction of the cost,” said James Mault, MD, Founder and CEO of BioIntelliSense. “Our strategic partnership with Renown Health serves as a gold standard demonstration project for other hospital systems. What we are learning from patients and providers at Renown will help create fully integrated, continuous care delivery that starts during the patient’s hospitalization enabling monitoring of their health status throughout their recovery process, and from the comfort of their own home after leaving the hospital.” During the first phase of the collaboration and during this phase one implementation, the BioSticker will be applied to all patients admitted to Renown’s community hospital, Renown South Meadows Medical Center in Reno, Nevada. Patients may wear the device throughout their hospital stay and continue to wear it when they leave for their homes, ambulatory, outpatient surgical, rehabilitation or skilled nursing settings. “We are excited to continue to enhance our relationships with patients by integrating technology that supplements our care teams and provides patients with a virtual care solution that will continuously track vital signs, making healthcare more accessible, affordable and convenient,” said Tony Slonim, MD, DPH, CEO, Renown Health. “We believe patients and their loved ones will have confidence in knowing that their Renown clinical team will be closely monitoring their health data and communicating with them regularly to deliver high quality, personalized care throughout their healing process.” Initially, this collaboration will focus on understanding the logistics of patient monitoring in the hospital and at home or remote sites using the BioIntelliSense remote care technology. Renown Health will then work towards streamlining and operationalizing the clinical workflow, while scaling the program, to measure clinical improvement and the economic impact on patient care. “We are entering a new era in continuous health monitoring, as innovative hospital systems like Renown Health are integrating remote care technologies that provide scalable, user friendly and cost-effective solutions for health screening, COVID symptom monitoring and remote patient monitoring,” noted Mault. “We anticipate that within ten years, our wearable devices will become the standard of care for those not feeling well, giving people peace of mind that they or their loved ones are being monitored 24/7 by a supportive clinical team and have the security of knowing that if their condition worsens, we can elevate their level of care – immediately and in real-time.” "We are excited to serve as the national training site for BioIntelliSense and continue to bring new technology that improves the patient and provider experience to colleagues. We will continue to develop a well-trained, inter-professional and flexible workforce with technology skills that match the current pace of health care innovation,” added Slonim. “Our team is excited to be improving health care access and affordability across the state, and especially with critical access hospitals serving rural communities. Remote patient monitoring technology offers great benefit to patients at or near their homes, and it may transform hospital care by expanding access to clinical expertise to patients, and extending and increasing workforce capacity for limited hospital physician, nursing and clinical teams. We are pleased to be working with Dr. Mault and the team at BioIntelliSense, on the demonstration project with the BioSticker for vital signs monitoring as we take another bold step in innovating health care for long-term success.”     About Renown Health Renown Health is a locally governed, 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, the region’s only children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, the area’s most comprehensive medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown has a long tradition and commitment to improving the care and the health of our community. For more information, visit renown.org. About BioIntelliSense BioIntelliSense is ushering in a new era of continuous health monitoring and clinical intelligence for Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM). Its medical-grade Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) platform seamlessly captures multiparameter vital signs, physiological biometrics and symptomatic events through an effortless patient experience. The FDA-cleared BioSticker™ and medical grade BioButton® devices make remote monitoring and early detection simple. Through the platform’s advanced analytics, clinicians will now have access to high-resolution patient trending and reporting to enable medical grade care from in the hospital to the home. For more information on how BioIntelliSense is redefining remote patient monitoring through medical-grade and cost-effective data services, please contact us at info@biointellisense.com or visit our website at BioIntelliSense.com.

