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In the book of life, everyone eventually reaches the final chapter. End-of-life isn’t often something a patient or loved one wants to think about. The end of someone’s life isn’t a final option – it's a privilege. At Renown Health, we have a compassionate team prepared to approach this privilege with kindness and care.    The Hospice & Palliative Care department at Renown is the best of the best. Their efforts go far beyond simply addressing physical pain; they also bring emotional and spiritual solace to patients and family members navigating the complexities of serious illness and end-of-life. This team provides crucial guidance and expert knowledge, comfort and care when it is most needed.  Bringing Dignity to the Final Days Contrary to popular belief, hospice and palliative care is not a “last resort” option for families. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. These caring professionals work hard to ensure a patient’s final days are free of pain and full of peace, rather than focused on the end. This type of care isn’t a death sentence – it's a living gift.  Each patient is involved in his or her own end-of-life process. They have a huge role in deciding on their own and with their family members how they want to live out their remaining days.  “Every team member’s daily work focuses on how to facilitate a good death for each patient,” said Tanya Prosch, Hospice Supervisor. “Ultimately, it is up to each patient’s family to be involved in this process. Every day, there is a lot of communication among team members as we prioritize the needs of our patients. As patients decline and their symptoms change, we continuously assess what topics we will discuss. This creates a beautiful back-and-forth dynamic among the team, patients and families.”  “Together, we come as a team to provide what they need, ensuring individualized care for each patient and family based on their safety and specific needs,” added Rachel Schneider, Transitional Care Specialist. “Our care plans are not cookie-cutter; they are tailored to fit each unique situation.”  The hospice team provides comfort and support to those in the final stages of a terminal illness. Hospice is focused on one main goal, which is enhancing quality of life for patients and their families.  “In general, hospice staff conduct home visits to see our hospice patients,” said Amy Nieminen, Manager of Home Health & Hospice. “We have an interdisciplinary team that includes nurses, aides, chaplains, social workers and volunteers. Together, we address both the physical and emotional, spiritual and social needs of our patients and their families at the end of life, ensuring they have a meaningful and peaceful experience. We do a lot of work with families and loved ones, providing follow-up calls and support for the patient’s caregivers after their passing. Our support extends for up to a year, with grief specialists available to help families through their loss. Additionally, we have rotating on-call nurses every night and weekend, so patients are never left without care.”  While palliative care shares similar duties to hospice care, it differs slightly. Palliative care can be involved at any stage of a serious illness, even during treatments.  “During in-home palliative care, we work with patients who may be physically ready for hospice but who are not yet psychologically, emotionally or spiritually prepared to make that transition,” said April Lennon, APRN for In-Home Palliative Care. “They may still be exploring treatment options and working with their specialists. We provide a lot of support, helping them understand the consequences and benefits of various treatments. Additionally, we focus on symptom management for patients experiencing significant pain or nausea, assisting them in managing these symptoms effectively.”  On both sides of this department, the team has the opportunity to be especially involved in their patients’ lives and in the lives of their families. Giving loved ones more time with their relative facing end-of-life is a duty that these team members take seriously.  “My job is to educate families about what’s coming next and what is happening now, as there is a lot that occurs during the death process,” said Katie Adams, Hospice Nurse Case Manager. “Families will never regret the time and effort spent during this process. We have only one chance to get this right. This is not just a random hospitalization that people will forget; it is a significant moment that everyone around the patient will remember.”  “Being able to connect more deeply with patients’ and families’ stories and their narratives about life is essential, as it provides a broader understanding beyond just the medical picture of what is happening,” added Libby Krayk, APRN for Hospice. “We explore their expanded value and belief systems to assist with decision-making, helping them make choices together. When patients are no longer distracted by pain or nausea, they can focus on their long-term desires and goals and spend more time with their families."  “Crisis intervention, social work, education, family conferences, and placement issues are all part of what we do, and it’s quite exciting,” added Donald Kamka, Social Work Care Coordinator. “You become fully invested in the lives of those you help, which is what makes this job so rewarding. This is a remarkable time in their journey, and it’s evident that everyone involved has a vested interest in it."  Naturally, many questions, worries and fears arise during this time in a patient’s life. The Hospice & Palliative Care team members are expert communicators and know exactly how to relieve some of those anxieties, prompting a more peaceful end-of-life. According to this team, it’s all about transparency and compassion.  “Our role involves helping patients navigate the healthcare system as they face death,” said April Lennon. “Home visits can range from one hour to three hours, depending on the needs of the patient and their family. We engage with entire families, including those who are out of town, coordinating care and working with many providers in the area. Our hope and goal for every patient is to ensure they understand what they are doing and why they are doing it, empowering them to make their own choices.”  “We often find ourselves addressing the most difficult information, which can sometimes be seen as the ‘elephant in the room’ that people tend to avoid,” added Libby Krayk. “I ask patients for their permission regarding what they want to know and who they would like involved in the conversation. This approach can help alleviate some of the challenges and stress they may be experiencing. Being honest and discussing matters in a way that they can understand is essential. I take the time to sit down with my patients and connect with them on a human level, rather than just a medical level.”  As a not-for-profit health system, volunteers are at the core of our mission delivery. They graciously dedicate hours out of their week to be a friendly source of help for patients. Renown’s Hospice Volunteers exude this level of kindness and more. Our employed team members attribute their volunteers as a major source of success for Renown’s hospice program.  “I believe that being a volunteer provides a role that patients perceive as non-threatening,” said Linda Derry, Hospice Volunteer. “As volunteers, patients feel more comfortable talking to us and sharing things. This dynamic allows them the freedom to express not only how they are feeling but also their fears and any other concerns they may have. It is in these moments that we can truly connect with them, as we are volunteering out of a genuine desire to sit and visit with the patients.  “When I see a patient, the focus depends on their specific needs,” added Luanne Geissler, Hospice Volunteer. “I often give family members some time to themselves to do whatever they need to do while I visit with the patient. Many of them are very talkative and eager to share their stories. For instance, one patient told me how to make a baked potato while out in the wilderness, which has become one of my favorite stories. Another patient shared her experiences about coming to America from Asia, discussing her church, her religion and her passion for baking. She would even bring bread to her doctor.”  “I have one patient whose main desire is to play chess; he has been playing for over 80 years and is still able to play very well,” added Hervey Ibarra, Hospice Volunteer. “When I visit another patient at his home, we engage in conversations about a variety of topics. Additionally, some patients ask me questions about the military and law enforcement. Whatever they want to do and discuss, that is what I focus on during our time together.”  Regardless of whether they are a provider, supporting team member or a volunteer, every person on the Hospice & Palliative Care team shares a primary focus: helping patients live their remaining days, no matter how long that may be, with dignity and comfort, surrounded by their loved ones.

