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Department Spotlight: Infection Prevention
Hygiene in healthcare is an essential backbone to providing the safest, most optimal care to every patient. From everyday handwashing techniques and getting all necessary vaccinations to surveilling our health system before the onset of outbreaks, at Renown Health, creating and maintaining a low-infection environment is a group effort. From ensuring fundamental infection prevention practices are carried out to identifying process improvement opportunities, Renownâs Infection Prevention (IP) department is here to help care teams be successful in their role. This effort is led by members who are devoted in sharing evidence-based best practices to our patients, employees, healthcare organization partners and community. Making âZeroâ A Reality Reducing healthcare-associated infections is possible when core infection prevention practices are incorporated into the daily care of our patients. These team members are dedicated to Renownâs commitment to creating a culture of Excellence, caring for our healthcare environment, and our care teams. âOften times, when asked what we do in our work it can be a challenge to answer because unpredictability is built into almost every day; and in that, we as a team must divide and conquer,â said Susanne James, Manager of Infection Prevention. Every day, each team member is assigned a day to perform required surveillance activities. Whether they are reviewing patientsâ infections and isolation and evaluating lab orders for possible infectious processes or reporting communicable diseases to the local health authorities and the CDC, every Infection Preventionist participates in improvement projects and address issues as they arise. The Infection Prevention team plans, organizes, manages and evaluates the Infection Prevention Program and ensures IP policies reflect current best practice. They work closely with all departments at Renown in order to achieve high levels of standards that are implemented to reduce transmission of infection. âAs a team, we perform âInfection Prevention Environment of Care Roundingâ on all units and departments to ensure our environment complies with regulatory requirements,â said Erika Clark, Operations Analyst at Renown Health. "We work together with Facilities and Site Practice Leaders to ensure a safe environment.â The pandemic challenged all Renown teams to find creative solutions for issues no one ever imagined. Our Infection Prevention department worked tirelessly alongside Renown's Hospital Incident Command Structure (HICS) and care teams in creating several lines of defense against COVID-19, including: Launching Renown's Alternate Care Site to meet the need for critical patients. Bringing on the new lab tests and specimen collection criteria. Managing demand for personal protective equipment (PPE). Bringing vaccines to staff and then to the community. Managing ill employees and our visitors. Keeping all locations informed on pandemic status and changes (which were occurring at breakneck speed). These initiatives enabled Renown's care teams to focus on providing the safest care possible to patients saving countless lives. This solidified the fact that together, the team can accomplish anything. âInfection Prevention is proud to be a valued and respected member of the care team,â said Susanne James. âWe appreciate being a trusted resource and take this responsibility seriously as this enables us to provide staff the best possible tools to be successful.â Fight the Good Fight Against the Spread of Disease Educating patients and providers plays a huge part on the Infection Prevention stage. This team provides educational materials on a range of topics, some of the most important are, proper hand hygiene and the use of PPE. All these materials can be found throughout our health system and serve as an important reminder â infection prevention starts with all of us. âWe partner with every aspect of the health system â environmental services, nutrition services, lab services, facilities, pharmacy, physical therapy and occupational therapy, respiratory care, patient access, security, nurses, providers and quality...just to name a few!â said Susanne James. Our Infection Prevention team also partners with Washoe County Health District and other public health agencies to report â and in turn, stop the spread of â diseases and exposures. These close partnerships poise our team to do what we do best: Fight the Good Fight. âI greatly appreciate everyone in the IP department for sharing their expertise as I learned a new position,â said Erika Clark. âI love working with my team and how closely we work with other departments to ensure excellence in all we do.