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A Renown Anesthesiologist's Unique Journey
Dr. Nariman Rahimzadeh’s career path has been anything but typical. From humble beginnings as a shuttle bus driver for Renown Regional Medical Center, then named Washoe Medical Center, to his service as Chief of Staff for Renown South Meadows Medical Center, the steps and detours he took along the way – and the strong support from his colleagues and family members – make up a tale of perseverance, conviction, compassion and inspiration. However, his healthcare career journey began several years before he even joined Washoe Medical Center in the 1990s. It all began 7,446 miles away in Iran. This is Dr. Rahimzadeh’s story. Defining Moments The moment Dr. Rahimzadeh knew he wanted to dedicate his career to the healthcare field started during his childhood. Growing up in Iran during the midst of the Iranian Revolution, a thought that often came to mind was, “Who is helping all the people injured in the war?” The answer? The doctors. “In Iranian society, doctors are extremely valued, as they are the first to help people in need,” said Dr. Rahimzadeh. “I knew I wanted to give back to society in some way, and I see my time in Iran as very formative in my future career. I just didn’t know it yet.” After immigrating to the U.S. with his family during his preteen years, he only had one mission: to support his family. “My desires were to help my family not fall behind,” he said. “I didn’t have career aspirations at the time. All I knew is that I wanted to help my family and my community, which immediately opened its arms up to us, as well as be a good student and a good ambassador for Iran.” Dr. Rahimzadeh remembers several influential people that helped solidify his aspiration from “helping people” to “helping people as a healthcare professional.” Their family physician and other medical professionals in the family’s lives were monumental in helping him make this decision. Coupled with his natural love for the sciences, the decision to become a doctor became clear. But the question remained, “How do I get started in the healthcare field?” No Links to Healthcare? No Problem With no physicians in his immediate family and no direct connections to healthcare, Dr. Rahimzadeh set off to follow the advice he received from the influential people in his life: get a job at a healthcare facility, regardless of what the job title is. Some of his friends had recently joined Washoe Medical Center as patient transporters and mentioned job openings that were available. He sprang into action and headed to Washoe Medical Center to apply. Just one problem – he didn’t have the EMT certification requirement. Enter Barry O’Sullivan, who would be Dr. Rahimzadeh’s first supervisor at Washoe Medical Center (and a friend he still speaks with to this day). Barry saw promise in Dr. Rahimzadeh immediately. As a result, Barry made a suggestion to him that would ultimately set him on the course towards medicine. “Barry told me that he had an open position that I could work while completing the senior year of my undergraduate degree and studying for my EMT certification and eventually becoming a patient transporter. He told me Washoe Medical Center would support me in this endeavor. So, I asked what the job was and learned it was driving a shuttle bus.” Without hesitation, Dr. Rahimzadeh responded, “I’ll take it.” And so, his fulfilling journey with Washoe Medical Center, and eventually Renown Health, began. While he finished up the last few months of his degree at the University of Nevada, Reno, (UNR) Dr. Rahimzadeh proudly drove the shuttle bus a few days a week. The job not only helped him pay for his degree and put food on the table, but it also allowed him to begin living out his passion for helping people in the healthcare field. Dr. Rahimzadeh graduated with his bachelor's degree in Pre-Medicine from UNR and finished his EMT certification program. Sure enough, Barry and Washoe Medical Center lived up to their promises and helped him secure his first direct healthcare job as an EMT and Patient Transporter with REMSA. But he didn’t stop there – after several years as a ground transporter, his career literally took flight. He joined REMSA Ground Ambulance and eventually Care Flight as a Flight EMT II, caring for patients that were flying to Washoe Medical Center from nearby communities that needed lifesaving medical care. Helping save lives every day as a member of the emergency medical team is an ultimate feat, especially when it comes to Dr. Rahimzadeh. And he didn’t stop there. Valuing