Read More About Biointellisense and Renown Announce Strategic Collaboration

Child Abuse Prevention Month serves as an important reminder of the year-round need to protect and support those most vulnerable in our community. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month- a time to raise awareness for the safe, healthy and carefree childhood all children deserve to have. Renown encourages the community to join the organization in supporting and advocating for the health and well-being of our local children 365 days a year. Blue is the designated color to bring awareness to child abuse prevention and the pinwheel is the official symbol of the month-long observance. Demonstrating support and community-wide solidarity, the iconic “LOVE” sculpture at the main entrance of Renown Regional Medical Center located at 1155 Mill Street in Reno is illuminated in blue each evening in April. Renown also sponsored the Washoe CASA Foundation to help distribute pinwheels and potentially life-saving information throughout our community. “According to NevadaTomorrow.org, Washoe County received over 6,000 tragic referrals and reports of child abuse in 2020. While this number is lower than the previous year’s report of over 6,500 cases, there is clearly important work that still needs to be done,” said Tony Slonim, MD, D.Ph., President and CEO of Renown Health. “Even one case of child abuse is one too many. At Renown Health, we are proud to support our employees’ efforts to create a brighter future for our local children, as well as our community partners who are committed to providing all children a safe, healthy and loving home environment.” “We know child abuse is preventable and our actions have the power to make a difference,” said Max Coppes, M.D., Ph. D., MBA, Nell J. Redfield Chair of Pediatrics at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and pediatrician-in-chief at Renown Children's Hospital. “With limited in-person interactions, it’s more important than ever to keep an eye on the children in your neighborhood and report any unusual activity. Also, remember to check on your fellow parents, as so many are under significant stress right now. We owe it to our children to build a safer and healthier Nevada.” “Child Abuse Prevention Month is essential in bringing attention to the importance of promoting safe families and communities for children who are one of the most vulnerable groups within our society,” said Dr. Mavis Major, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Renown. “Here at Renown, we have a dedicated team of mental health experts available to both pediatric and adult patients to help ensure their overall health and well-being. We are proud to serve our community and support all those in need of some extra support.” Local Resources to End Child Abuse If you suspect child abuse or neglect, immediately contact Child Protective Services in your area or call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child. To schedule a behavioral health appointment at Renown, please call the Stacie Mathewson Behavioral Health & Addiction Institute at 775-982-5318.     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 Renown Health Shines A Blue Light On Child Abuse Prevention

For leaders, employees and patients of Renown Health, April 14, 2020 will eternally be etched into the COVID-19 pandemic timeline. This was the day the organization invited community leaders and members of the media to tour the Alternate Care Site (ACS) in the Mill St. Parking structure. While other healthcare systems around the world were setting up field hospitals to care for an anticipated influx of COVID-19 patients, Renown was the first to do so in a parking garage. During this preview event, Renown Health CEO and President, Dr. Tony Slonim, spoke to area leaders on the decision to commission the $11 million Alternate Care Site, which at the time, was a precautionary measure and a demonstration of Renown’s commitment to the health and well-being of the one million people and communities it serves across 100,000 square miles of Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. Also on April 14, 2020, Dr. Slonim observed his 56th birthday. Rather than a celebration to mark the occasion, during the news conference, he received a call that would further alter his life. The intensivist caring for his dad, Anthony Slonim Sr., in a New Jersey hospital, told him that after a hard-fought battle against the novel coronavirus, his father had died. Dr. Slonim said, “April 14, 2020 was the day the COVID-19 pandemic was no longer just a tragedy devastating the east coast and other hotspots around the world. COVID-19 hit home, stealing my father and threating both of my beloved communities- New Jersey and Reno - that my family calls home.” The bright light of LOVE shines through the darkness Later that week, on April 16, 2020, Beth Macmillan, Executive Director of Artown loaned Renown the LOVE sculpture, a one-ton, welded aluminum artwork with letters 10-feet tall and eight-feet wide created by artist Laura Kimpton and fabricated by Jeff Schomberg, where it lights up Renown Regional Medical Center’s main entrance. LOVE glows, and continues to glow, in Renown’s signature purple every evening, shining brightly for patients, employees, visitors and passersby to enjoy. The art piece debuted at Burning Man in 2019, and was originally slated for the 9/11 Tribute Museum in NYC.  “Healthcare heroes and patients of the hospital have been warmed and inspired by the art and this one word, LOVE! Now, more than ever, the power of art has provided something beautiful on which to focus,” says Beth Macmillan. In July, the LOVE sculpture found a permanent home at Renown thanks to a donation from the Robert and Dorothy Keyser Foundation. “Through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the LOVE sculpture has been a powerful source of hope, inspiration and determination for our community,” said Blake Smith, chair of the Keyser Foundation. “Now, we can’t imagine the entrance of the hospital without it. We are happy that the incredible piece of art will continue shining a bright light while spreading warmth and comfort to all who care for those in our hospitals, patients and families, and those who pass by.” (LOVE sign B-Roll.) For Dr. Slonim, he found the art a reminder of the love of his father. “I have so much respect for