When the Renown Crisis Care Center (RCCC) reopened in November, it marked a significant milestone for behavioral health services in our community. At the heart of that success was the leadership and dedication of Jimmy Lao, MSN, CCRN, CNE, Director of Nursing, Emergency Services at Renown Health.
Bringing Essential Behavioral Health Services to Northern Nevada
In the weeks leading up to the reopening, Jimmy played a pivotal role in bringing the RCCC back online, ensuring the community had access to reliable, high-quality behavioral health crisis care. He worked closely with internal teams and external partners, met with local agencies, delivered presentations and cultivated strong relationships with other nonprofit organizations across the region. Through this collaborative approach, Jimmy helped align clinical operations, community expectations and care coordination, laying the foundation for a safe, effective and highly visible relaunch.
Jimmy’s commitment did not stop once the doors reopened. In addition to his responsibilities as Director of Nursing, he has maintained a hands-on clinical presence at the Crisis Care Center since opening day. By supporting staff, troubleshooting challenges in real time and helping guide daily operations, Jimmy has ensured a smooth transition and sustained excellence in care delivery. His ability to balance strategic leadership, partnership-building and direct patient care reflects Renown’s mission in action.
What is the Crisis Care Center?
The Renown Crisis Care Center provides immediate, compassionate care for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Designed to deliver timely assessment, stabilization and connection to ongoing support, the center plays a critical role in ensuring patients receive the right level of care in the right setting. Click here to learn more.
At Renown’s Crisis Care Center, Peer Support Specialists help patients through some of the hardest moments of their lives with compassion, practical support and a steady presence. We sat down with Valerie Butler, a Peer Support Specialist at the Crisis Care Center, to talk about what brought her to this work, what a typical shift looks like and why crisis care is such a critical resource for our community.
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