One-on-One Connections In the 1990s, as it is today, the U.S. experienced a significant primary care provider shortage which resulted in many medical schools encouraging students to complete their residencies in a primary care specialty, like internal medicine – which is precisely what Dr. Rahimzadeh set out to do at the University of Connecticut. However, his mind would soon change about the course of his career. “I had a deep, introspective conversation with my residency program director, openly and honestly chatting about my future,” Dr. Rahimzadeh said. “I ended up taking a week off of my residency and wrote a long pros and cons list about what I wanted to do with my life in the medical field.” Eventually he decided on anesthesiology because of the opportunity to have a one-on-one relationship with every surgery patient, regardless of their procedure. “Even though it’s for a short duration of time, it is a very impactful relationship,” he said. “I feel I am making a difference in the outcomes and lives of patients every day.” Dr. Rahimzadeh finished his internal medicine residency in three years and passed his board exam, and he went on to do the same thing for anesthesiology. He then ventured back home to Reno. Career Progression at Its Finest Dr. Rahimzadeh knows that people don’t always get to settle down in a place that influenced their upbringing, care and dream, yet he was able to make that vision a reality for himself. “I feel like Renown Health and myself have this intertwined relationship that led to my growth as a person and as a physician,” he said. “For that, I feel very blessed." Upon his arrival back to Reno with two residencies under his belt, Dr. Rahimzadeh was quickly hired at one of the two anesthesiology groups in town at the time. He started his career with Sierra Anesthesia and after working for the group for several years, he joined Associated Anesthesiologists of Reno in 2014, which went on to become one of the largest anesthesiology groups in northern Nevada. The group continuously worked very closely with Renown, taking care of all of its surgical patient needs and eventually becoming Renown Medical Group employees as of April 1, 2022, with Dr. Rahimzadeh setting up his home base at the Renown South Meadows campus. Today, Dr. Rahimzadeh wears three “hats” at Renown. As a medical professional first and foremost, his largest “hat” is his general anesthesiologist role, where he cares for patients in the operating room. Another significant “hat” is his role as the Medical Director for Surgical Services, where he reviews surgical patient charges alongside his dedicated team of nurses and ensures optimal patient outcomes by verifying they have had the appropriate workup to proceed with surgery in a safe manner. To round out his immense responsibilities with Renown, he serves as Chief of Staff for Renown South Meadows, where he makes connections with colleagues and collaborates with leaders to review protocols, policies and address concerns that arise. Outside of Renown, Dr. Rahimzadeh is still a contributor within his own anesthesiology practice. He also is the current President of the Nevada State Society of Anesthesiologists and the Director to the Board of Directors of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, helping bridge the gap in anesthesia concerns between his northern and southern Nevada colleagues. He reflects on the opportunities Renown and our local community have extended to him by saying, “If you can dream big enough and continue to chase your dreams, you can make it happen right here.” On the COVID-19 Frontlines Nothing could prepare us for the dire situation hospitals on the east coast – especially those in Livingston, New Jersey – were experiencing at the beginning of the pandemic. Livingston was known as the “second hardest hit area” by COVID-19 in April of 2020. Hospitals were overwhelmed with patients in the ICU fighting for their lives. They needed help, and they needed help now. Unable and unwilling to sit idly by, Dr. Rahimzadeh and six of his colleagues from his practice traveled to Livingston to help. They jumped in on the frontlines alongside other anesthesiologists and intensivists to offset the sudden influx of COVID-19 patients. Many lives were saved, and Dr. Rahimzadeh was a direct part of that. “When you care and work with people that also care, you can move the needle a lot – it doesn’t matter where you're from,” he said. Home Means Nevada – and Renown Renown Health is deeply rooted in the northern Nevada community. Dr. Rahimzadeh is proud to be among a diverse team who have taken