• Urgent Care
• Employees
• Nevada

Department Spotlight: Urgent Care

By: Alana Ridge

January 28, 2025

We’ve all experienced a pesky health issue at one time or another that, while not an emergency, is annoying nonetheless. Whether it be a respiratory illness like the flu, a cold or a minor injury such as a cut or a sprain, you have likely felt the need to get seen promptly to start feeling better as soon as possible. So, where do you go? What care team can you turn to?

Answer: Renown Urgent Care. This dynamic department of doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, medical assistants, radiology technologists, practice site leaders, patient access representatives and more sees patients every day of the year both in-person and via telehealth for a diverse list of acute health conditions. For patients who need quick yet non-emergent care, the ease and convenience of walking into a practice just a short distance away is a result of our talented team at our Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Fernley and Fallon Urgent Care locations.

Immediate Care for Immediate Needs

We can all agree that virtually no one enjoys being sick. When you walk into a Renown Urgent Care location (or log onto a telehealth visit), you are there for one reason: to get well. Your entire care team shares that exact same goal, from start to finish. 

First, you walk into one of our ten Urgent Care locations and are quickly greeted by our friendly patient access representatives, otherwise known as PARs. 

“As a PAR, we greet our patients at the front and welcome them into the clinic,” said Gillian Kitchell, Patient Access Representative Lead at Renown Urgent Care – Ryland. “We make sure we communicate their symptoms effectively and privately, and we have financial conversations with them as well. Most importantly, we implement compassion and kindness in our conversations to ensure patients feel at ease when they are in our care.” 

“My role in urgent care is being the first face patients encounter when they walk in the facility,” added Denise Mosqueira, Patient Access Representative at Renown Urgent Care – Fernley. “We check in patients, print out doctor’s notes and handle the clerical side. We collect copays and payments for visits and create estimates for those who do not have active insurance or are choosing to opt out of their insurance for the visit.” 

“From the moment a patient walks in the door, I try to make them feel comfortable and cared for, regardless of if they are age 2 or 102,” added Elizabeth Kienas, Patient Access Representative at Renown Urgent Care – Damonte Ranch. “A greeting and a smile with accurate demographic and intake allowing patients to get quick healthcare is the full circle goal. We want to get them back home and resting.” 

Once you’re checked in and called back into the exam area, a medical assistant will guide you through checking your vitals and getting more information about the health issue you’re experiencing. 

“As a Medical Assistant, my day is spent rooming patients, running patient tests (swabs), assisting providers with procedures and providing excellent patient care,” said Aleassa Roberts, Certified Medical Assistant at Renown Urgent Care – Fernley. “We also scan documents into patient charts, record patient results, schedule imaging appointments and provide wound care. Most days we also perform drug screenings, EKGs and various other smaller duties throughout the day. We provide immediate first aid for emergency patients and have a working relationship with our local EMS providers. Medical Assistants wear lots of hats in Urgent Care!” 

“In Urgent Care, every day is different; in one day, we will see a variety of patients with all different symptoms,” added Chrystal Hartley, Certified Medical Assistant at Renown Urgent Care – Los Altos. “We are always busy running tests, sending out orders, drawing blood and helping assist with lacerations and procedures. Urgent care is fast paced.” 

“My day is filled with rooming patients, testing them for illness and helping providers in any way I can,” added Erin Del Porto, Certified Medical Assistant at Renown Urgent Care – Fernley. “Every day can be a little different; it just depends on the day and the patient load. Before patients arrive, a normal day starts with setting up the clinic if it hasn’t been done yet, including checking the temperatures log, unlocking doors and getting the room ready. After that, I go about my duties with checking tests and supplies; then, I huddle with the team before the day starts.” 

Soon after, your provider will come in and examine you, focusing on your specific concern and giving you laser-focused attention. Their goal is the same as yours: to get you feeling better as quickly as possible. Like any other routine provider’s visit, they will give you the best possible plan of care for your health issue, which may include rest, medications, tests or imaging. And you’ll have peace of mind knowing that the provider caring for you loves and thrives in their role at Renown Urgent Care. 

“I love working in Urgent Care because we get to provide care for patients that don’t need emergent care but also can’t get in to see their primary care provider,” said Sarah Gentile, APRN, Nurse Practitioner for Renown Urgent Care. “We have the BEST team – and sometimes we even get snacks.” 

If you end up needing to get imaging done, such as X-rays, our radiology technologists then step in to provide those diagnostic services.  

“When I get here, I do warm-ups on the X-ray equipment and ensure everything is working properly,” said Steph Hawley, Outpatient Radiology Technologist at Renown Urgent Care – Fernley. “I keep an eye on the Urgent Care patient list and take a guess on which patients will likely need imaging. I also keep an eye on walk-in patients for imaging as well as orders from our primary care office. I wait for imaging orders to be put in, and then I begin the exam on the computer and go set up the room for whatever the exam may be. I will go get the patient from their room and take them to X-ray to complete the exam. Sometimes exams aren't easy or there are obstacles. I roll with whatever happens. I am a big fan of getting the exams done as quickly as possible while still getting quality imaging. I try and keep an eye on the rooms to see if maybe they need to be cleaned for new patients. Our medical assistants are always busy, so sometimes just a little bit could help them out. I also like to fix technical things around here when they are broken, such as computers and printers. I like to work with everyone to get patient care moving.” 

