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Hospital safety grade reflects top national performance on patient safety through COVID pandemic. Renown South Meadows Medical Center in South Reno has earned an “A” Spring 2023 Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group. This national distinction recognizes Renown Health’s achievements in prioritizing patient safety by protecting patients from preventable harm and errors. The Leapfrog Group is an independent, nonprofit, national watchdog organization that upholds the standard of patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. It assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country. Grades are based on more than 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, and systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm. The new grades primarily reflect performance during the height of the pandemic. “We all play a role in protecting the health and safety of our patients,” said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Renown Health. “As the only locally governed not-for-profit healthcare network in the region, Renown’s success is shared with our patients and community. We celebrate and thank our physicians, nurses, and caregivers for their continued focus on making a genuine difference in the health and well-being of the people and communities we serve.” “At Renown, safety is the number one priority for everyone that comes through our doors,” said Jen Walker, MSN, RN, Vice President, Quality for Acute Services. "The hard-working staff at each facility, who day in and day out provide the best patient-centered care, also demonstrate clinical expertise, service and compassion. This has helped us achieve well-deserved high ratings across the system.” “We work to ensure that the care that our physicians, nurses and caregivers provide is of the highest quality, and safe, effective, people-centered, timely, equitable and efficient,” said Ross Albright, MD, Medical Director of Quality & Patient Safety, and the South Meadows Medical Center Emergency Department. “High-quality health care helps prevent disease and improve the quality of life. That is truly important to everyone on our team, and we are pleased to be nationally recognized for our efforts.” “Every day, we make choices about where we shop, who we bank with, what cars we drive, and what doctors we see. Yet despite our consumer culture, some people aren't aware they can choose what hospital they go to,” said Bret Frey, MD, President of Northern Nevada Emergency Physicians, a 65-physician group at Renown Health. “Your choice of hospital could be a life-or-death decision. Hospitals vary greatly on things like infection rates, surgical errors or patient injuries—and choosing to receive treatment by Board-Certified physicians, ER wait times, patient satisfaction rates, and other measures are important for consumers to know and consider when choosing an ER and a hospital.” “The Leapfrog ratings reflect the staff and system’s commitment to providing the highest quality of care for patients,” said Susan Lee, DO, MBA, Chief Operations Officer, Renown South Meadows. “Earning ‘A’ ratings showcases the commitment both physicians and staff demonstrate every day. We are proud to continue to deliver the best care possible to every patient.” “I applaud the hospital leadership and workforce for their strong commitment to safety and transparency,” says Leah Binder, President and CEO, The Leapfrog Group. “An ‘A’ Safety Grade is a sign that hospitals are continuously evaluating their performance so that they can best protect patients. Your team should be extremely proud of their dedication and achievement.” Developed under the guidance of a national expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,700 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public. Renown South Meadows also received a Leapfrog A score in Fall 2021 and Spring 2020. Renown Regional Medical Center received a B score for Spring 2023. For more information on the Leapfrog Group and the Spring 2023 scores, please visit: hospitalsafetyscore.org. About The Leapfrog Group Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps for patient safety. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections. About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination, and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health