responsibility for its community for generations. "We live in a very passionate and caring community, which is often underestimated,” he said. “It’s clear to me that Renown refuses to settle. Renown is incredibly progressive in providing the best for the community. We never remain stagnant, we keep moving forward and we take care of your loved ones. This health system has never been able to sit still and settle for the status quo. That stands out to me.” One story especially sticks out to Dr. Rahimzadeh as the moment when he knew that Renown was home. In 1997 while working as a patient transporter, his grandmother passed away on the sixth floor of the Sierra Tower at what is now Renown Regional Medical Center. At the funeral, a huge bouquet of flowers arrived. Not being especially close to anyone in Reno yet, Dr. Rahimzadeh's family had no idea who sent the beautiful arrangement. Turns out, it was Rod Callahan, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Washoe Medical Center at the time. “At that point, I knew I wasn’t just a part of a workforce with thousands of employees,” said Dr. Rahimzadeh. “The COO cared so much about me that he felt compelled to send such a wonderful gift during a tragic time. That’s the value of a local, community-focused hospital; the people here know you and care about you. There’s a reason why people stay at Renown for so long – we feel that connection.” Dr. Rahimzadeh also reflected on how far Renown South Meadows has come, from the time he immigrated to the U.S. to today. “Growing up, Renown South Meadows was kind of a ‘mom and pop shop’ primarily serving senior citizens in one wing and surgical patients in the other,” he said. “Now, I am so proud to see how far it has come. It really made its niche in the community in a great way. The future is bright!” It’s clear that Dr. Rahimzadeh is leaving a lasting legacy with his family, from the local community to global medicine. His son is a senior at Baylor University in Texas with a strong desire to go into medicine, just like his dad. His daughter is a junior at Bishop Manogue Catholic High School in Reno and enjoys being involved in her community. His loving wife is a speech therapist in the area. The Rahimzadeh family is thriving together, and they all share the same conviction about northern Nevada and Renown: “This is home.”
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A Q&A with Dr. Brian Erling, CEO & President of Renown Health
On behalf of Renown’s more than 7,000 employees, we are thrilled to introduce our healthcare system’s next CEO and President, Brian Erling, MD, MBA. Dr. Erling joins Renown after working for more than 20 years in Colorado, most recently as the CEO and President of Penrose-St. Francis Health System in Colorado Springs for Centura Health. “I am so excited to join Renown Health at this important time. Healthcare and our economy are amid a major transformation, and Renown Health is very well positioned for the future,” Dr. Erling said. “Our ongoing success will hinge on our ability to establish positive and productive relationships, maintain high-quality patient clinical outcomes and experiences, reduce healthcare costs, encourage innovation and improve access and affordability for patients and members.” Q: Let’s start at the beginning. When did your interest in healthcare first begin? A: Believe it or not, I started my healthcare career during high school in Minnesota when I worked as a nursing assistant. I then worked as a monitor tech while pursuing my undergraduate degree in biology from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Q: Where did you go to medical school, and what was your first job after training? A: After graduating from The John Hopkins University School of Medicine and spending three years at the University of Virginia for my residency, I spent more than a decade in the emergency department at a level 1 trauma center. Q: Does your experience as a physician impact your approach to healthcare leadership? A: Yes, absolutely. I have worked my fair share of nights, weekends and holidays, and I know the sacrifices healthcare workers – and their families – make to care for our communities. I will never take it for granted. I also understand how complex healthcare organizations are, and I have experienced these complexities from both the clinical and non-clinical sides. I have provided clinical leadership for a large, regional health system and understand that quality, safety and innovation come from the people doing the work, not from a corporate office. But you also need strong managers and leaders to facilitate