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Bringing essential services, hope and life-saving treatment to people with end-stage kidney disease. Renown Health is pleased to announce the appointment of Narisorn Atsava-Svate, MD, a distinguished transplant nephrologist. With over 18 years of experience, Dr. Atsava-Svate is recognized for his expertise in managing complex kidney conditions, pioneering innovative treatment methods and improving patient outcomes in the field of nephrology and kidney transplantation. Before joining Renown, Dr. Narisorn Atsava-Svate was a transplant nephrologist with INTEGRIS Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute, a leading solid organ transplant program based in Oklahoma City. While there, he helped build one of the largest and most experienced transplant programs in the U.S. and completed over 2070 kidney transplantations as part of a comprehensive team. Dr. Nate, as he likes to be called, received his medical degree from the oldest and largest medical school in Thailand, Siriraj Medical School/Mahidol University in Bangkok. He completed his ACGME accredited Internal Medicine Residency at Texas Tech University Health Science Center in Lubbock, Texas. He continued his education at the University of Colorado, completing both a general Nephrology and Advanced Nephrology fellowship specializing in Transplantation Nephrology. Dr. Atsava-Svate has a special interest in transplantation immunobiology and managing transplantation patients with high immunologic risk. As the first Transplant nephrologist at Renown Health, Dr. Nate is responsible for: Comprehensive Patient Care: Managing the care of kidney transplant patients before, during and after transplantation, ensuring the best possible outcomes. Innovative Research: Leading and participating in research initiatives aimed at advancing the field of transplant nephrology and improving patient outcomes. Collaborative Approach: Working closely with a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, physicians, nurses and support staff to provide personalized care for patients with end-stage renal disease. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Nate join our team," said Rahul Mediwala, MD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer of Renown Medical Group and a board-certified nephrologist. His extensive knowledge and dedication to transplant patient care is instrumental in bringing essential services to our region and ensuring the highest quality care for our community.” End-Stage Kidney Disease in Nevada and the Need for Transplantation Some people living with chronic kidney disease develop severe kidney damage and very low kidney function. If this condition progresses to the point where kidney dialysis or a kidney transplant is necessary for survival, the condition is called end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The American Kidney Fund, using the US Renal Data System 2020 annual Data, indicates 6,898 Nevada residents are living with ESRD. Kidneys are the most sought-after organ for transplantation. In Nevada, it is estimated that 523 people are currently on the kidney transplant waiting list. Many of them are northern Nevadans in need. Announcing the Renown Transplant Institute®, the First Kidney Transplant Program for Northern Nevada. As the only not-for-profit academic healthcare network in the state, Renown’s world-class team of medical experts join together with thousands of organ and tissue donors, financial donors and hundreds of residents currently on the kidney transplant waiting list to bring essential services, hope and life-saving treatment to people with end-stage kidney disease. Narisorn Atsava-Svate, MD, the region’s first transplant nephrologist, joins the esteemed Renown nephrology and surgical teams in providing comprehensive transplant services, including pre-transplant evaluation, surgical procedures, and post-transplant care, are all under one roof at Nevada’s #1 hospital, Renown Regional Medical Center in beautiful Reno, NV. Now, residents in need of advanced kidney treatment and transplantation will no longer need to endure long waits or seek residency or care in other states, which will help alleviate the financial, physical, and emotional burden for critically ill patients and their families. "A kidney transplant is the best life-saving option for people living with kidney disease. Our goal is that every eligible person who is seeking a kidney transplant receives one," says Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President & CEO of Renown Health. He adds, “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the state of Nevada, the Nevada Donor Network, donors and community partners who have worked tirelessly to make the Renown Transplant Institute® a reality for so many. Together, we are paving the way for better health outcomes and a brighter future for those in need.” If you are a physician and would like to refer patients, or a person with end-stage kidney disease and wish to be screened for a kidney transplant by Dr. Narisorn Atsava-Svate, please contact the Nevada Transplant Institute® transplant coordinator at 1-833-RING-NTI (746-4684). More information can be found at the website nvtransplant.nvdonor.org, or email ntiinfo@nvtransplant.org. If you are a person seeking chronic kidney disease management; dialysis– at-home and in center; kidney failure management; kidney transplant management; kidney stone disease prevention; hypertension management; or polycystic kidney disease management, please schedule an appointment with Renown Medical Group-Kidney Care nephrologists at 775-982-5000.   About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated health care network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,500 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.