“I am the radiology technologist for our Urgent Care on USA Parkway, so I take those X-rays when patients need them,” added Patricia Slupski, Outpatient Radiology Technologist for Renown Urgent Care – USA Parkway. “When I’m not busy doing my main role, I assist the patient access representatives in any way I can, from checking in patients, scheduling Occupational Health appointments, answering phone calls and sending out workers compensation paperwork to the employers.” 

Overseeing it all and helping make the magic happen are the Practice Site Leaders. Under their leadership, each Urgent Care location runs like a well-oiled machine. 

“I lead the team and help them in different areas that are needed,” said Rachel Hayes, Practice Site Leader for Renown Urgent Care – Damonte Ranch. “I make sure I deliver them with the most up to date information from our other departments and make sure they have all the tools they need to succeed. I support them and listen to them and make sure that everything runs smoothly.” 

As you can see, each member of the Urgent Care team has an important role to play during your entire visit. They are all here to Fight the Good Fight with you as you continue on your road to recovery. 

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Taking care of our patients requires taking care of each other, and at Renown Urgent Care, that is a commitment they take seriously. Teamwork is the key to the urgent care formula, and it’s a significant sense of pride for the entire department. 

“I am most proud of the teamwork that we have created here over the past three months in particular,” said Steph Hawley. “We are working well together, and the communication is really top notch now.” 

“I'm so proud of how well the medical assistants work together with the providers every day,” added Shelo Destra, Senior Medical Assistant at Renown Urgent Care – Damonte Ranch. 

“I'm proud of everything I've learned from Cindy and Claudia, our medical assistants, and Annelise, one of our PARs,” added Patricia Slupski. “I am glad to be able to help out in different ways around the site.” 

And all that focus on mastering the art of teamwork has paid off. In fact, both patients and providers alike have frequently complimented our Urgent Care team members on their efficiency and communication skills. 

“I am proud to hear patients come in after reading reviews of how quickly and efficiently we are able to help our community,” said Jennifer Stansbury, Patient Access Representative at Renown Urgent Care – North Carson. “A smile can go a long way, and we keep the smiles and laughter going.” 

“I'm proud of how well our teams works together and communicates even if the day is rough,” added Erin Del Porto. “I've gotten many compliments from providers on our teamwork as a clinic.” 

“At Ryland Urgent Care, we all have our own strengths,” added Eddy De Leon Fernandez, Medical Assistant at Renown Urgent Care – Ryland. “We see the most patients out of any urgent care facility, and we still manage to enjoy every day. My coworkers are the hardest working medical assistants. We are ready to jump into anything at any time. They have that really strong work ethic. We’re also the only Urgent Care that has pediatric providers, who are here Monday-Friday from 5-9 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. We have awesome providers and great PARs. We just have it all.” 

In Urgent Care, every day is different. Like many different departments, being pulled in different directions can happen on a daily basis. But don’t worry – they solve this by sticking together to solve any problem that comes their way. 

“I am proud that we have stuck together despite having some other employees pulled into different locations,” said Stephanie Gasperoni, Senior Certified Medical Assistant at Renown Urgent Care – Fallon. “We are a close-knit group, and I couldn't be prouder of us.” 

“I’m proud of my team for always counting on each other and working together,” added Keven Perez, Medical Assistant at Renown Urgent Care – North Carson. “I'm also truly blessed to have a great supervisor, Deanna Busch. She's amazing, and I’m thankful to have her on our team.” 

“I appreciate the collaborative and supportive team atmosphere,” added Chaunte Silva, Patient Access Representative at Renown Urgent Care – Fernley. “My role aligns well with my personal values and allows me to make a difference.” 

And there’s a lot more where that came from to be proud of, especially when it comes to caring for our community. In December 2024, all Renown Urgent Care locations started accepting patients with Medicaid, increasing access for thousands of northern Nevadans who are enrolled in Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (known as CHIP). 

“I am excited that we now take Medicaid,” said Elizabeth Kienas. “We took this step to support the community that needs it most!” 

Talk about being busy bees! With increasing patient volumes, especially for our south Reno Urgent Care teams, there is hardly ever a dull moment. They report feeling immensely thankful for the support they receive from one another. 

“Being the only urgent care in south Reno has led to some pretty busy days!” said Amanda Souza, Patient Access Representative at Renown Urgent Care – Damonte Ranch. “We routinely see over 100 patients in a day, and it’s a toss-up of how many providers we have that day, so it really comes down to the hard work the medical assistants put in.” 