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

U.S. News & World Report provides rankings. U.S. News & World Report recently released their 2020-21 Best Hospitals rankings naming Renown South Meadows Medical Center as the number one hospital in Nevada. U.S. News looked at 4,554 hospitals, which represent nearly all U.S. facilities providing inpatient care. Hospitals are evaluated across a wide range of conditions and procedures, including 16 medical specialty areas of care. “We are committed to be among the best in the nation for quality, safety and patient experience,” said Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, FACHE, president and CEO of Renown. “This ranking confirms what Renown has always been 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 Renown South Meadows has been chosen as the best in the state and among the best in the nation.”  “We thank the incredible physicians, nurses and employees at Renown South Meadows Medical Center and across Renown for their dedication to excellent patient care – our employees, patients and our community are the true award winners,” said Chris Nicholas, Vice President & Administrator, Renown South Meadows & Renown Rehabilitation Hospital. “We applaud them as being not only the best in the state, but among the best in the nation.”  “We are proud that Renown South Meadows is one of Nevada’s highest rated hospitals, and it’s exciting to have that recognition. Over the last year both our acute care hospitals – South Meadows and Renown Regional Medical Center, have made substantial improvements. We are working every day to ensure we are delivering the highest quality, safest care to our patients and our community,” said Dawn D. Ahner, DSc, FACHE, Chief Operating Officer — Acute Services for Renown. Renown South Meadows has been recognized by several national organizations for excellence and quality, including the Joint Commission, Leapfrog and Health Insight. Renown South Meadows Medical Center is an Accredited Chest Pain Center, and a Pathway Designated hospital for nursing excellence. Renown South Meadows provides an emergency department staffed 24/7 with board-certified emergency physicians, a wide range of services including primary and urgent care medical offices, a lab and health improvement programs. Renown is currently recruiting outstanding employees at https://careers.renown.org/.     About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally owned and governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown’s institute model addresses social determinants of health and includes: Child Health, Behavioral Health & Addiction, Healthy Aging and Health Innovation. Clinical institutes include: Cancer, Heart and Vascular Heath, Neurosciences and Robotic Surgery. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®. For more information, visit renown.org. About U.S. News & World Report U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. A digital news and information company focused on Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars and News, USNews.com provides consumer advice, rankings and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Read More About Renown South Meadows Medical Center Named #1 Hospital in NV

Healthgrades deems the region's only trauma center among the top 5 percent in the nation for overall clinical experience. Healthgrades, a leading national resource for trusted information about physicians and hospitals, recently announced award recipients of 2021 America's 250 Best Hospitals™. Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nev. is recognized among the top hospitals in the nation for consistently providing outstanding, quality care. Healthgrades® determines this distinction based on clinical quality outcomes for 32 conditions and procedures. Patients treated at America’s Best Hospitals are more likely to experience a successful treatment without major complications. “I am honored to lead and support dedicated healthcare heroes who are working tirelessly to make a genuine difference in the health and well-bring of every patient and family we serve,” said Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, FACHE, President and CEO of Renown. “We understand our patients place a great deal of trust in our caregivers with every visit they make to Renown medical practices and our hospitals. This recognition from Healthgrades confirms patients are well-served by Renown providers. I am pleased to join our community in honoring Renown Regional Medical Center as one of the best hospitals in the nation.”  “As the only accredited trauma center between Sacramento and Salt Lake City, we receive and care for patients with varying health needs from over 100,000 square miles. Our communities depend on Renown Regional Medical Center for skilled and compassionate care,” said Erik Olson, MHA, Chief Executive Officer of Renown Regional Medical Center. We are proud of our talented healthcare teams who are committed to producing the best possible health outcomes for our patients, so they can get back to living their best lives.” “Whether a patient is in need of a procedure to help treat a stroke, heart attack, sepsis or pneumonia, they should feel confident in the quality care they experience at Renown,” said Paul Sierzenski, MD, MSHQS, CPE, FACEP, Chief Medical Officer, Acute Services. “Having a specialty-trained team of physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, care managers, physical and occupational therapists around the clock means, regardless of the illness or injury, a patient will be treated with the highest degree of care right away, significantly improving their health outcomes.” “Considering the many challenges and obstacles presented to our hospital during the last year, recognizing our dedicated healthcare teams has never been more important,” said Amy McCombs, MSN, RN, CCRN, CNML, Vice President of Quality, Acute Services, at Renown. “I applaud our caregivers’ unwavering commitment to the highest level of care and safety for our patients, and their ability to save lives amidst adversity.” Renown is recognized by several national organizations for quality and excellence, including U.S. News & World Report, American Stroke Association, Joint Commission, American College of Surgeons and the American College of Radiology. Renown’s Roseview, Sierra and Cardiac Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are the only ICUs in Nevada to receive the Beacon Award of Excellence from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Renown is currently recruiting outstanding employees at careers.renown.org.        About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, local not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 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.   About Healthgrades Healthgrades is dedicated to empowering stronger and more meaningful connections between patients and their healthcare providers. At Healthgrades, we help millions of consumers each month find and schedule appointments with their provider of choice. With our scheduling solutions and advanced analytics applications, we help our health system and life sciences clients cultivate new patient relationships, improve patient access, and build customer loyalty. At Healthgrades, better health gets a head start.