Read More About Renown Welcomes First Transplant Nephrologist to Region and Announces the Renown Transplant Institute

Only hospital in northern Nevada to receive national recognition for patient safety and quality Renown South Meadows Medical Center in south Reno has earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit watchdog organization that serves as a voice for health care consumers and purchasers, using their collective influence to foster positive change in U.S. health care. Leapfrog is the nation’s premier advocate of transparency in health care—collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data to inform value-based purchasing and improved decision-making. This national distinction recognizes Renown Health’s national accomplishments in ensuring safe, high-quality hospital care for patients. The Leapfrog Group is an independent, nonprofit organization that upholds the standard of patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. 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. Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 measures of errors, accidents, injuries, and infections as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.  Leapfrog sets their standards using peer reviewed literature and expert opinion, peer comparisons, and alignment with existing national standards or performance targets. “We are very proud to recognize physicians, nurses, clinicians and the entire team at Renown South Meadows Medical Center for achieving exceptional Leapfrog performance in Patient-Centered Care, Critical Care, Nursing and Bedside Care for Patients, Patient Safety, Medication Safety, and Care for Total Joint Replacement and Elective Outpatient Surgery Patients,” said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Renown Health. “As the only locally governed not-for-profit academic 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 dedication to making a genuine difference in the health and well-being of the people and communities we serve.” “Everyone who works at Renown South Meadows Medical Center should be proud of this ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade,” said Leah Binder, president, and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “It takes complete dedication at every level, and an ironclad commitment to putting patients first. I thank Renown South Meadows Medical Center’s leadership, clinicians, staff, and volunteers for caring so deeply for patients and their safety.” “We are proud of our affiliated physicians and teams who give their best every day, to ensure that every patient’s care and safety is their top priority,” said Sam Weller, MHPA, CEO, Renown South Meadows Medical Center. “We recognize that when you choose a hospital, you could be making a life-or-death decision. Not every hospital is the same. Performance on things like infection rates, surgical errors, or patient injuries varies considerably—and matters greatly. It’s important for consumers to know and consider these things when choosing what physicians, hospital, or Emergency Room to select for their care. We are very excited to be recognized as the only hospital to achieve this designation in northern Nevada, and only one of two in the state (the other being in Las Vegas).”   To see Renown South Meadows Medical Center’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) and via The Leapfrog Group newsletter.   The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public. Renown Regional Medical Center received a B score for Fall & Spring 2023. For more information on the Leapfrog Group and the Spring 2023 scores, please visit: hospitalsafetyscore.org. About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated health care network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,400 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 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 and Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC 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. For more, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram and sign up for our newsletter.

Read More About Renown South Meadows Medical Center Earns Highest "A" Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group