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Nov. 12-18 is Health Care Strategy & Market Development Week. Please join us in celebrating the Marketing and Communications team at Renown Health!  When you think of the brand of Renown Health, what comes to mind? Perhaps you think about our Fight the Good Fight motto that you see integrated throughout our commercials and advertisements. Or maybe your mind drifts to our signature purple that you saw on a print design or social media post. You may even think of a local news story that showcases the essence of who we are as an organization. Or you may gravitate toward the look and feel of our patient-friendly website. Managing the brand of our health system is crucial as patients look to Renown to be the voice of not-for-profit healthcare – and it takes a wide range of expertise to solidify that voice.  The masters of our voice can be found within Renown’s Marketing and Communications (“MarComm”) team. From branding and business-to-business to content and community relations, this robust department is the minds behind our reputation within the communities we serve. This team is chock-full of expert writers, speakers, designers and marketers who craft positive and memorable communications that lead to a lifetime of patient and employee loyalty.  The Connoisseurs of Communicating  As the keyholders of Renown’s brand position and promise, our MarComm team are experts at ensuring the community at large remembers precisely who Renown is and what our health system stands for. This all-hands-on-deck department encompasses a wide variety of talents:  Marketing and creative services: Traditional and digital advertising, brand templates and collateral and brand image and awareness Communication and public relations: Employee and provider communications, intranet management, social media, media relations, photography and videography, community relations, crisis communications and strategic planning and advisement Digital specializations: Website and microsites, email marketing, customer journey mapping, blogs and chatbots  Our Marketing and Creative Services team members are the ultimate dreamers, starting diverse campaigns from the ground up.  “In marketing and creative services, we are always dreaming up something new,” said Emily MacMillan, Manager of Marketing & Creative Services. “Between our brand advertising, to service line campaigns to external partnerships, you can always find our team working on a marketing plan and creating ads, content, messaging, videos, graphics, emails, photoshoots and more.”  “From Fight the Good Fight brand work to a service line promotion or a sponsorship creative package, the variety of projects my role allows me to bring to life for Renown is almost endless,” added Chad Norton, Senior Creative Specialist. “That can make every day at my job nothing like the day before – which keeps things interesting and my creativity flowing.”  For all things storytelling and public image management, Renown looks to the Communications team for expert guidance.  “As the Manager of Communications, I get to lead the most talented group of professionals I have ever had the pleasure of working with,” said Caroline Ackerman, Manager of Communications & Public Affairs. “Sometimes there is an urgent matter to tend to, and we drop everything to support larger-scale communications. Other days, we get last-minute requests from our local media partners for TV interviews. On top of that, the communications team supports event planning and employee recognition. It’s so fun to work in this hybrid space where we can get our work done from home while also being present at meaningful Renown events.”  At Renown, we believe our external image is just as vital as our internal culture. Keeping our employees informed and engaged every step of the way is of utmost importance to MarComm.  “While most of our department supports projects that focus on our patients, guests and visitors, our employee communications team supports internal clients (our employees),” said Dani Vogel, Communications Business Partner. “Therefore, I spend a good portion of my time working with internal departments and service lines to deliver important communications across the organization using a variety of channels. In a nutshell, my day starts with the question, ‘what do our employees need to know today?’ We get to work with so many amazing internal teams.”  “I internally project manage some of the marketing campaigns, from open enrollment to our annual report, and each project is different and requires its own approach,” added Colleen McLellan, Senior Production Specialist. “I create the framework for each project, such as establishing a kickoff and ongoing meeting cadence during the project, ensuring we track lessons learned and decisions made for each, create the folder structure in Sharepoint, and opening a project and maintaining the tasks and deadlines in Workfront. I am also often part of a quality circle, proofing ads and other materials created as part of a campaign. As with all of my colleagues in MarComm, we are often resources for where to learn more or find information for other departments.”  “One of my roles is to maintain the Brand HQ site and review approval requests,” added Aurora Boles, Creative Services Specialist. “I enjoy hopping on Teams calls to assist our employees with their questions about the site or templates.”  Maintaining a high standard of digital excellence comes easy for the Marketing Technology team, who manage the complexities of Renown’s digital front door – starting with our website.  “Think about how many health service lines Renown has to offer; now, let's create an organized set of pages for that specific service line on Renown.org – that a lot of pages!” said Sarah LaBarge, Digital Specialist. “It takes time to curate the layout, work with providers and the Communications team to ensure the content is correct and create components and images for the page to give the user the best digital experience while continually updating and maintaining all our pages. We don't just have Renown.org; we have many other microsites that we maintain as well. It is a nice challenge to make both our team and users happy and have a good experience.” "The user experience is always at the forefront of whatever I do," added Tori Bowlin, Digital Content Editor. "When writing health blogs, emails, or health service web content, it's essential to attribute the information to one of our outstanding providers and link the post to a Renown Health Service or reputable source. A thoughtful workflow helps our customers make informed decisions regarding their health and well-being." As a not-for-profit health system, Renown reinvests right back into the community we serve. Our Community Benefit team serves as the overseers of this promise, ensuring our local non-profits that share our mission are able to deliver on their own goals.  “I absolutely love the role of community impact and partnership liaison and the opportunity it provides to work with so many wonderful local nonprofits,” said Melissa Dahir, Community Benefit Liaison. “Our local community is filled with so many organizations designed to help those in need, and it is an honor to be contributing to and supporting the work these amazing groups do. My work with this department involves partnering with nonprofit organizations by providing funding for program support through groups identified in our Community Health Needs Assessment, and providing grants for traditional events such as community walks, golf tournaments, dinners, galas and more.”  The MarComm team’s paramount focus on maintaining a caring and collaborative culture stems from the impact they have on patients' lives and the crucial trust placed in the organization. For this team, no project to benefit the health and well-being of Renown’s patients is too big nor too small.  “As someone holding a core leadership position on this team, I can see firsthand that our team is all about culture and retention,” said Cristal Woodley, Senior Director of Marketing, Communications and Customer Engagement. “At the end of the day, we have an impact on patients’ lives and trust in the organization. I’ve surrounded myself with such smart people.”

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Shining Brightly We all carry a light inside of us. Some people seem to have a constant glow while others flicker brightly here or there depending on what they’re doing or who they’re with. But for another select group, the light they embody is closer to a sunrise, illuminating and embracing everything and everyone it touches. Do you think that’s a bit heavy-handed or just a writer’s poetic exaggeration? Well, that’s because you haven’t met this issue’s featured Sterling Silver Club member, Tami, yet. But that’s about to change…  This Little Light of Mine  As an infant, Tami’s adoptive parents were drawn to her light, even though the couple had come to an orphanage in Washington state hoping to find an older child to add to their family.  “My parents always said that after seeing and holding me, they had to take me home,” Tami remembers and then smiles. “They also liked to tell the story of how they sold their prize baby bull, Johnny Apollo, to pay my adoption fees!”  Tami has fond memories of making mud pies and climbing trees as a child and feels privileged to have been raised by older parents.  “They both lived through the Great Depression and my dad proudly served in the U.S. Navy in World War ll,” says Tami. “I certainly attribute learning to love and give unconditionally through their humble ways. I had the honor of taking care of them both for about 10 years before their passing. When asked who my heroes are, though I have several, they are at the top of that list for sure.”  Today, Tami is married to her high school sweetheart, Richard. They’ve been together for 43 years and have five children – and 10 grandchildren – of their own.  Helping Others Through Darkness Tami started a highway construction business with her family in 2000, but focused 18 years of her career around her love of teaching, with seven years spent as Vice Principal of Academics at Reno Christian Academy. One of her greatest joys during that time was implementing Prime Time, a program that set aside special time for students who had experienced recent traumatic events. “I used puppets, sewing, crafts – any activity the students would respond to,” explains Tami. “But mostly, I listened.” And when one of her students shared, “I just want someone to listen to me for an hour today” – that’s what she did. “We sat on the sidewalk and ate Fudgsicles and giggled at the silliest things,” Tami recalls with some emotion. “And when we both left smiling, I was reminded that the most beautiful moments are when we are simply present with an open heart.”

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Through the Renown Health-UNR Medical School affiliation, the first academic and clinical research enterprise was created in Nevada, making Renown a destination of choice for high quality cutting edge research partnerships. The Renown Research Office supports dozens of clinical trials in a wide variety of specialties, and continues to expand our partnerships across the organization. In addition, our partnership with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Nevada Cancer Research Foundation, and the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) provides Renown with access to dozens of open oncology clinical trials, including ground-breaking treatments for many childhood cancers, studies to better understand these diseases, and trials focused around supportive care and survivorship.

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