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Whether you're a parent, grandparent, caregiver, or sibling, it's vital to recognize that drowning is the second leading cause of death among children," states Dr. Leland Sullivan, of Northern Nevada Emergency Physicians. "While we diligently work to protect children from water-related accidents, there's a lesser-known threat that often goes unnoticed—dry drowning, also known as delayed drowning. Surprisingly, many people remain unaware of its existence and potential dangers. Dry drowning defined Dry drowning is a side-effect of a near-drowning experience and includes spasms of the vocal cords and larynx — known as a laryngospasm. This occurs when the body attempts to shut down the passage of any liquid into the lungs. Unfortunately, it can also shut down the passage of air into the lungs and force fluid into the stomach and lungs. Often the condition is not discovered until it's too late — severe cases can cause death within one to 24 hours after a water incident occurs. Who is susceptible? Novice or first-time swimmers are at increased risk, as are children with asthma and known breathing issues. In addition, children who have had pneumonia or experienced acute respiratory distress syndrome are also at greater risk. To reduce these factors, caregivers should be exceptionally watchful of inexperienced swimmers. According to Dr. Sullivan, children under the age of 5 are most susceptible to drowning and often drown in residential swimming pools. Infants less than 1-year-old most often drown in bathtubs. What are the signs of a dry drowning episode? If your child has a near-drowning incident, a few moments of coughing until they calm down is normal. However, you should know the more severe signs and symptoms to watch for during the 24 hours following the incident, including: Persistent coughing Difficulty breathing and/or shortness of breath Chest pains Extreme fatigue and/or lethargy Change in typical behavior Face becomes pale   What is the treatment and prognosis for dry drowning? Dr. Sullivan recommends that all victims of near-drowning incidents seek medical attention, even if they have no symptoms. If caught early, dry drowning can be treated. If you think your child is experiencing a dry drowning episode, go to the nearest emergency room as quickly as possible — do not attempt treatment at home. Healthcare professionals will work to supply oxygen to your child's lungs to restore and regulate breathing.

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When it comes to our heart, keeping this vital source of life in tip-top shape is of utmost importance. Echo technologists or echocardiographers, otherwise known as "echo-techs," are charged with that mission, providing critical information that leads to life-saving interventions to keep our hearts beating strong.  Adrianne Little, echocardiographer at Renown Health, breaks down the echo-tech's role in the health system, the educational path it takes to get there and the unique perks that come with the profession.  What does an echo tech do?  “Echo techs play a key role in the diagnosis and treatment of patients,” said Adrianne. “We are members of the cardiovascular imaging team that perform ‘heart ultrasounds’ or echocardiograms. Although we are most commonly known as echo techs, our official title is either ‘cardiac sonographer’ or ‘echocardiographer.’”  Echo techs use imaging technology and sophisticated ultrasound equipment to produce images of the heart. These images show how well the heart functions, as well as the valves, chambers and blood flow. Echocardiograms are used to diagnosis and treat a variety of heart conditions such as murmurs, arrhythmias and heart failure.   At the end of the day, the main goal of echo techs is to help our cardiovascular team provide the quickest and most accurate diagnoses to help with patient management and help them receive the highest standard of care.  “When it comes to looking at the heart, we are part of the front-line team," said Adrianne. “We provide real time critical information that leads to life saving interventions down the road.”

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Senior Care Plus was Nevada’s first Medicare Advantage Plan and is still providing healthcare coverage to qualifying members in Washoe, Carson City, Clark & Nye Counties. Senior Care Plus is administered by Hometown Health, the insurance division of Renown Health. That relationship means Senior Care Plus is the only Medicare Advantage Plan supported and accepted at Renown. This preferred access to Renown is a great benefit for northern Nevadans. When it comes to healthcare coverage, there are three key factors to keep in mind. Here’s why a Senior Care Plus Medicare Advantage Plan is your best choice. 1. Cost Cost matters when searching for the right insurance plan. Of the four Senior Care Plus plans available to residents of Washoe County and Carson City, three offer a zero-dollar monthly premium and all of them offer zero-dollar primary care office visits. That means no out-of-pocket costs for you. Additionally, all Senior Care Plus plans have an annual out-of-pocket maximum. This means when you reach this amount, that’s all you will pay. Senior Care Plus pays all other covered medical benefits for the rest of the year. That’s the beauty of a Senior Care Plus Medicare Advantage Plan. 2. Size of Provider Network and Accessibility Although saving money is important, it’s more important to be able to see a doctor when and where you need to. Senior Care Plus members enjoy the most comprehensive healthcare provider network in the region. Thousands of providers, including many hard-to-find specialists, are in the Senior Care Plus network. Since Senior Care Plus is part of the Renown Health family, you get priority access to all that Renown has to offer, which you won’t find with any other Medicare Advantage Plan. 3. Coverage Medical coverage needs are personal and unique to every member. Understanding a plan’s benefits is essential when picking the best coverage for you. Of course, the important benefits you associate with a healthcare plan are included in all Senior Care Plus plans: urgent care visits, specialists’ visits, lab services, imaging — all with reasonable copays. What sets Senior Care Plus apart from the rest are the additional benefits for preventive health. For example, Senior Care Plus offers plans with a comprehensive dental benefit with first-dollar coverage, meaning you pay nothing until the benefit limit is reached.  Senior Care Plus Medicare Advantage Plans also have a vision benefit allowing you to get a new pair of eyeglasses every year. In addition, these plans offer a fitness benefit, so you can join a local gym because Senior Care Plus wants to keep you healthy. Another interesting benefit is the over-the-counter benefit. If you choose the Renown Preferred Plan, you can select $50 worth of over-the-counter products such as: cold medicine, dental products, diabetic supplies, and digestive aides. Remember, that’s $50 worth of over-the-counter products four times per year. All on a plan that doesn’t cost a thing. Senior Care Plus Medicare Advantage Plans offer many added benefits tailored to Nevadans.