and prioritize the work while providing support and coaching. Q: What is the key to a successful healthcare system? A: Teamwork. In fact, being part of a high-performing, mission-driven team is my number one motivation. It’s what gets me up in the morning and why I work in healthcare. I view our greatest resource to be our people, meaning Renown’s more than 7,000 employees. Modern technologies – such as fancy robots and imaging equipment – are essential and pretty cool, but they are not why our patients choose us. They come for trusted care in their hometown. Q: Renown Health is going through a lot of exciting changes right now. What is one thing that excites you about joining this healthcare system in a rapidly expanding area of the country? A: I am very excited about the new partnership with Renown and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. While still in its infancy, it provides the platform for us to be the center for training, research and tertiary care for the region and beyond. Q: What is something you have learned from working with CEOs at other healthcare systems? A: Healthcare leaders often have a short half-life, but that is not me. I believe it is difficult to create and move an organization toward a unified vision when your leader changes every few years. As my track record will support, this is not my style. I have been in Colorado for over twenty years and now look forward to making Reno and Renown my home for years to come. Q: As you know, Hometown Health is Renown’s health insurance arm. How does equitable access to insurance fit into a person’s and a community’s overall well-being? A: Most health systems would love to have their own health plan. The reality is that you cannot meaningfully improve the health of the population without managing value and risk. We are fortunate to have Hometown Health as part of Renown Health, and in our community, and I am excited to work with Bethany and the team to fulfill the mission of the organization. Q: What does working at a not-for-profit healthcare system mean to you? How does it differ from the for-profit sector? A: I have worked in for-profit and not-for-profit healthcare. Renown is unique as the only not-for-profit health system in the market. What that means is that we invest every penny earned back into caring for our community. We don’t send money to shareholders in California or Pennsylvania, we invest it right here in Nevada. Not only is a not-for-profit healthcare organization where I want to work for, but it is where my family and I want to go for care. Q: What do you like to do for fun? A: I love spending time with my wife and three adult children. I met my wife, Jessica, while attending medical school in Baltimore. She was working as a nurse in the surgical ICU, and I was smitten. I offered to help her with a 3 a.m. bed linen change and bath for our trauma patient, and the rest was history. I also love exploring the outdoors, especially snowboarding!
Read More About A Q&A with Dr. Brian Erling, CEO & President of Renown Health
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La Junta de Renown Health anuncia transición de director ejecutivo
Thomas Graf, médico ejecutivo con experiencia, nombrado director interino hoy El Consejo de Administración de Renown Health, dirigido por Adam Kramer, anunció que el mandato del Dr. Tony Slonim como presidente y director ejecutivo de Renown Health ha finalizado. Thomas R. Graf, M.D., FAAFP, ocupará el cargo de director ejecutivo interino. El Dr. Graf asumirá el cargo y la autoridad del director ejecutivo además de su función actual de director clínico y de calidad en Renown y de decano asociado sénior de Asuntos Clínicos en la Facultad de Medicina de Reno de la University of Nevada. Sy Johnson, MBA, actual director de operaciones de Renown, ha sido ascendido a presidente y director de operaciones interino. Tras la finalización de una investigación exhaustiva de las inquietudes planteadas a la Junta Directiva, la Junta determinó que Renown Health, sus pacientes y el personal necesitaban un nuevo liderazgo. En consecuencia, el Dr. Slonim ha sido despedido con causa de su puesto como director ejecutivo de Renown Health. El Sr. Kramer anunció hoy la transición con las siguientes palabras: “se necesitan una nueva dirección y un nuevo liderazgo dado el trabajo crítico que hay por delante. Tengo plena fe en el Dr. Tom Graf y en Sy Johnson, y en sus equipos de liderazgo sénior, quienes ya supervisan las operaciones del sistema de atención médica y quienes ayudarán a garantizar una transición sin problemas”. El Dr. Graf trabajará