â Our health system is ever-changing. But according to the experts in our Infection Prevention department, the three main ways to prevent illness and disease that remain the same time and time again are to: Clean your hands. Hand hygiene is the most effective way of preventing the spread of infections. The CDC recommends washing your hands with warm soap and water for 15-20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Clean your hands often and assist our patients to do the same. Learn expert hand-washing advice here. Get vaccinated. Immunizations are one of the top methods you can embrace the fight against preventable diseases, such as COVID-19, flu, measles, tetanus and more. Discover how you can get vaccinated with Renown. Keep germs from spreading. Practice good hygiene by covering your cough or sneeze or wearing a mask and sanitizing frequently touched spaces. Stay home if you feel ill to prevent the spread of illness and infection. Be sure to bring up any illness concerns with your primary care provider. âEvery aspect of our health system has an infection prevention component, and we work daily to ensure our staff, patients and visitors are providing and receiving care free from potential harm or infections,â said Susanne James. âWe are often the first call staff make when they have questions, concerns or just need someone to help improve process or outcomes.â Reveling with Renown Proudly defining themselves as a âsmall but mightyâ team, the six-person Infection Prevention department moves mountains to ensure the safety of anyone who walks through Renownâs doors. The tight-knit nature of this team can be felt from miles away, and to them, being âsmall but mightyâ is not a hindrance, as they have the support of the IP Champions and the entire health system. Â âI originally came to Renown in 2018 as a nurse traveler, the facility and people I worked with immediately made an impact on me,â said Brian Stroud, Infection Preventionist at Renown Health. âMy wife and I chose Renown and Reno due to the positive impact the people had on us. Everyone is welcoming, helpful and caring. Now, I am a full-time employee, and the team has made my transition into infection prevention trouble-free." Renownâs mission of providing a genuine difference for the health and wellbeing of the community is heightened and echoed by the Infection Prevention team. âI chose Renown because of the reputation Renown has earned in the community because of the excellent care and level of services provided,â said Shannon Oriola, Infection Preventionist at Renown Health. âI absolutely love this team and my Renown family!â âWhat brought me to Renown was the opportunity to acquire diverse skills which then motivated me to pursue my masterâs degree,â added Paul DeLeon, Infection Preventionist at Renown Health. âWhat keeps me here is the people â Renown attracts hard working, ethical and caring people.â "My wife and I loved coming out to the Nevada mountains on vacations," added Russ Laarman, Infection Preventionist at Renown Health. "After being in Michigan for 47 years, we took the plunge and made NV our home. The experience has been great! I work with a great team that is very knowledgeable and works hard to ensure positive outcomes for our patients and colleagues at Renown.â Their pride shines through with their own individual accolades, both inside and outside of work. This past year: Shannon Oriola received a scholarship from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) for âimproving outcomes through knowledge and practice,â which provided her with a $1,000 scholarship to attend the annual APIC conference in Indianapolis. Paul DeLeon earned his Certification in Infection Control and Prevention from APIC. Erika Clark completed Renownâs High Potential program, a six-month program that gives employees hands-on learning experience with several competencies, including emotional intelligence, effective communication, building successful relationships and organizational knowledge. Brian Stroud and his wife Charla became official Nevada residents. Russ Laarman scaled Mount Whitney. ...And the list keeps growing! Charged with the goal of keeping disease spread at bay, our Infection Prevention team remains vigilant and dedicated to their mission. Their commitment to Renown and to keeping our health system clean and healthy proves the age-old saying true: not all heroes wear capes. âIâm so very proud of the work Infection Prevention does every day, working with the vast teams throughout the health system to improve lives,â said Susanne James. âWe would like to thank all of you for protecting the health and safety of your colleagues, our patients and the community.â
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Stroke Survival as a Warrior â Kimi's Story