Embraces patient and family-centered care, enhanced safety measures and new visiting hours.   Today, Renown Health announced the Patient Supporter program, recognizing the important role that family and friends play in the healing, recovery and care of patients and serve as integral members of the health care team. With a continued decline in COVID-19 patients and the move to Phase 2 of Governor Sisolak’s Silver State Stabilization program, and in alignment with the Nevada Hospital Association, Renown hospitals and medical practices are now allowing limited visitors for non-COVID-19 patients and have put extra safety measures in place to protect patients, visitors and healthcare employees. One healthy adult Patient Supporter may now accompany a patient to their Renown medical visit or hospital stay. Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, President & CEO of Renown said, “We live by our values of caring, integrity, collaboration and excellence. We believe in ‘person-centered care,’ an approach that embraces the perspective of the patient and their loved ones, while promoting a healthy, encouraging environment for caregivers and addressing the health needs of our community.” At Renown, "family" is defined by the patient. The patient may designate anyone they choose as their Patient Supporter. The Patient Supporter may be asked to assist the health care team with communications to other family members and friends, participate in training and education activities and assist the patient with complying with care and medication instructions. Jen Richards, PhD, RN, Chief Nursing Officer for Acute Services explained, “The partnership between patients, families and healthcare providers is based on the understanding that everyone's role is important. What we do together is greater than what any of us can do alone. Involving families in the patient's care supports the healing process and can improve the outcome. This belief shapes our work, our services and the care we provide.” Beginning today, each patient may be accompanied by one healthy adult Patient Supporter. Enhanced safety measures in place include across all Renown sites to safeguard health include: • Wearing a mask at all times; • Observing hand hygiene practices; • Conducting health screenings upon each entry; • Implementing strict social distancing protocols; • Extra cleaning and disinfection of high-touch, public surface areas. In alignment with the state-wide guidelines, visitors will be limited to one Patient Supporter per patient and be able to access hospitals as noted: • Renown Children’s Hospital: Open access. (Two parents and/or guardians may be designated as Patient Supporters, however, due to current space      constraints, we ask that you visit one at a time). • Renown Regional Medical Center and Renown South Meadows Medical Center, 3 pm-8 pm • Renown Rehabilitation Hospital, 9 am-4 pm partnerships; the importance of including trusted support people in your care; Nutrition; the nurturing aspect of food; https://www.renown.org/find/renown-regional-medical- center/shops-at-renown/ Spirituality; wellness resources and the Spiritual Center & Estelle J. Kelsey Interfaith Sanctuary https://www.renown.org/explore/spiritual-care/interfaith-spiritual-center/ Healing arts, including art, music, Fianna’s Healing Garden and The John & Sue Dermody Children’s Healing Garden, serene environment designed to promote patient healing and environments conducive to health Physical, emotional safety, security and patient confidentiality. There are multiple ways to support patients at Renown Regional Medical Center, South Meadows Medical Center, Renown Children’s Hospital or Renown Rehabilitation Hospital. You can send a personalized message to a loved one and it will be hand-delivered to patients staying overnight. https://www.uat.renown.org/interact/contact-a-patient/. Staff are pleased to arrange video calls with loved ones. To speak with a patient, call 775-982-4100. Renown Care Providers Are Fighting the Good Fight For You. You may send a Thank You note or make a donation to support their efforts at https://www.renown.org/donations-covid-19/. For more detailed information on the Patient Supporter program visit https://www.renown.org/interact/ Please see b-roll to accompany this story here.     About Renown Health Renown Health is a locally governed and locally owned, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. Renown is one of the region’s largest private employers with a workforce of more than 7,000. It comprises three acute care hospitals, a rehabilitation hospital, the area’s most comprehensive medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest and only locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown has a long tradition and commitment to continually improve the care and the health of our community. For more information, visit renown.org.

Read More About Renown Patients Encouraged to Have One Supporter Accompany Them to Medical Visit or Hospital Stay

Renown Health nurses are being celebrated for going above and beyond for their patients and care team colleagues. Every year, the Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement Committee recognizes registered nurses (RNs) from across the community to celebrate their accomplishments and further the nursing profession. The committee just announced the 2020 award winners, including seven high-performing nurses from Renown Health. Nurses are at the forefront of the care teams working through the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 has been fittingly declared the “International Year of the Nurse and Midwife” by the World Health Organization. Celebrating our nurses is more important this year than ever, and Renown is proud to be home to seven of the 2020 Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement winners in the following categories: Clinical Leadership: Jenny Garcia, RN, BSN, supervisor of nursing in the orthopedics unit at Renown Regional Medical Center; Critical Care: Olivia Cartwright, RN, BSN, bedside nurse in the intensive care unit at Renown Regional Medical Center; Lifetime Achievement: Cheryl Jameson, RN, bedside nurse in the general surgical unit at Renown South Meadows Medical Center; Office & Outpatient: Kathleen Neilan, RN, BCN, OCN, cancer nurse navigator at Renown Institute for Cancer; Oncology and Infusion Services: Paola Espinoza, RN, BSN, supervisor of nursing in the cancer nursing unit at Renown Regional Medical Center; Rookie of the Year: Tamara Slater, RN, BSN, bedside nurse in the general surgical unit at Renown Regional Medical Center;Renown Facility Winner: Chelsea Zielinski, RN, MSN, clinical nurse educator in the neonatal intensive care unit at Renown Regional Medical Center. From a pool of over 400 publicly-nominated nurses who provide care across northern Nevada’s care facilities and hospitals, the Committee announced a total of 14 award winners during a virtual awards celebration on Friday, Aug. 28. Anthony D. Slonim, RN, MD, DrPH, FACHE; President and CEO of Renown, who worked as a registered nurse in an Emergency Department earlier in his career says, “We appreciate the work that every nurse does every day, not only for the patient in the hospital, but in all of the other settings where people come to learn how to live healthier lives. Nurses have direct influence on the outcomes of every patient, and I congratulate all 14 nurses for their exceptional achievements.” He adds, “The real winners are those patients, families, colleagues and community members who are cared for by these exceptional nursing professionals.” “We’re proud to celebrate our community’s nurses and all they do to care for patients and their loved ones,” said Jana Elliott, Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Acute Care Services. “Nursing is a true calling to serve others and there are so many incredible ways nurses go beyond their duty to provide the best care despite the intense nature of the pandemic.” “Nurses are at the core of our care teams; they provide compassionate care and advocate for patients and their loved ones in a time of need,” said Melodie Osborn, Chief Nursing Officer, Health Services. “The Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement awards are a longstanding way of honoring our community’s most compassionate nurses.” Interview Opportunities A 2020 Nurses of Achievement winner and a representative from Renown’s nursing leadership are happy to speak on this prestigious honor, as well as what it means to be a nurse during these unprecedented times. Please email news@renown.org or call 775-691-7308 to schedule an interview.   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 Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement Shining a spotlight on the nursing profession since 1999, the Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement Committee works to honor their colleagues and to increase awareness of nursing as a profession. The committee also supports the growth of the profession in awarding scholarships for nursing students.