Read More About Renown Regional Medical Center Recognized As One of America's Best Hospitals

Best hospital for patients with complex, life-threatening or rare conditions; rated highest in NV in eight specialty areas. US News & World Report recently released their 2021 Best Hospital rankings naming Renown Regional Medical Center as the number one hospital in Nevada. No other hospitals in the state met their stringent standards for the 2021 rankings. The 2021-22 Best Hospitals rankings are drawn from a universe of 4,523 facilities, representing nearly all U.S. hospitals providing inpatient care. Hospitals are evaluated across a wide range on conditions and procedures, including 16 medical specialty areas of care. US News & World Report evaluated 58 hospitals in Nevada. Only one, Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, NV, met the high U.S. News standards to rank the #1 hospital in the state. We constantly strive to be among the best in the nation for quality, safety and patient experience," said Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, FACHE, President and CEO of Renown. "This ranking confirms what the Renown Health team has always been 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 Renown Regional Medical Center has been chosen as the best in the state and among the best in the nation." "We thank the incredible physicians, nurses, employees and volunteers across our organization for their dedication to excellent patient care. We know that our patients and our community who benefit from our care are the true award winners," said Erik Olsen, FACHE, MHA, CEO of Renown Regional Medical Center. "We applaud the Renown team and our Medical Staff as being not only the best in the state, but among the best in the nation." In addition, Renown Regional Medical Center is rated "High Performing," the highest rating possible, in eight procedures and conditions, ranking in the top 10% nationally, and earning the highest recognition in Nevada for the following specialty areas: Cancer, including Colon Cancer Surgery and Lung Cancer Surgery; Cardiology & Heart Surgery, including Heart Failure; Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair; Aortic Valve; Heart Bypass Surgery; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR); Heart Attack; Diabetes & Endocrinology, Diabetes; Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, including Colon Cancer Surgery Nephrology, including Kidney Failure; Neurology & Neurosurgery, including Back Surgery (Spinal Fusion), Stroke; Orthopedics, including Back Surgery (Spinal Fusion), Knee Replacement, Hip Replacement, Hip Fracture; Pulmonology & Lung Surgery, including Lung Cancer Surgery, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Pneumonia. "The ability to have a positive impact on people's lives through the care we provide, investing in improving the health of our community and working in service to others, is a tremendous gift," said Sy Johnson, MBA, Chief of Staff for Renown. "To be nationally recognized as being a leader in caring for other is a tremendous honor to our entire team." In an innovative, public-private partnership, Renown Health and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine recently established Nevada's first integrated health system to advance health and health care through world-class medical education, clinical research and patient care. "We are humbled by this national recognition," says Thomas Graf, MD, Chief Clinical and Quality Officer for Renown. "Our goal is to produce the greatest value by working with physician partners to deliver care of highest clinical quality. Renown has a national reputation for delivering excellent care using approaches that are creative, innovative and maximize technology, and it is exciting to see the team recognized for their extraordinary contributions across the medical center and in eight specialty areas including cancer care, cardiac care, surgery and neurosciences." A hospital's score is based on multiple data categories, including Patient Outcomes and Experience (48.2%), Professional Recognition (36.1% of score), including endorsements by respected national organizations demonstrating high standards, and Key Programs, Services and Staff (15.7% of score), for care of challenging patients demanding hands-on attention and highly specialized expertise. Higher numbers suggest better survival odds, fewer complications and more patients treated. Hospitals earning a High Performing rating were significantly better than the national average. Hospital rankings are determined by an extensive data-driven analysis combining performance measures in three primary dimensions of healthcare: structure, process and outcomes. The data source for most structural measures is the American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey. US News & World Report selected Renown South Meadows Medical Center as the #1 hospital in 2020. Renown Health has been recognized by several national organizations for excellence and quality. Awarded by the American College of Surgeons for the 30th year, Renown Regional Medical Center is northern Nevada's only designated Level II trauma center. Renown Regional earned America's 250 Best Hospitals Award™ (2021), for being top 5% in the nation for consistently delivering clinical quality. Other national recognition and accomplishments are listed below.     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®. For more information, visit renown.org. About US News & World Report US News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. A digital news and information company focused on Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars and News, USNews.com provides consumer advice, rankings and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, US News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Read More About Renown Regional Medical Center Named #1 Hospital in Nevada By US News & World Report