It seemed like a normal Wednesday, except Kimi Woolsey was feeling really stressed. On Sept. 4, 2019 she was rushing to get ready for an appointment when suddenly, she could not feel her legs. Kimi immediately knew something was wrong and called out to her fiancĂŠ, Paul, for help. After seeing a bright light in her right eye, she felt a severe, sharp pain in her head traveling down into her leg. Paul quickly called 911, the EMTâs arrived and her stroke survival journey began. At first the medical team thought she had a complicated migraine, but one of them suspected a stroke. On the way to the hospital Kimi felt numbness and her face drooping, then instantly, no pain. For a moment she thought she was dying, going from pain to numbness and realizing she couldnât move or speak. Kimi didnât know she was having another massive stroke in transit. Each year nearly 800,000 people in the U.S. suffer a stroke, or âbrain attackâ â thatâs one every 40 seconds. Of those, about 75% occur in people over age 65. However, at only 45 years old, Kimi is proof that a stroke can happen at any age. Stroke Survival Begins for Kimi Upon arriving at the emergency department of Renown Regional Medical Center the Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center team went into action. Kimi received a brain MRI, then was wheeled into surgery for a thrombectomy (clot removal). She was in the intensive care unit for 11 days. She remembers someone telling her, âGenerally people donât survive this magnitude of stroke.â And a doctor saying, âYou are here for a reason.â Kimiâs comeback journey began with the comprehensive care team at Renown Rehabilitation Hospital. âLiterally I had the best day of my life that first day thereâŚI was so happy because I couldnât imagine being in a safer place with people that literally live for you,â she recalls. During her 41 days there, her biggest milestone was being able to get out of bed and walk. For Kimi the support she felt at the rehab hospital was key to her progress, âI still feel loved and appreciated and theyâre rooting for me still and I can feel it.â Although she left the rehab hospital on Oct. 18, 2019, she is still working on improving the left side of her body. Currently Kimi works with therapists in outpatient physical rehabilitation sessions, continuing to see improvement in both her hand and leg. Her advice to those currently in a rehab hospital setting is, âStay as long as you can to get the most out of it and push, push, push.â Kimiâs Stroke Survival as a Warrior âHaving a stroke is not for the faint of heart,â says Kimi. She experienced despair and felt discouraged. Many days she would ask herself, âWhy am I here?â Today she proudly calls herself a stroke warrior and refuses to be a victim of her stroke. Alongside her tenacious spirit, Kimi actively helps others on their stroke survival journey. Before her stroke she never dreamed of starting a non-profit foundation. Now, each day youâll find her texting inspiration to others, offering advice and connecting with other struggling stroke survivors on her Facebook page, Stroke Warrior Recovery Coach. Her goal is to become the person she needed to talk to after her stroke; she currently coaches several stroke survivors. âStroke survivors need to know that they arenât alone. Mental support and encouragement are so important for each personâs stroke journey,â Kimi said. Along with the physical changes, Kimi feels the stroke magnified her empathy. âI was always in a hurry in my life. People didnât go fast enough for me â on the road, at the grocery store, in a line. Now I have more patience with myself and others." Kimi realizes most people cannot wrap their brain around the concept of a stroke. In fact, the brain fog, physical challenges and frustration are hard to explain⌠unless youâve experienced them. âYou need to find your tribe,â she explains. âI have a passion for helping people through this process.â Most of all, she encourages people to keep going and never stop. After her stroke, Kimi has a greater appreciation for her family, health and life. She is one of the patients featured in the current âFight The Good Fightâ trauma and physical rehab advertising campaign. âI wake up every day and fight,â she asserts. âEach day you have to fight for your recovery and fight for yourself.â
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Heart Attack Survivor Fights the Good Fight
Something wasnât right. Even though it was the holiday season, on December 23, 2018, Mondo Corona didnât feel goodâŚnot to mention his sudden earache. Although Christmas was a happy celebration with his family. He still felt tired. Was it the flu? And that darn earache wouldnât go away. On that cool winter day, Mondo could not imagine he was near death. Or that he would become a heart attack survivor. Know Your Heart A few days later, on December 27, he wasnât feeling any better. He decided to go to the emergency room at Renown Regional Medical Center. Thatâs when a simple blood test revealed shocking results. âI thought about death a lot. I was calling people to ask them to help take care of my family if I wasnât going to be here anymore,â he emotionally confesses. Although Mondo loves his job as a railroad engineer, it involves on-call shifts and an erratic sleep schedule. At that time his exercise and eating habits werenât the best either. Yet he never imagined he would have a massive, often lethal, type of heart attack called âthe widowmaker.