artists like Laura and Jeff, and the way they connect with people through their art. Passing by the LOVE sculpture was immensely therapeutic for me, especially after the loss of my dad,” said Dr. Slonim. “Caring for others and their emotions is also an art. Over the last year, I have been inspired by the compassionate caregivers who have practiced the art of medicine under extremely stressful and difficult conditions brought on by the pandemic.” When words fail, art speaks Recognizing art’s powerful healing capabilities, Renown collaborated with prominent artist and fine art photographer, Anicia Beckwith, to immortalize the many battles fought against and amidst COVID-19 within the healthcare system’s walls. Beckwith captured portrait images of Renown caregivers, patients and their loved ones, showing raw and touching scenes from the COVID Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Departments, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Wilbur D. May Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and the Alternate Care Site field hospital. A group of Renown caregivers hold a COVID patient’s hand. Tears well up in their eyes as the patient takes his last breath. Care providers respond to a patient’s only request – a facial shave. The man beams at the sight of his freshly groomed face, and is visibly touched by the tender care he received to make it happen. Lupe, an environmental services worker, takes special care in her efforts to clean and sanitize patient rooms—a craft she has perfected and taken pride in for the 25+ years she’s worked at Renown. These are just a few of the captivating moments Beckwith illustrates through her art. Beckwith’s full photo gallery of images from Renown are located here; and downloadable visual assets are available here.    “I was in awe as I watched Renown caregivers administer chest compressions to a patient whose heart had just stopped,” said Beckwith. Promptly after assisting in saving that patient’s life, I observed a nurse walk into the room next door where an elderly patient peacefully discussed coming to the end of hers. I can’t help but wonder how the staff have these conversations daily—always with compassion, dignity and grace. It was an honor and privilege to commemorate this pivotal time in our world’s history, and in turn, aid in the healing process for those hurting both physically and emotionally.”  “Anicia’s photography provided a comforting outlet for all who were involved in the project,” said Annie Zucker, Manager of Community Impact at Renown. “Her work gave care givers an opportunity to reflect on the last year and fueled the strength and determination they needed to get through it, as sometimes it takes an outside lens to see the magnitude and impact of your work. Anicia gave patients and families an opportunity share their stories and feel support and encouragement from the outside world.” In addition to taking photos on standard digital cameras, Beckwith also honed her skills using various vintage film cameras and historical techniques. “I purposely use these images as testimony to the science in front and behind the lens,” said Beckwith. “COVID has shown us technological advances cannot cure every condition, and sometimes we must go back to the basics to move forward. Some of the film I used for this project is no longer made and rare to possess. Each time I click the shutter translates to one less photographic possibility left in the world. To decide when and what to capture is a metaphor for the importance, reverence and weight I place on the subject in front of me.” Beckwith plans to continue her photography project at Renown using a 104-year-old camera that was present during the time of the Spanish Flu of 1918. Her goal is to highlight the remarkable stories of strength, resilience and perseverance that have come from the ashes of the pandemic, as we look towards a hopeful future. “For more than 30 years, art has played an important role at Renown Health,” said Sy Johnson, Chief of Staff at Renown. “Healing is more than getting quality medical care—it’s about the heart, the mind and the spirit. We are proud to bring extraordinary artists like Laura Kimpton, Jeff Schomberg, Anicia Beckwith and others, to find meaningful ways to connect with our patients, employees and community through the universal language of healing arts. Much of the art on our campuses has been made possible by generous artists and donors, who have make a tremendous impact on how our community—and our providers—reflect, engage and heal.”  If you are interested in supporting the Healing Arts Program at Renown Health, a charitable, non-profit health organization, please consider giving to Renown Health Foundation.  Donations are accepted through the following ways: Make a gift at www.renown.org/give Call Renown Health Foundation at 775-982-5545 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 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, 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 A One-Year Reflection: Using the Art of Medicine to Heal Amidst a Pandemic

Renown Health seeks partnerships to help improve the health and well-being of all northern Nevadans. Application process for event funding open now through April 30. Renown Health’s mission is to make a genuine difference in the health and well-being of people and communities. Renown is seeking to partner with other non-profit organizations focused on inspiring better health in Nevada, and to help fund their efforts. “Improving the health and wellness of an entire population of people is not easy. It is a huge task. At Renown, we believe it is a battle worth fighting. We focus on preventing illnesses, and we are working across the state with partners who believe in our mission- to keep people healthy, to make healthcare more accessible and affordable, and to achieve the vision of a healthy Nevada,” says Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, President and CEO of Renown Health. Nevada continues to rank near the bottom of overall health rankings in the U.S., and suffers from high mortality rates for chronic conditions like heart disease, cancer and chronic respiratory disease. These staggering statistics have solidified Renown’s commitment to advancing equitable clinical care and improving the health and well-being of our community. “Clinical healthcare affects only a small