Read More About Community Recognizes 2020 Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement Winners

Dr. Mediwala’s leadership through challenging times helps Renown to thrive despite uncertainty ofCOVID-19 pandemic Rahul Mediwala, MD, CPE, has been promoted to Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the Health Services Division at Renown Health after serving as interim CMO since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, working tirelessly to lead a team on the frontlines who continued to provide quality and compassionate care to our community through the uncertainty and pressure of the pandemic. Dr. Mediwala has been with Renown for 11 years, originally joining Renown Medical Group to lead the nephrology program and as medical director for the dialysis unit. Over the years, he has taken on additional leadership roles for Renown Medical Group; serving as chair of Medical Specialties, and Chief Medical Officer for the Renown Accountable Care Organization. “I am thankful for our team of physicians, care providers, medical assistants, patient access representatives, administrators and all who have worked through change to continue to make a genuine difference in the health and well-being of the people and communities we serve,” said Dr. Mediwala. “I look forward to continuing to lead this talented team at Renown as we work to find how we can adapt to meet the changing needs of our health system and community to thrive into the future.” Dr. Mediwala has a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M in biomedical engineering, his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Texas and served as chief resident for Internal Medicine at University Hospitals in Cincinnati and subsequently completed a nephrology fellowship in Cincinnati. Prior to joining Renown, Dr. Mediwala practiced with a large nephrology specialty group in Ohio.     About Renown Health Renown Health is a locally governed and locally owned, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. Renown is one of the region’s largest private employers with a workforce of more than 7,000. It comprises three acute care hospitals, a rehabilitation hospital, the area’s most comprehensive medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest and only locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown has a long tradition and commitment to continually improve the care and the health of our community. For more information, visit renown.org.