â In fact, his family had been concerned about his health for awhile. âHe worked so much and he didnât take care of himself and he didnât exercise â he was burning the candle at both ends,â shares his wife, Alison. His daughter Justice, an avid exerciser, was always encouraging him to join her at the gym, but could never quite convince him. Mondo remembers the time before he became a heart attack survivor. âI didnât have any exercise whatsoever in my life. At that point my eating habits were just terrible,â he shares. He went to the emergency room due to his earache, but nothing was found until one of the doctors ordered some tests. Specifically blood work showed high troponin levels. Troponin is a blood protein often released in large amounts when the heart muscle has damage, sometimes by a heart attack. Heart Attack Survivor âMy surgeon came in and told us that it was going to be a triple bypass â that three of the fourâŚmajor arteries were clogged 100 percent,â Mondo explains. Amazingly his heart was pumping on only 10 percent blood flow. Heart surgeon, Joseph Brandl, MD, told him he survived a widowmaker heart attack. This type of heart attack happens when there is a 100 percent blockage in the critical left anterior descending artery (LAD) of the heart. Frequently the symptoms can often be mistaken for the flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every 40 seconds a person in the U.S. has a heart attack. And 1 in 5 heart attacks are âsilentâ â meaning you can be a heart attack survivor, but not know it. For Mondoâs children, seeing their strong father struggle after heart surgery was difficult. Justice tearfully shares, âIt was really hard seeing him so vulnerable. He really needed anybodyâs and everybodyâs help at that point.â A Heart Attack Survivor Program After leaving the hospital on January 5, 2019, he was extremely weak. On February 12, Mondo began Renown Healthâs Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation (ICR) Program called the Healthy Heart Program. This program, requiring a doctor referral, includes 12 weeks of supervised exercise along with nutrition education and stress management skills. In spite of heart disease being the leading cause of death in the U.S. â more than all cancers combined, the risk can be lessened with daily lifestyle habits. Mondo credits the ICR program with motivating him and getting his focus back on his health. He saw the team members setting an example and also caring about his health. He describes one of his favorite recipes, âIn ICR Sara showed us how to make this incredible fruit salad, with jicama, watermelon, grapes, oranges, red onion, and ginger!â Of course, the recovery process was not overnight. âIt did take a long time to really realize that he was going to be back to normal, that he was going to be okay and that he was going to be that strong provider for me and my children,â Alison reflects. âMondoâs had an amazing outcome and heâs not limited in his activities at all and should hopefully have a life thatâs not limited at all from heart disease as weâre monitoring everything and everythingâs looking good,â reports his heart doctor Jayson Morgan, MD. Mondo describes his care experience being a heart attack survivor as life-changing. âThe care teams at both Renown and ICR were incredible. There wasnât a single person we came across who didnât immediately become a part of the family. They truly cared for us, all of us, including the extended family that came to visit. They were informative and supportive. I felt like I created lasting bonds with so many of them, especially the gang in ICR. What amazing people.â Lynice Anderson, Director of Intensive Cardiac Rehab, Healthy Heart Program, shares,â Mondo is one of the most genuine, thoughtful and humble people I have ever met. His love for his family is palpable. His impact on me personally and our team is forever.â She acknowledges family support is key to his success, âMondoâs family is his rock and they are his. I have never met a family that was so âall inâ in the support of their loved one. His new heart healthy lifestyle is modeled through his family every day.â Fighting The Good Fight Of course, Mondo may look familiar to you. Thatâs because he is featured in Renown Healthâs âFight The Good Fightâ brand campaign. For this reason, you may have seen him in advertising working out on a treadmill, shirtless, with his open heart surgery scar in full view. When asked how he feels about showing his scar he confidently says, âI donât mind showing it to people. I donât. I earned that scar.â He is a proud heart attack survivor. Today, heâs grateful to be alive and takes his health commitment seriously. âThings have a different feel now. The skies and lakes are bluer and the trees greener. My family is so much more a part of my day. We go on so many more outdoor adventures, trying to incorporate a little exercise into our fun. We watch what we eat more and are trying to teach our children and loved ones about healthy choices. And I think with a few weâve even been successful!â he observes. âDonât take life for granted.â âUnconditional love. I get nothing but support from my family without them I wouldnât be where Iâm at. What happened to me definitely makes me a fighter for sure. Iâm fighting for my life â the good fight â I think life is good,â he adds.