portion of a person’s health status, less than 20%. The larger influence comes from social determinants of health (SDoH), which are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. The specific factors that drive the greatest health improvements are health-related behaviors, socioeconomic factors and environmental factors. Each one of these determinants works independently and interacts with each other to affect your overall health status,” says Dr. Slonim. “It takes collaboration and dedication to make a difference, and we know our community is a healthier place for all, thanks to our partners’ remarkable contributions.” “Through its community development program, Renown strives to make real and positive change for real people in our community,” said Erica Murich, executive director of Truckee Meadows Tomorrow. “Renown's support has allowed us to build and launch the NevadaTomorrow.org community data portal, our tremendously popular community conversation speaker series, and kick start our much-anticipated community report coming out fall of 2021. Renown's generosity and willingness to build bridges and partnerships has made it possible for Truckee Meadows Tomorrow to not only survive these challenging times, but to thrive and grow.” “Even in the thick of the most trying year for the medical community, Renown never lost its focus on the partnerships it’s worked hard to build on behalf of a healthier, happier community,” said Fayth Ross, executive director of Urban Roots. “We have been working with Renown since 2016, the halfway-point of our eleven years in our community, and they’ve been integral in helping us evolve our offerings: funding the creation of curriculum, helping source materials to build our farm, and the very ground the farm is on presently. Without their ability to see our mission is very clearly aligned with their own, I don’t know that Urban Roots would be in the same position it is today.” “We are so grateful to Renown Health for the community sponsorship,” said Sean Hill, vice president of advancement at Sierra Nevada Journeys. “This program provided us with start-up funding for a community needs assessment, a critical process we are undergoing to increase access to STEM and outdoor experiences for underrepresented kids and families in our community.” New to the funding application this year, all applicants will visit NevadaTomorrow.org to identify five data indicators that their organizations will use to help measure the impact of their event or program. Using this tool, applicants can access quality of life indicators—such as obesity, alcoholism, homelessness, or depression—and identify trends, challenges and opportunities in our local communities. “Every organization we support through our community events and project sponsorship makes a positive difference in our community,” said Annie Zucker, manager of community impact at Renown. “Now, every applicants is aligned to the same powerful national database to help identify credible national and state sources, down to census track level to drive their health improvement efforts and measure progress. Once their event or program is complete, they’ll be able to reflect back on the data and see the direct impact of their work. We are excited to see how they use their research to guide lasting change for our community.”  Over the years, Renown has supported hundreds of organizations throughout our community as they set out to enhance lives and create a lasting impact in the northern Nevada region. These organizations include Truckee Meadows Tomorrow, Urban Roots, Sierra Nevada Journeys, Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada, Nevada Cancer Coalition, Girls on the Run, Nevada Humane Society and many others. In 2016, Renown began to address the excessive rates of cancer, lung disease and heart disease through the launch of the country's first community-based population health study, called The Healthy Nevada Project®. To assure payment is not a barrier to health improvement, testing is offered at no charge to Nevadans. In 2019, the Healthy Nevada Project expanded to southern Nevada, with a collaboration with University Medical Center of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas. With 60,000 study participants enrolled to date, the Healthy Nevada Project® is the fastest-enrolling genetic study in the country. The Project is also the first of its kind to return clinical results to study volunteers, which means participants can learn their genetic risks tied to heart disease and certain cancers, as well as lifestyle changes that could potentially help reduce their risk and prevent disease. The research study is still open and home genetic testing kits are still available at no charge to Nevadans 18 and older at this web site. As a non-profit organization, Renown reinvests every dollar earned back to the community, in staffing, technology, treatments, training and research to improve health and prevent illness. In FY19, Renown invested almost twice what the average nonprofit hospital invested on community benefit, or almost $158 Million dollars for health education, supporting other non-profit health-related community initiatives and non-reimbursed healthcare services. Over the last five years, Renown has invested more than $8 Million dollars in community grants. Last year alone, Renown allocated $1.5 Million dollars in community grant funding. “Rooted in Nevada, Renown’s long legacy of service started in 1862 as a county hospital, Washoe Medical Center,” says David Hansen, CEO for Hometown Health. “Now, Renown Health, northern Nevada’s largest locally - governed, not-for-profit, integrated healthcare network serves the community by providing care through hospitals, medical offices, and our not- for-profit insurance plan, Hometown Health.” Funds are limited, and the organization is unable to approve every request. A request for sponsorship or funding must benefit the geographic area served by Renown Health or Hometown Health, relate to identified community health priorities and align with Renown’s mission, vision and values. A complete list of sponsorship criteria is found here. Any organization receiving previous funding needs to apply online each year for any new requests. All requests are made online between March 1 to April 30, 2021.

Read More About Renown Health Encourages Non-Profits to Apply for Sponsorships