“We are getting adjusted to the increasing volume in numbers at our Urgent Care,” added Chrystal Hartley. “We have been able to adapt well to the increase in the number of patients.” 

“Our clinic reaches high volumes of patients, and often times we have a lot of important decision-making events where we have to prioritize certain things," added Gillian Kitchell. 

Urgent Care is building more ways to care for our community. Recently, the team at Renown Urgent Care – Damonte Ranch underwent a major expansion, adding four rooms to the new side of their building. Despite all the construction, this team has adapted like the professionals they are. 

“My team has been extremely flexible during what feels like a never-ending remodel of our facility,” said Aleassa Roberts. “We have had to adapt to lots of changes while caring for large numbers of patients who are coming in during the flu season.” 

“I want to give a big shoutout to the medical assistants for keeping up with their increased workflow and always having a positive attitude!” added Amanda Souza. 

Even though the life of our Urgent Care employees is full of twists and turns, they never lose sight of their number one goal – helping patients feel better by providing them with the highest quality of care and service. 

“I think patients appreciate that we try to take the extra time to care for them,” said Annelise Serrano, Patient Access Representative Lead at Renown Urgent Care – USA Parkway. Patients state that they don't feel like an assembly line.” 

“In my point of view, communication and respect is key,” added Keven Perez. “We are mindful of how we speak to one another, especially in front of our patients. It’s very important. 

“The team is amazing and truly cares about their patients and the work they do,” added Rachel Hayes. “We try and ensure that every patient leaves feeling the slightest bit better even if it was just their voice being heard. No one likes not feeling well.” 

Urgent Care Wants You!

Ready to kickstart your career in healthcare? Renown Health is the place to do it – especially when it comes to Renown Urgent Care! 

Take it from our Urgent Care team members, who feel rooted with Renown’s culture, history and influence in the community. 

“I chose to work for Renown because I believe that it's important to contribute to the community's health and make people feel better,” said Gillian Kitchell.  

“I have always enjoyed helping others; Renown allows me to continue to help others,” added Jennifer Stansbury. 

“I chose to work for Renown because I love helping my community and love to see the smiles on patients when they have an answer to the symptoms,” added Chrystal Hartley. 

On top of the chance to make a true difference, employees in the Urgent Care department appreciate the many career advancement and development opportunities Renown offers, helping them grow their skillset in many different areas. 

“I chose to work at Renown because I wanted to work for a company that cares about their employees and patients alike,” said Aleassa Roberts. “The people who work at Renown make all the difference. I think we have the best around! Renown was also appealing due to the advancements in patient care and opportunities Renown has for career advancement for employees.” 

“I chose to work at Renown for the chance to develop and grow in my career,” added Rachel Hayes. “The team I have really cares about each other and the patients we see which makes for a very happy work environment.” 

Having the opportunity to make a lasting difference, especially in our rural communities, is a driving factor for this team to do the work they do every day.

“What keeps me at Renown is the difference we make, especially when it comes to the rural community and hearing them say how great their visit was,” said Patricia Slupski. 

“The medical assistants we have that are certified to do occupational health in our rural communities, the better” added Annelise Serrano. 

So, what are the traits that make a good Urgent Care team member? Some of our very own Urgent Care employees weigh in:

• “Someone who is eager to step in when you need help and support.” - Stephanie Gasperoni
• “Positive and effective communication, even when things are stressful or scary.” - Jennifer Stansbury
• “Compassion, dedication, and the desire to help patients feel better. Treating each patient with respect and giving them the time they deserve.” - Rachel Hayes
• “You must be open to help others. Use some compassion. Be willing to work together as a team. Be open to changes because things don't always go as planned.” - Steph Hawley
• “A good coworker is someone who listens to others, helps with whatever they can and is very versatile.” - Denise Mosqueira
• “Positivity, especially when the holidays bring in a lot of out-of-towners, which causes a huge uptick in patient intake.” - Amanda Souza
• “Being empathetic, communicable and approachable. Being understanding and open to learning is also important as this job comes with a lot of education.” - Gillian Kitchell
• “What makes a good coworker in Urgent Care is someone who can work as a team and work well under pressure. Someone who can adapt to changes on short notice.” - Chrystal Hartley
• “Being reliable and driven to complete your tasks.” - Chaunte Silva
• “A good coworker is a team player. Someone who is willing to help where needed and be flexible to adverse and ever-changing situations. It helps to have a good sense of humor as well.” - Aleassa Roberts
• “A great communicator who has a positive mindset and ensures they are ready for the day.” - Keven Perez
• “I believe we can teach anyone to work in Urgent Care, but we cannot teach kindness. Kindness is key. We are in a new era of employees, including myself.” - Eddy De Leon Fernandez

Discover a career that (urgent) cares about you today. Our Urgent Care team members cannot wait to meet you. 

“I was hired in April 2024, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time so far working for Renown. I've learned so much and work with some of the best people I've ever worked with. I look forward to more years of being on this team and meeting more great people,” closes Aleassa Roberts.