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Winterize Your Skin with These 5 Easy Expert Tips
Winter skin alert â cold temperatures can put your skin into chaos. We asked for skin tips from Heidi Nicol, an esthetician with Renown Dermatology, Laser & Skin Care. She shares how to keep your skin glowing through the frosty months ahead. With the change from warm to cold weather, your skin can get stressed out. In fact, issues like flaky skin, irritation and chapped lips can be an everyday struggle. 5 Easy Winter Skincare Tips 1. Re-think your shower Few things feel better on a cold day than a long, hot shower. But hot showers can lead to dry skin because they strip your skin of its natural protective oils. Avoiding them altogether is best â choose a lukewarm, or warm, shower instead. If you have an occasional hot shower, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) suggests keeping it at five to ten minutes. Nicol recommends using a gentle cleanser and avoid using too much. Moisturizing after a shower or bath while your skin is still damp is also a must. Slathering on your favorite lotion helps your skin hold on to precious moisture. 2. Stay away from smoke and fire Although sitting close to a roaring fireplace can feel good, it is drying to your skin. Smoking and exposure to smoke also harms your skin. Smoking reduces healthy blood flow to the skin. This also causes your skin to wrinkle faster, making you looker older. Additionally your skin heals much slower if you smoke. 3. Consider a humidifier Cranking up the thermostat dries out indoor air. Skin is our largest organ, and in general, heat is very drying to your skin. To clarify, over time dry air degrades your skinâs natural moisture (lipid) barrier leading to flaking, peeling and cracking. Your skin can overcompensate for the dryness by producing even more oil. In other words it is possible for your skin to be both oily and dehydrated at the same time. Even oily skin needs a daily lightweight, non-pore clogging moisturizer. 4. Use SPF daily The sunâs rays damage your skin even on cloudy days. Sunlight contains UVB (burning) and UVA (aging) rays. Although UVB rays are less strong in the winter, the UVA rays are same strength all year. And snow can reflect almost 90% of UV radiation. With this in mind make sure you have suitable skin and eye protection when going outdoors. 5. Take care of your hands and feet Donât forget your fingers and toes when moisturizing. These areas tend to be drier than other parts of the body. Gloves help to protect hands from winter weather and lock in moisture. Similarly, putting lotion on your feet before your socks will keep them your skin from flaking and cracking. Follow the tips above to make sure your skin is at its best, despite the winter weather. Renown Dermatology, Laser & Skin Care | 775-982-8255 Renown Dermatology, Laser & Skin Care offers a comprehensive range of treatments and products to address any skin care need. Visit our beautiful office in south Reno and browse our product lines. Experts are available to answer any questions concerning your skin care and health and wellness needs.
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Prevent Breakouts by Keeping Your Makeup Tools Clean
Did you know that your makeup brushes are likely full of built-up dirt and bacteria? Using dirty makeup tools can lead to irritation, breakouts and even infections. The good news? It's completely preventable. An expert explains For anyone who regularly wears makeup, brushes are great tools for powdering, contouring and finishing touches. Unfortunately, these same brushes also harbor harmful bacteria that can clog pores and cause unwanted breakouts. âBrush hairs and sponges are porous, and hold on to oils, debris and bacteria,â says Heidi Nicole, medical esthetician with Renown Dermatology, Laser & Skin Care. âAlso, if they are dirty, the application of makeup can be spotty and make blending more difficult." Most dermatologists suggest that you clean your makeup brushes at least once a week. Because they are used on your face, it makes sense to keep them as a clean as possible. In addition, your brushes will last longer if you stay on top of cleaning them. Six simple steps to integrate makeup brush care into your beauty routine: Wet your brush with lukewarm water. (Donât soak your brushes, as water in the brush barrel can cause the hairs to fall out.) Place a drop of gentle cleanser or specialized brush cleaner in the palm of your hand. Gently massage the tips of the bristles on your palm. Rinse the bristles well. Blot with a clean towel and reshape the head. Let the bristles dry over the edge of a counter. Do not allow the bristles to dry on the towel, which could cause the brush to mildew. Store your brushes in a clean, dry place in between uses.