Read More About Dr. Rahul Mediwala Promoted to Chief Medical Officer

Across the country, we are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases including significant surges in hospitalized patients in many communities. As our nation experiences the impact of this international pandemic, we at Renown Health are focused on preparing for what could occur in our own community.  We continue to safely screen, diagnose and care for patients with respiratory illnesses, including those at risk for COVID-19. We have been, and will continue to use, current local, national and international data, analytics, public data sets and predictive modeling. Based on these predictive models, we anticipate seeing a surge in hospital patient volumes over the next several weeks. We are preparing for potential patient census increases, requiring a planning effort that challenges us to think outside of the box. Serving this level of hospital patients, which is called a “surge” will challenge us to ensure we have the beds, procedure capacity and spaces that accommodate staff, technology, supplies, equipment and services to meet the needs of our patients. To meet the increasing needs, a new temporary patient care area will be created within the Mill Street parking structure to serve additional hospitalized patients at Renown Regional Medical Center. This location allows caregivers to remain on campus, and still have accessibility to existing hospital infrastructure such as lab, pharmacy, imaging, food services and other critical services. This solution also allows for an efficient level of care escalation and other emergent interventions as needed. Crews will begin construction shortly and will include will include flooring, electrical infrastructure, lighting, water, technology and wall partitions. This facility will be equipped with beds and basic patient care support equipment. Hospitals in other communities around the country have successfully taken this approach, including Vanderbilt University Hospital. All around the country, hospitals are implementing creative approaches to ensure patient care needs can be addressed. As the work continues in the Mill Street Parking structure, we will evaluate the best way to incorporate our media partners and our community in seeing what the finished alternate care site looks like. We would like to send our sincere appreciation to our local partners in this project who have been working around the clock to make this work happen: Clark/Sullivan Construction, Curtis Bros. Construction, PK Electrical, Ainsworth Associates Mechanical Engineers, Intermountain Electric, Mt. Rose Heating & Air Conditioning and Frank Lepori Construction. For up-to-date information on Renown’s approach to keeping our community safe, visit our website at https://www.renown.org/covid-19/.     About Renown Health Renown Health is a locally governed and locally owned, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. Renown is one of the region’s largest private employers with a workforce of more than 7,000. It comprises three acute care hospitals, a rehabilitation hospital, the area’s most comprehensive medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest and only locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown has a long tradition and commitment to continually improve the care and the health of our community. For more information, visit renown.org.