The region's only trauma center receives top honors from Healthgrades. Healthgrades, a leading national resource for trusted information about physicians and hospitals, recently announced the recipients of their 2021 Specialty Excellence Awards. These awards recognize hospitals with superior performance, and have selected Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nev. as northern Nevada’s top hospital for critical care. Hospitals in this ranking demonstrate excellent patient clinical outcomes in treating pulmonary embolism, respiratory system failure, sepsis and diabetic emergencies.  Healthgrades further distinguishes hospitals that stand out as America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Specialty Care™, with Renown Regional Medical Center identified as Nevada’s only critical care hospital to be bestowed with this honor. “At Renown, I am honored to work beside dedicated healthcare heroes who are working tirelessly to make a genuine difference in the health and well-bring of every patient and family we serve,” says Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, FACHE, president and CEO of Renown. “Having trained and served as a pediatric intensive care physician, this honor from Healthgrades does so much to recognize the compassion, skill and determination of this incredible team. I join with our community in saluting the Renown Regional Medical Center’s critical care team as one of the best critical care hospitals in the nation.” “As the only accredited trauma center between Sacramento and Salt Lake City, we receive and care for critically-injured patients from over 100,000 square miles. Our communities depend on Renown Regional Medical Center for outstanding critical care,” says Dawn D. Ahner, DSc, FACHE, Chief Operating Officer, Acute Services. “Our multi-disciplinary critical care and intensive care healthcare teams are specially-staffed, equipped and designed to care for, closely monitor and comprehensively care for patients with life-threatening conditions.”  “Having a specialty-trained team of physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, care managers, physical and occupational therapists around the clock, every day ensures that, no matter the illness or injury, a patient will be treated with the highest degree of care right away,” says Paul Sierzenski, MD, MSHQS, CPE, FACEP, Chief Medical Officer, Acute Services. “What it comes down to is this; the quicker and more accurately you get treated, the better your outcome will be. That's what makes being one of the most respected critical care teams in the country, so vital to all of us.”  “At Renown, we have done so much over the years, to prepare to meet the need for rapid surges in critically ill or injured patients. Through this pandemic, many patients suffering from complications of COVID-19 have needed intensive care services,” says Erik Olson, MHA, Chief Executive Officer of Renown Regional Medical Center. “As the demand for critical care and intensive care continues to increase, the ratio of ICU beds to hospital beds will continue to rise as the ICU occupies an ever-larger role at the center of acute hospital care. We appreciate the recognition from Healthgrades demonstrating the Renown team’s unwavering commitment to the highest level of patient care and safety.”  Renown has been recognized by several national organizations for quality and excellence, including U.S. News & World Report, American Stroke Association, Joint Commission, American College of Surgeons and the American College of Radiology. Renown’s Roseview, Sierra and Cardiac Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are the only ICUs in Nevada to receive the Beacon Award of Excellence from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Renown is currently recruiting outstanding employees at careers.renown.org.  About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally owned and governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown’s institute model addresses social determinants of health and includes: Child Health, Behavioral Health & Addiction, Healthy Aging and Health Innovation. Clinical institutes include: Cancer, Heart and Vascular Heath, Neurosciences and Robotic Surgery. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®. For more information, visit renown.org. About Healthgrades Healthgrades is dedicated to empowering stronger and more meaningful connections between patients and their healthcare providers. At Healthgrades, we help millions of consumers each month find and schedule appointments with their provider of choice. With our scheduling solutions and advanced analytics applications, we help our health system and life sciences clients cultivate new patient relationships, improve patient access, and build customer loyalty. At Healthgrades, better health gets a head start.