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From Cancer Survivor to Caregiver
Meet Haley Carroll Being a new nurse comes with many challenges and gaining experience is a journey, but Haley Carrollâs first day on the job was far from her first day in a hospital. Haley was diagnosed with lymphoma right before her senior year of high school, and she was declared cancer-free on December 2, 2015. Inspired by the incredible care she received during her cancer treatments and during her time at Renown Childrenâs Hospital, Haley enrolled in nursing school at the University of Nevada, Reno. She graduated in December 2020, just five years after beating cancer. âIâve always been interested in nursing,â Haley says. âBut once I was diagnosed and began to see everything that my nurses did for me, I knew that thatâs what I wanted to do for patients, too.â
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The Road to Recovery Close to Home
Meet Connor Smith Life was hectic for Connor Smith. He had just finished at the top of his class at both the fire academy and paramedic school and was looking forward to starting work in northern Nevada. It was winter 2019, and he was ready to have some fun. The plan was to ride ATVs at Sand Mountain with his brother Cody, dad Lance and some friends, but a jump would change everything. Connorâs ATV took off but landed awkwardly, and he remembers immediately knowing he was paralyzed. Connorâs mom, Dana Shugar, was at home when she received the upsetting call from Cody, who told her he had an accident. Connor was flown to Renown Regional Medical Center, the areaâs only Level II Trauma Center. After a seven-hour emergency surgery, Dana learned that Connor would live but only had a slight chance of walking again due to a spinal fracture. âThe surgeon saved his life. Itâs amazing how your life can change in a matter of seconds,â she said. Once his condition stabilized, Connor moved to the Renown Rehabilitation Hospital and began physical rehabilitation. âThank God for the people at rehab,â Dana said. âDr. Pence, the therapists, nurses and all the employees were a wonderful support system, explaining everything and answering all our questions. The kindness they showed got me through.â Connor agrees, calling the Renown rehab team nothing short of amazing.
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A Family's Legacy
Dr. Derek Beenfeldt first joined the Renown family in 2014 as a family medicine physician after graduating from University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine (UNR Med) in 2011. His son Davis was only 10 years old when Dr. Beenfeldt decided to change careers and attend medical school. Ten years later, Davis is following in his dadâs footsteps as a third year student at UNR Med. âI am proud of Davis for taking on the challenges and the commitment that I know goes along with attending medical school,â Dr. Beenfeldt said. âI also feel lucky that we have a medical school with such a great reputation and resources close to home.â The affiliation is a great source of pride for Dr. Beenfeldt. Not just because two important organizations in his life are joining forces, but he also sees it as both entities taking on an immense responsibility â the challenge to be better for incoming students, and subsequently to improve healthcare in Nevada. Davis is currently going through his rotations and spending countless hours a week at Renown Regional. His dad is right there by his side supporting him along the way. âIt has been really interesting to have discussions about the UNR medical school with Davis, I recognize the names of many of the professors and courses from when I was a student,â Dr. Beenfeldt said. âI tried to be empathetic, as I can relate to how difficult and stressful this time is for him. Dr. Beenfeldt currently works as chief medical officer for Renownâs insurance arm Hometown Health, and Davis is still browsing specialties. âI donât know what kind of medicine I want to focus on yet, but I feel lucky that I can attend medical school so close to home and have the option to continue helping my fellow Nevadans after I graduate.