Read More About Preparing For an Anticipated Surge of Patients Amidst COVID-19

During National Healthcare Week, clinical providers who are “Best of the Best” being honored for demonstrating exceptional communications skills in their clinical practice, as awarded by you, their patients. “Amazing! Phenomenal! Thank you for always showing genuine concern. You are kind, considerate and caring. You are interested in me. You are the best doctor/nurse practitioner I have ever had. I trust you with my life. You act on things right away. You are awesome. You have saved my life, and my family. You are knowledgeable, thorough, intelligent, and compassionate. You are my favorite. You are my angel. You have made me better. You always make me feel like a success, even if I could have tried harder. I love you. I thank you.” These are some of the comments made by patients regarding their doctors and advanced practice providers who will be honored next week by the Patient & Family Advisory Council and Renown Health with a special breakfast celebration in south Reno. In honor of National Healthcare Week, Renown Medical Group, which offers primary and specialty care at locations in Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Fallon, Fernley, and Silver Springs will honor 37 physicians and advanced practice providers at the Dr. John Spellman Excellence in Patient Communications Award Celebration. This annual award, supported by the Renown Health Foundation and a donor family, honors clinicians who demonstrate exceptional communications skills in their clinical practice, as awarded by their patients. Recipients of this award are ranked in the top ten percent nationally in provider communication for 2022, as measured by over 11 thousand patients who responded nationally to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CG-CAPHS) or Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems and over 14,000 local patients who gave them top scores on the national patient experience survey. Patients were asked if their medical providers explained things in a way they could understand; if they listened carefully; if they showed respect for what they had to say; if they spent enough time with them; if they read their medical records; if they ordered tests and followed up with them on their results; and to give them a rating on a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 was the highest score. “These incredible medical providers set the gold standard for excellent communications with patients, scoring in the top 10% nationally for compassion, caring, competency and communications,” said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President & CEO of Renown Health. “We are extremely proud of them and their outstanding dedication to patients, families and our community.” The awards will be given by his family in remembrance of the late Dr. John W. Spellman, human rights advocate, scholar and professor. Dr. Spellman treasured kindness, scholarship, debate and medical providers who demonstrated exceptional communications skills and held their patients in the highest regard. The Recipients of the 2022 Dr. John Spellman Excellence in Patient Communications Award are: Christina Alsop, DNP, AOCNP, Oncology Nurse Practitioner, William N. Pennington Cancer Institute at Renown Pamela Burgio, APRN, Renown Primary Care Jennifer Brown, APRN, Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine Stephanie Carlesen, DNP, Renown Institute for Heart & Vascular Health Carolyn Dennehey, MD, Rheumatology Benjamin Ebner, MD, Renown Institute for Heart & Vascular Health Christopher Driscoll, MD, Pediatrics, Renown Children’s Hospital Kerac Falk, MD, FACOG, Renown Women’s Health Michael Hardacre, MD, Radiation Oncology, William N. Pennington Cancer Institute at Renown Robin Hollen, DNP, FNP-C, APRN, M.Ed., MSN, Breastfeeding Medicine Nurse Practitioner, Renown Women’s Health James Martin Johnston, MD, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Renown Children’s Hospital Stephanie Jones, DO, Physical Medicine/Rehabilitation Charlotte Kermode, APRN, Renown Primary Care Michele Kiser, MD, Renown Primary Care Matthew Klippenstein, MD, Renown Primary Care Anamarie Manea, MD, Pediatric Endocrinology, Renown Children’s Hospital Marie McCoramck, MD, Renown Primary Care Catherine Mindeguia, APRN, Renown Primary Care Dean Miyagawa, MD, Internal Medicine, Renown Primary Care Amanda Morgan, MD, Pulmonary Medicine, Renown Medical Group Cecelia O’Dowd, MD, Renown Primary Care Kasie Reynolds, APRN, Renown Children's Hospital, Behavioral Health Jocelyn Schneider, APRN, Renown Institute for Heart & Vascular Health Vanessa Slots, MD, Renown Pediatrics Daniel Spogen, MD, Renown UNR Primary Care, Sports Medicine Jennifer Simcox, APRN, Renown Primary Care Mark Stovak, MD, Renown UNR Primary Care, Sports Medicine Shining Sun, MD, Renown Institute for Heart & Vascular Health Jennifer Sutton, MD, Radiation Oncology, William N. Pennington Cancer Institute at Renown Robert Swackhamer, MD, Renown Institute for Heart & Vascular Health Carl Thomas, MD, Renown Primary Care Katherine Thyssen, DO, Geriatric Medicine, Renown Primary Care Ly Vu, MD, Renown Primary Care Scott Michael Wallace, MD, Renown Pediatrics Kristin Wilson, MD, Renown Pediatrics Bryan Young MD, Internal Medicine, Renown Primary Care Jacob Zucker, MD, Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, Renown Children’s Hospital   Since 2018, Renown Medical Group has posted thousands of verified patient ratings and comments of their employed providers online and viewable by the public at renown.org. “Our goal is to consistently exceed customer expectations, every day, and with every encounter. At Renown, we embrace transparency and empower patients,” says Rahul Mediwala, MD, CEO of Renown Medical Group. Dr. Mediwala should know – he is also a highly rated physician by his patients, has practiced for more than 20 years, and sees the ratings program as another way to support employed physicians and providers at Renown Health. Only patients who’ve had an outpatient visit with a Renown Medical Group provider may be selected to receive a survey from CH-CAHPS. This way, Renown can confirm the results are from patients who have been seen by the provider. All comments are posted anonymously, and patients are asked for their permission to use their comments. Feedback is shared with every provider. Renown Health is integrated with the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Nevada’s first medical school, which serves to enhance the health of the community through increased access to care, innovative health care delivery, expansion of clinical research and training for the next generation of physicians and health care professionals. Almost 700 Renown Medical Group primary care and specialty providers are currently accepting new patients and accept most health insurance plans, including Renown’s not-for-profit insurance plan, Hometown Health. To find the doctor or provider that is best for you visit renown.org, self-schedule with your established provider at MyChart.Renown.org or schedule an appointment with a Renown Medical Group or University Health provider by calling our agents available by phone- Wed-Fri: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sat-Sun: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., at 775-982-5000. Renown Health is currently hiring in all areas. Search for a new career opportunity and apply online at careers.renown.org. About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health.