Read More About Renown Regional Medical Center Recognized Among Nation's Top Hospitals in Critical Care

The American Heart Association presents Get With The Guidelines®- Stroke Gold Plus awards for proven dedication to ensuring all stroke patients have access to best practices and life-saving care. Renown Health emergency, medical and surgical providers have received three American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® awards. These awards demonstrate commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatments according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines; reducing disabilities and increasing the number of lives saved. Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke. Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death in the U.S. and the main cause of adult disability. Studies show patients recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines. Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research and evidence-based guidelines. “A stroke is an extremely serious condition that requires emergent medical treatment. The faster treatment is provided, the lower the risk of brain injury. We are proud of our thousands of physicians, nurses and clinicians who consistently practice exceptional patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Renown Health. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and consistent protocols to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help people live longer and better lives.” “As a participant in Get With The Guidelines programs, Renown qualified for the awards by demonstrating that physicians and clinicians across our integrated health system are committed to improving quality care for stroke patients,” said Bill Plauth, MD, MMM, CPE, Chief Medical Officer for Renown Health and Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. “If you or a loved one is experiencing a stroke, call 911, as you need skilled medical care immediately. Stroke care focuses on helping people recover as much function as possible and return to independent living. The Renown Neurovascular and Stroke Program and Renown Rehabilitation Hospital teams provide expert emergency stroke care and comprehensive neurovascular care and rehabilitation services.” “We are pleased to recognize Renown Health for its commitment to caring for those in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said John Warner, MD, FAHA, past president of the American Heart Association and CEO of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “Hospitals that follow the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols often see improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.” “Renown Regional Medical Center is the only designated Comprehensive Stroke Center in northern Nevada,” says Benjamin Pence, DO, Director, Institute for Neurosciences at Renown. “This means that we have the highest level of certification to receive and treat the most complex stroke cases. Our Institute for Neurosciences team is led by the area's top neurologists, and we conduct research studies involving new ways of preventing, diagnosing, and managing neurological disorders. We care for patients suffering from nerve and brain disorders due to stroke, headache, epilepsy, and other acute causes. We also monitor and develop treatment options for patients with memory and movement disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson's Disease or Multiple Sclerosis.” Renown Health also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital (within 60 minutes or less) and treatment for at least 85 percent of applicable patients. “It is an honor to be among the American Heart Association’s Stroke Honor Roll Elite award recipients,” said Bret Frey, MD, president of Northern Nevada Emergency Physicians Care teams at Renown Health. “We adhere to these rigorous guidelines daily and demonstrate our unwavering commitment to ensuring more people in northern Nevada receive leading emergency and trauma care and the gift of extended, healthier lives.” Renown Health also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll - Stroke award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke. This award is given to hospitals that qualify for the silver level or higher achievement award within the Get With The Guidelines – Stroke program and achieve an overall Diabetes Cardiovascular Initiative Composite Score of more than 80 percent. 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 team, visit renown.org/careers. About Get With The Guidelines Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 12 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

Read More About Renown Health Nationally Recognized for Commitment to Providing High-Quality Stroke Care With Three American Heart Association Recognitions