â UNR Med at a Glance UNRâs Medical School was established in 1969 Over the last 50 years, UNR Med has educated 3,900+ physicians More than 30% of UNR Med physician graduates continue to practice in Nevada UNR Med is the stateâs oldest medical school
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Reliable Care From Home
Renown Health has always been on the frontlines of technological advancement, and that innovation remained unwavering during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our telehealth teams heeded the call to provide home monitoring for our patients, transforming how we provide care. The care providers at Renown successfully monitored lower acuity COVID-19 patients from the comfort of their own homes. Bernard Lee was diagnosed with COVID-19 and pneumonia, and was able to return home to continue his recovery with a home monitoring system. While at home, Bernardâs health took a turn for the worse while he was sleeping, but thanks to the continuous monitoring of Health at Home, his worsening vitals did not go unnoticed. âThis monitoring system really saved my life,â Bernard said. âIt was telling me that my sats were low, but I didnât even feel the common COVID symptoms; I just felt tired.â Because of his low oxygen saturation (sats) and the continuous monitoring, he woke up to providers calling to check on him in the early morning. He was immediately transferred to the Renown Intensive Care Unit to be cared for and monitored by our expert care teams. Today Bernard is recovering, feeling great and continuously refers to the team and the home monitoring system as his guardian angels.
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11 Easy Ways to Prep Your Skin for Spring
As we begin to enjoy the springtime weather in northern Nevada, are you finding your skin less than tip-top shape? Hereâs how to add moisture back in easy, natural ways. You donât need to be a medical aesthetician: Dry, cold climates can often wreak havoc on your bodyâs largest organ â your skin. These tips from Renown Dermatology, Laser & Skin Care will quickly put moisture back and relieve dry, chapped skin. 11 Miraculous Moisturizing Tips Always wear broad-spectrum sunscreen, even during winter months. Donât forget to use an SPF lip balm, too. Heaters dry out your skin. Use a humidifier to keep moisture in the air. (And try these simple tips to make sure youâre keeping that humidifier clean.) If your skin is dehydrated, try using a nighttime moisturizer during the day. Use a hydrating mask or moisturizing mask twice a week. Donât forget your hands and feet. Apply a rich cream to the hands and feet at night and cover them with gloves and socks to restore moisture while you sleep. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Try adding a hydrating serum to your morning and nighttime skincare routine to heal the skin. Use a gentle exfoliant to remove dry skin at least once a week, which helps your skin absorb your moisturizer. Apply body oil or lotion in the shower while your skin is still damp to trap moisture. Hot water dries out your skin, so turn down the temperature in the shower and bath. Â A little pampering goes a long way, and Renownâs medical aestheticians are here to help. Trained in skincare and advanced therapies, our experts can transition your skin to look healthy, youthful and rejuvenated.