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Medicaid plays a significant role in our health care system and is the nation’s public health insurance program. In addition, this program is the predominant source of long-term care coverage for Americans. Renown Health is contracted with two Medicaid plans: Molina and Anthem. If you currently have a different plan but want to change to one that Renown accepts, you can request to change plans during the open enrollment period from January 1 to March 31. Request to change your Medicaid plan in one of three ways: Request a change to your plan, or managed care organization (MCO), by reviewing the available MCO plans online at bit.ly/MCOPlansNV and filling out the form on the webpage. Email Nevada Medicaid to ask for a plan change and include your name, Medicaid ID and the names and Medicaid IDs of any dependents in your home: MCORedistribution@dhcfp.nv.gov. Call your local Medicaid district office at 775-687-1900 (northern Nevada) or 702-668-4200 (southern Nevada) to ask about changing your plan.  For more information about the Medicaid plans accepted at Renown Health, please visit: Anthem Molina Healthcare   Renown Health accepts most insurances, but please visit the link below for the full list. Click here for all accepted plans

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If you are approaching age 65, you may be starting to think about the government benefits you will soon qualify for. For example, your healthcare option to elect between Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan. What’s the difference? Original Medicare comes in two parts: Part A and Part B. Part A covers a portion of hospitalization expenses, and Part B applies to doctor visits and medical expenses, such as lab tests and some preventative screenings. A Medicare Advantage plan, also known as Part C, is an “all-in-one” alternative to Original Medicare. These “bundled” plans include the benefits of Part A, Part B and Part D (prescription drugs). Some people choose a Medicare Advantage Plans over Original Medicare because these plans offer coverage like vision, hearing, dental and more. Saves You Money First and foremost, Medicare Advantage Plans save Medicare members money –and not just a little bit of money, but a lot of money. Original Medicare only pays 80% of the cost of medical care – the Medicare beneficiary is responsible for the other 20%. A Medicare Advantage Plan is different. The Medicare Beneficiary is only responsible for a small copay, typically less than 20% of a doctor visit or procedure. More importantly, Medicare Advantage Plans have a maximum out-of-pocket amount, meaning that once you reach the limit, the Plan pays 100% of all medical services. That alone can save thousands of dollars per year – particularly if there is a hospitalization involved. Dental, Vision and Hearing Coverage What sets Medicare Advantage plans apart is the additional benefits provided that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. These benefits include dental coverage, vision coverage, hearing exams and hearing aid coverage. None of these important health care benefits are included in Original Medicare. Also, most Medicare Advantage Plans include prescription drug coverage at no additional cost, while individuals with Original Medicare need to sign-up and pay extra for Part D prescription drug coverage. Medicare Advantage Plans offer more benefits than Original Medicare and they help members save on their health care costs. Focus on Accessibility, Wellness and Preventative Health Accessible healthcare coverage is key to staying on top of your health. To join a Medicare Advantage Plan you must have Part A and Part B coverage and live in the plan’s service area. It is important to remember that Original Medicare is only valid in the United States. Fortunately, many Medicare Advantage Plans offer worldwide emergency coverage. Another important healthcare consideration to keep in mind is Medicare Advantage Plans focus on your overall well-being. They offer preventative and wellness-related benefits at no cost to you. This includes important benefits like free over-the-counter medicines and free gym memberships. You won’t find those types of benefits with Original Medicare. Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap) Some people confuse a Medicare Supplement Plan, also known as a Medigap Plan, with Medicare Advantage Plans. They are different and the biggest difference is Medicare Supplement plans come with ever-increasing premiums because they are based on your age. This means the cost of these plans increase every year. Plus, they don’t offer any supplemental benefit coverage like vision, dental or hearing. That’s not the case with a Medicare Advantage Plan. In many cases, there is no monthly premium and you receive all manner of supplemental benefits. These benefit-rich, zero-dollar premium Medicare Advantage plans are enticing people to say goodbye to pricy Medicare supplement plans and hello to Medicare Advantage Plans. Don’t worry, if you join a Medicare Advantage Plan for the first time and you aren’t happy with the plan, you’ll have special rights under federal law to buy a Medigap policy and a Medicare drug plan if you return to Original Medicare within 12 months of joining the Medicare Advantage Plan. The Flexibility to Change Your Mind A common misconception about Medicare Advantage Plans is that when you join, you are still on Medicare and are not giving up your Medicare coverage. Medicare Advantage Plans are considered “Medicare Part C.” This means they combine your Medicare Part A (hospital coverage), Part B (doctor’s coverage) and Part D (prescription drug coverage) into one convenient package that costs less and provides more. You can only join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan during the enrollment periods: Initial Enrollment Period: When you first become eligible for Medicare, you can sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period. For many, this is the seven-month period that begins three months before the month you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and ends three months after the month you turn 65. General Enrollment Period: If you have Part A coverage and you get Part B for the first time during this period (between January 1 - March 31 each year), you can also join a Medicare Advantage Plan. Your coverage may not start until July 1. Annual Election Period: Between October 15 and December 7, anyone with Medicare can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan. Your coverage will begin on January 1 (as long as the plan receives your request by December 7). Medicare Advantage Plans have been around for more than 25 years and continue to grow in popularity. In some parts of the country, more than half of all Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan. Only 40% are enrolled here in Nevada, but that number is growing every year.

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