Read More About Reno Home to 37 of the Nation's Best Patient Communicators

'Most Wired Hospitals' Use Technology for a Better Patient Experience. The annual “Healthcare Most Wired” survey, overseen by the College of Healthcare Executives (CHIME) was recently released; Renown Health topped the list, achieving Most Wired status for 2020. The CHIME Digital Health Most Wired program conducts an annual survey to assess how effectively healthcare organizations apply core and advanced technology into their clinical and business programs to improve health and care in their communities. Hospitals and health systems at the forefront of using healthcare IT to improve the delivery of care have maximized the benefits of foundational technologies and are embracing new technologies that support population heath management and value-based care. For the fourth year in a row, Renown Health earned the “Digital Most Wired” honors from CHIME. Renown also received the 2020 Most Wired Certified Level 7 Special Recognition. The CHIME annual survey accesses how effectively health care organizations apply core and advanced technologies into their clinical and business programs to improve health and expand access to care in their communities. “We at Renown are proud of our national reputation as an innovator in implementing new technology and systems of care for the community,” said Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, President & CEO. “As we shift from volume to value-based care, and increase access to meet the demand for health care services, we continue to invest in technology and expertise to improve clinical outcomes, the patient experience and reduce the cost of care. I am incredibly proud of our Information Technology team and our amazing partners who are working to make health and care more convenient and accessible.”  A total of 30,091 organizations were represented in the 2020 Digital Health Most Wired program. The surveys assessed the adoption, integration and impact of technologies in the healthcare organizations at all stages of development, from early development to industry leading. Added Sy Johnson, MBA, Chief of Staff, “It’s great to see that the most successful healthcare organizations not only adopt technology but apply it strategically to achieve great outcomes.” “Our teams have worked hard to adopt technologies and implement clinical systems to improve the delivery of care, across the entire Renown Health system, particularly through the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ron Fuschillo, MBA, Chief Information Officer. “We have optimized clinical workflows so that our clinicians receive timely alerts and can quickly respond to patient needs. As a team, we are honored to receive this prestigious award for technology that enables us to provide safer, more effective and more efficient care for patients and our community.” “Digital technology has been a driver of innovation in healthcare for many years now, but never to the degree that we saw in 2020 with the pandemic, said CHIME President and CEO Russell P. Branzell. “The Digital Health Most Wired program underscores why healthcare organizations keep pushing themselves to be digital leaders and shows what amazing feats they can achieve. This certification recognizes Renown’s exemplary performance in 2020.”   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 Health, Neurosciences and Robotic Surgery. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project® .