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Meet Gabby, Renown Regional ER Nurse and Miss Rodeo Nevada
Renown Health is proud to embrace the Reno-Sparks culture that makes our community stand out, which is why we sponsor the Reno Rodeo, an early summer staple with roots in the community as deep as our own. One of our many ties with the Reno Rodeo includes Renown Regionalâs own emergency room nurse and Miss Rodeo Nevada 2022, Gabby Szachara. A Reno native, Gabby developed a love for the Reno Rodeo at a very young age. âI loved watching the girls on the Reno Rodeo Flag Team when I was little and knew I wanted to be part of the Reno Rodeo someday,â said Gabby. âAs I got older, I started to make connections and build relationships with some people in the rodeo scene, and they generously lent me their horses so I could participate in the Reno Rodeo Flag Team.â Gabby was on the flag team for three years before being crowned Miss Rodeo Nevada 2022 last year. Before joining the Reno Rodeo Flag Team, Gabby was a student at the University of Nevada, Reno, and a member of the womenâs volleyball team. In December 2017, she graduated with a bachelorâs degree in public health. At first, Gabby was interested in a career in sports medicine â it made sense with her background in athletics. But, after working in the medical field as a certified nurse assistant and an emergency medical technician, she grew passionate about patient care and decided she wanted to become a nurse. âIâve always loved teamwork and helping others,â said Gabby. âItâs important to me to be there for others, especially when it might be their worst day.â In December 2021, Gabby graduated from Truckee Meadows Community College with a nursing degree and joined Renown Health this February. âI love Renown for various reasons. Everyone here is so nice and welcoming, and there is a great team dynamic,â said Gabby. âAnd I love that Renownâs main color is purple because that is my favorite!â When Gabby isnât in her scrubs and caring for patients, she is in western wear and carrying out her duties as Miss Rodeo Nevada. âI do a lot of traveling across the country to attend other rodeos,â said Gabby. âI enjoy meeting so many wonderful people and experiencing the culture of different states.â Gabbyâs main goals as Miss Rodeo Nevada are to promote the western way of life, agriculture, rodeo and community benefit. In addition, she visits local schools to talk with kids about how they can get involved in these areas and inspires them to turn their dreams into reality. Gabby has a special place in her heart for the Reno Rodeo. âReno is my home, and the Reno Rodeo is the heart and soul of summer in northern Nevada. Everyone comes together and dusts off their boots to have fun and also contribute money to important causes in our community,â said Gabby. âI love the comradery, the friendly and healthy competition and the great people.â If youâre going to the Reno Rodeo this weekend, watch for Gabby and her horse, âTorque.â And if you see Gabby in the halls at Renown Regional, give her a high-five for all her hard work as a nurse and Miss Rodeo Nevada!
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Are You Using the Right Sunscreen?
You want to protect yourself and your family from the harmful rays of the sun â which are especially punishing at northern Nevadaâs higher altitudes â but with so many options, how do you choose the right sunscreen? We asked our expert, Dr. Angela Walker, a dermatologist with Renown Medical Group, to shed some light on the subject. Sunscreen Application Dermatologists recommend a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30, but keep in mind that no sunscreen protects against 100 percent of UV radiation and that reapplication is necessary. âNo matter the SPF, sunscreen must be applied adequately and frequently, meaning a quarter-sized amount to cover the face and neck and a full shot glass amount for the body when wearing a bathing suit,â said Walker. âReapplication should be every 80 minutes.â Why not use a high SPF, such as 70 or 100? According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, they donât offer significantly more protection than SPF 30 and mislead people into thinking they have a higher level of protection. Hereâs the breakdown: SPF 15 blocks 93 percent of UVB rays SPF 30 blocks 97 percent of UVB rays SPF 50 blocks 98 percent of UVB rays SPF 100 blocks 99 percent of UVB rays Do specific populations require a higher SPF? Walker explains that infants, seniors, and those with a history of skin cancer must take precautions against UV radiation, as their skin is vulnerable. Sunscreen should be an absolute priority before spending time outdoors and avoiding prolonged sun exposure, wearing a hat with wide brim (recommended 4-inch brim) and UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) clothing. Due to the sensitive nature of an infantâs skin, babies under six months should not spend time in the direct sun. For infants and toddlers six months and older, whose skin is thinner than adults, a sunscreen that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (physical protectors) should be applied. Zinc and titanium are less likely to irritate because they do not penetrate the skin and instead sit on the surface and deflect UV radiation. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are vital ingredients to seek out in sunscreen due to their strong ability to deflect UV radiation. Sunscreen Terms Explained UVA = Long wave ultraviolet light. Penetrates deep into the dermis, the skinâs thickest layer, causing tissue damage that wrinkles and photo-aging and contributes to developing skin cancer. UVB = Short wave ultraviolet light. The biggest contributor to the development of skin cancer and are more prevalent during mid-day. SPF = Sun protection factor. Calculated by comparing the amount of time needed to burn sunscreen-protected skin vs. unprotected skin. So, SPF 15 means you can stay in the sun 15 times longer than you could without protection.