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

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

Becker’s list of Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Psychiatry and Mental Health Programs for 2023 has been published, recognizing professional healthcare leaders across the country.    Renown Health and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine have been recognized among the top programs in the United States. This acknowledgement reflects a commitment from a dedicated team of experienced local professionals providing comprehensive mental health services and advancing the field of psychiatry.    In their announcement, Becker’s highlighted that, “In 2018, a $6 million donation (by the Stacie Mathewson Foundation), funded the creation of the Stacie Mathewson Behavioral Health & Addiction Institute at Renown Health. The institute was formed to address increased prescription drug-related mortality rates and suicide rates in northern Nevada. The department is now fully integrated with University of Nevada School of Medicine's psychiatry residency, child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship programs, and behavioral sciences and clinical psychiatry medical student training. The curriculum emphasizes the value of psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, and interventional psychiatry methods, along with primary care team integration.”   Becker’s editors noted that, “Innovative public and private partnerships with the state include the SOAR early intervention treatment program for those experiencing their first episode of psychosis. A 24-hour crisis stabilization center will open in 2024 for adults with mental health or substance use issues. The Connect Washoe County mental health collaborative, part of the hospital’s community benefit program, hosts the Youth Mental Health Summit, with a number of interventions resulting in reduced use of street and prescription drugs, lower hospitalization rates due to opioid overdose, and fewer cases of intentional suicide mortality in youth.”    “We are honored to be recognized as one of the top psychiatry and mental health programs in the U.S. This achievement reflects the dedication of our integrated team and our unwavering commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals and families affected by mental health challenges. We will continue to strive for excellence and address the diverse needs of individuals struggling with behavioral health issues, said Takesha Cooper, MD, Department Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. “Our team comprises skilled psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists and support staff who collaborate to provide holistic and integrated care for our patients. As the region’s only not-for-profit health system, together with the support of grateful donors like Stacie Mathewson, we will continue to actively engage in outreach initiatives to raise awareness about mental health, reduce stigma and create a community that fosters healing and support.”  Renown Health also earned Forbes' Best Healthcare Employer in Nevada for combatting burnout and ensuring well-being and safety of caregivers. About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. For more information, visit renown.org. About the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), Nevada’s first public medical school, is a community-based, research-intensive medical school with a statewide vision for a healthy Nevada. Since 1969, UNR Med has trained more than 3,900 students, residents and fellows. UNR Med continues to improve the health and well-being of all Nevadans and their communities through excellence in student education, postgraduate training and clinical care, research with local, national and global impact and a culture of diversity and inclusion. For more information, visit med.unr.edu.

Read More About Reno Home to "Great Psychiatry and Mental Health Program;" Renown and UNR School of Medicine Named to Becker's National List