Read More About Renown Health Tops 2020 Most Wired List

The Renown Transplant Institute proudly announces a major milestone in its mission to provide life-saving care to patients with end-stage kidney disease. As of November 6, the Institute has been granted Organ Procurement & Transplantation Network (OPTN) certification, and interim approval of its application for full UNOS approval on December 13, 2024. This now enables the Institute team to begin assessing patients for kidney transplants. “This approval marks a significant step forward in our mission to deliver life-saving care for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who require a kidney transplant for survival,” said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President & CEO of Renown Health. “A kidney transplant is the best life-saving option for people living with kidney disease. Our goal is that every eligible person who is seeking a kidney transplant receives one. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to UNOS which oversees organ procurement and allocation nationally, for their rapid processing of Renown’s application. Our team is working diligently to meet the highest standards of clinical excellence, and we are now ready to provide this life-changing option to patients who need it most. Together, we are paving the way for better health outcomes and a brighter future for those in need.” With the certification in place, the Renown Transplantation Institute team is now fully equipped to assess and prepare patients for kidney transplantation. This milestone underscores the Institute’s commitment to delivering the highest quality patient care while addressing the growing demand for transplant services. Expanding Access to Life-Saving Kidney Transplants Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 37 million people in the United States, with thousands of patients progressing to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) each year. For many, a kidney transplant is the best treatment option, offering improved quality of life and survival rates compared to long-term dialysis. However, access to transplantation has traditionally been limited, especially in underserved communities like northern Nevada. The need for additional organ transplantation expertise across the U.S. and Nevada is critical. According to the Nevada Donor Network, as of October 15, 2024, 659 kidney patients in Nevada are currently on a waiting list to receive a life-saving kidney transplant. Across the country, every day 17 people die each day because an organ does not become available to them while they are waiting and every 8 minutes someone is added to the waiting list. “We are excited to receive approval to assess patients for kidney transplantation for the Renown Transplant Institute,” said Rahul Mediwala, MD, MBA CEO of Renown Medical Group. “It is humbling and inspiring to have the opportunity to help build this program for our patients, community and state,” said Dr. Mediwala, a nephrologist who has practiced in the community for nearly 20 years. “I’ve seen people die here in northern Nevada, waiting for a kidney transplant. They were not able to afford being out of work or the expense of traveling to receive life-sustaining care. With the opening of the Renown Transplant Institute, we are addressing this gap by providing timely access to comprehensive transplant evaluations and essential care. Now, residents in need of advanced kidney treatment and transplantation can stay close to home and receive comprehensive transplant evaluation and treatment here at Renown. They will no longer need to endure long waits or seek residency or care in other states, which will help alleviate the financial, physical, and emotional burden for critically ill patients and their families. The transplant team is led by nationally recognized transplant surgeon Ernesto P. Molmenti, MD, PHD, MBA, and transplant nephrologist Narisorn Atsava-Svate, MD, who have joined the Renown nephrology and surgical teams in providing comprehensive transplant services, including pre-transplant evaluation, surgical procedures, and post-transplant care, all under one roof at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, NV. Together, the Renown Transplant Institute’s physician leadership has more than 45 years of experience caring for hundreds of kidney transplant patients. The multidisciplinary team includes a transplant surgeon, transplant nephrologist, transplant nurse coordinator, social worker, dietician, pharmacist and financial coordinator who will assist patients through the transplant journey. “Understanding the great need that exists for this critical resource, we are focusing all our energy on creating a caring, efficient and responsive environment for our patients to support them through their transplant experience,” says Ernesto Molmenti, MD, PHD, MBA. “This is a great first step, and we are eager to get started with assessing patients for kidney transplant. We recognize the courage it takes to begin the transplant journey, and we want to assure our patients that they are not alone. The goal of our program is to perform successful transplants and ensure holistic support for patients and their families. At the Renown Transplant Institute, we are pleased to bring together all collaborating specialties in a supportive environment. We want people suffering from end-stage renal disease to know that our team is here to walk beside you, every step of the way.” Dr. Ernesto Molmenti who serves as Chief of Transplantation at Renown Health, Executive Director of the Renown Transplant Institute, Professor at University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and Director and Executive Vice President of the Nevada Transplant Institute, said, “the expansion of these essential transplantation services across our state is made possible because of our extraordinary partnership with the Nevada Transplant Institute. Together, we are working to increase access, lower costs, and enhance research and education in the field of donation transplantation. We are incredibly grateful for their support and assistance.” Transplant nephrologist Narisorn Atsava-Svate, MD, who goes by “Dr. Nate,” said, “This certification attests to the quality and capability of Renown Health, its ancillary services and the excellence of the transplant clinical team that we have assembled to care for patients suffering from advanced chronic kidney disease. Renown Regional Medical Center is on course to be one of only 250 transplant centers nationwide and one of only two centers in all of Nevada. Membership means that our institution meets all Organ Procurement & Transplantation Network requirements and that we play an active role in forming the policies that govern the transplant community. By providing kidney transplant services to patients in Nevada, we hope to improve transplant rates in our region and reduce health care disparities across the state. I am honored and privileged to be part of this exciting new program.” Assessments Now Open for Kidney Transplant Candidates “With the opening of this new program, the Renown Health team is working closely with local healthcare providers and social workers at area dialysis centers to streamline referrals and ensure a smooth transition for patients to the transplant list,” said Dr. Rahul Mediwala. The Renown Transplant Institute is now accepting referrals for kidney transplant. Candidates will undergo a thorough evaluation process to determine their eligibility and readiness for a transplant. Physicians may now refer patients, or people with end-stage kidney disease who wish to be screened for a kidney transplant by Dr. Narisorn Atsava-Svate and Dr. Ernesto Molmenti, may call 1-833-RING-NTI (746-4684). For more information visit renown-transplant-institute and nvtransplant.org/. To join the fight, donate to the Renown Health Foundation, a non-profit organization registered with the State of Nevada and recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) entity at renown.org/give or 775-982-5545. As the region’s only Level 2 Trauma Center for adults and children, Renown serves over 1 million people and 100,000 square miles. In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital Rankings, Renown Regional Medical Center is named #1 Hospital for the State of Nevada for 2024, 2023 and 2022.     About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated health care network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,500 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.

Read More About Renown Health Achieves Key Milestone with Certification to Begin Kidney Transplant Program, Patient Assessments to Begin Immediately