(Pictured Above: Dr. Frieda Hulka, Pediatric Trauma Program Medical Director at Renown Children’s Hospital, helps announce pediatric trauma verification on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024) Renown Health, a locally governed, not-for-profit academic healthcare network serving northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California and the teaching hospital for the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, has been verified as the first level-2 pediatric trauma center in northern Nevada by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). This recognition is a historic first for children’s healthcare in northern Nevada. Renown Regional Medical Center is the region’s only Level II Trauma Center (adult) and one of the largest hospitals in the United States, with 826 licensed beds, providing care to approximately one million patients across 17 counties, across 100,000 square miles between Sacramento and Salt Lake City. Serving urban, suburban, and rural communities, Renown Health is one of the region’s only providers of neonatal care with both a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and the largest newborn intensive care unit (NICU) in the area. RENOWN ONLY ONE OF TWO IN NV; ONE OF 153 IN THE US The pediatric trauma verification by the ACS recognizes that the Renown team offers immediate, around-the-clock, emergency treatment for pediatric trauma patients. Renown is one of only two health systems to receive the designation of a Level II Pediatric Trauma Center in Nevada by the ACS; and the first in northern Nevada to earn this national distinction. To achieve verification, the hospital must meet rigorous standards for comprehensive care, staffing, facilities, research, and educational contributions. Nationwide, only 153 hospitals are pediatric trauma centers. The new status considers trauma treatment capabilities of Renown’s pediatric emergency department as well as the ability of Renown Children's Hospital to offer such services as pediatric surgery, pediatric intensive care unit stays and pediatric physical and occupational therapy to children recovering from traumatic injuries. EXTENSIVE ON-SITE REVIEW “This new achievement was granted after an extensive on-site review conducted by an expert team from the American College of Surgeons; a group dedicated to improving the care of surgical patients and safeguarding standards of care in a safe, optimal and ethical practice environment,” said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President & CEO of Renown Health. “We are proud that Renown Regional Medical Center has earned the designation of being the only ACS verified Level 2 Trauma Center for adults in the region since 1984. This verification process, renewed every three years, was completed in late December 2023 alongside the new verification for Renown Children’s Hospital. Now with UNR Med, we celebrate serving our community with a robust Level 2 Pediatric Trauma Center; and have grown to become a nationally recognized children’s hospital with a robust academic department of pediatrics.” “The team at Renown Children’s Hospital consistently provides outstanding pediatric trauma care, and we are thrilled that the American College of Surgeons has awarded us with this official distinction,” said Dr. Frieda Hulka, Pediatric Trauma Program Medical Director at Renown Children’s Hospital. “This is particularly significant for families in northern Nevada, where trauma remains the leading cause of death in infants and children. Some nationwide studies show that children treated at pediatric trauma centers have a lower mortality risk compared to children treated at other facilities.” This year marked the first time the emergency department's pediatric capabilities were evaluated separately. To be a designated Level II Trauma Center, a hospital must have 24-hour immediate coverage by general surgeons and multiple specialties, such as orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, and emergency medicine. In addition, the hospital must provide trauma prevention and ongoing education for its teams and incorporate a comprehensive quality assessment program. The emergency department did not meet the minimum volume of 200 pediatric trauma patients per year to qualify for the level-1 pediatric designation, but the Renown team anticipates with growing community support, combined with UNR Med’s research and residency programs, that they will pass this threshold in the future. “More than 100,000 children between the ages of zero and 17 live in Washoe County, and that number continues to grow,” said Nicholas Mannering, Trauma Program Manager at Renown Health. “Caring for our community’s children is a responsibility we take extremely seriously, and we are so grateful to our patients and the families for trusting us with their care.” “Both the pediatric and adult trauma verification honor the many pioneering trauma physicians, surgeons and clinical and support teams who have built a stellar reputation over the last 160 years for Renown; and align with our strategic vision for providing comprehensive and best-in-class healthcare for the people of northern Nevada for the next 160 years,” said Chris Nicholas, CEO of Renown Regional Medical Center. “These designations celebrate our team’s commitment to maintaining and exceeding the highest standards of care for our patients.” GRATEFUL DONORS INVEST IN NORTHERN NEVADA’S CHILDREN In 2016, The William N. Pennington Foundation recognized the need for enhanced care and expertise for pediatrics and donated $7.5 million to Renown Children’s Hospital to establish the William N. Pennington Fund for Advanced Pediatric Care. “Through these gifts,” adds Kristina Deeter, MD, MBA, FAAP, Chair of Pediatrics (UNR Med) and Physician-in-Chief, Renown Children’s Hospital, “100,000 area children now have access to more than 30 pediatricians, including general pediatricians and specializing specialists in oncology, orthopedics, pulmonology, emergency medicine, urology and many other subspecialties previously lacking in the community, as well as a pediatric emergency room, pediatric ICU and a dedicated pediatric floor at Renown Children’s Hospital. Prior to 2016, a significant percentage of pediatric patients requiring critical and specialty care had to be transferred outside of our region to receive the specialty care they needed. Now, thanks to donor support, Renown estimates that 97% of all pediatric patients and their families can receive both general and specialty pediatric care locally. The next nearest children’s hospital in the state is 7 hours or 438 miles away in Las Vegas.” In 2022, the hospital treated 82,544 patients, performed 26,388 inpatient and same-day surgeries, gave care to 37,380 children through its pediatric providers, and delivered 3,792 babies. In June 2023, Renown Regional Medical Center expanded its pediatric critical care services to the region with a New Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with advanced technology and trained healthcare professionals to give special care for women and babies. Renown also has a Neonatal Transport Team which brings infants with serious illnesses, injuries, or complications from outlying communities to the comfort of Renown's NICU. In July 2023, The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) and Renown Health welcomed members of the first resident class of the new UNR Med Pediatric Residency Program. Renown Health is a 501 c3 not for profit organization. Donations to the Children’s Hospital are needed and accepted here.   About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit academic healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. Renown Regional Medical Center is the teaching hospital for the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. 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 for both adults and children, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health.

Read More About American College of Surgeons Awards Level II Pediatric Trauma Designation to Renown Children's Hospital