en colaboración con Sy Johnson, MBA, presidente interino y director de operaciones, y un equipo experimentado de ejecutivos de atención médica para guiar a Renown hacia el alcance de sus objetivos estratégicos y operativos. Kramer agregó: “Durante más de 160 años, Renown ha proporcionado atención médica asequible, accesible y de la más alta calidad a nuestra comunidad. Este compromiso continúa en pie mientras nuestros 7,000 héroes de la atención médica siguen haciendo lo más importante y lo que mejor hacemos: cuidar de nuestra comunidad”. El Dr. Graf continuará impulsando la transformación de Renown para ser una organización de atención basada en el valor, ayudará a promover las tecnologías para mejorar la experiencia del paciente y colaborará con los proveedores del Renown Medical Group, los hospitales de cuidados intensivos y mediante la red clínicamente integrada de Western Clinical Alliance, una organización de atención responsable, y la afiliación con la UNR Med. Graf es un médico ejecutivo muy exitoso que ha liderado organizaciones de atención médica y compañías aseguradoras, como también una firma de consultoría nacional. El Dr. Graf, médico de medicina de familia, investigador y académico, se ha centrado en impulsar mejoras de calidad para reducir el costo total de la atención. Ha desarrollado y hecho publicaciones sobre modelos de atención que han logrado resultados mensurablemente mejores en cuanto a calidad, costo y experiencia en una variedad de centros. Ha ejercido en un sistema de prestación de servicios integrado, por más de una década en Geisinger (PA), así como en redes clínicamente integradas y en organizaciones de atención responsable. También ha trabajado con varios centros médicos académicos en el área de consultoría con The Chartis Group. El Dr. Graf agrega: “Mi objetivo es generar mayor valor para el paciente al brindarle atención de la más alta calidad clínica. Renown es reconocido a nivel nacional por brindar una excelente atención mediante el empleo de enfoques creativos, innovadores y que aprovechan al máximo la tecnología, y espero con ansias integrar a médicos y administradores en un plan que respalde esta visión. Estoy agradecido por la oportunidad de contribuir al gran progreso que Renown Health está haciendo para convertirse en el mejor lugar donde ejercer la medicina y recibir atención. Me entusiasma unirme a este camino de transformación hacia una atención basada en el valor y servir a los pacientes, médicos y a nuestra comunidad”. Sy Johnson ha dirigido las operaciones de la red y el hospital de Renown Health durante casi siete años, más recientemente como jefe de personal/director de operaciones y anteriormente como vicepresidente ejecutivo y director de operaciones de Renown. Antes de unirse a Renown, el Sr. Johnson se desempeñó como director ejecutivo, vicepresidente sénior y director financiero de Peace Health en Vancouver, Washington, y fue parte de la gerencia sénior de Arthur Andersen & Co y KPMG. Acerca de Renown Health Renown Health es la red de atención médica integrada de administración local y sin fines de lucro más grande de la región, que presta servicios a Nevada, Lake Tahoe y el noreste de California. Con una fuerza laboral diversa de más de 7,000 empleados, Renown ha fomentado una cultura de excelencia, determinación e innovación de larga data. La organización se compone de un centro de urgencias, dos hospitales de cuidados agudos, un hospital infantil, un hospital de rehabilitación, un grupo médico y una red de atención de urgencias y Hometown Health, la compañía de seguros sin fines de lucro más grande de la región y de propiedad local, Hometown Health. Actualmente, Renown está inscribiendo participantes en el estudio genético de salud poblacional basado en la comunidad más grande del mundo, el Healthy Nevada Project®. Visite renown.org para obtener más información.
Leer más About La Junta de Renown Health anuncia transición de director ejecutivo
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8 Financial & Wellness Benefits for Employees
Escuchamos las principales necesidades actuales y futuras de los empleados; nos aseguramos de que las familias estén sanas y tengan seguridad financiera La semana pasada, la Reserva Federal aumentó la tasa de interés de referencia por primera vez desde marzo de 2020. Esto significará un costo más alto para los endeudamientos con tarjetas de crédito, los préstamos para estudio y vivienda, el financiamiento de automóviles, entre otras. También podría representar mayores ganancias en las cuentas de ahorros, según la institución. Esta noticia, junto con las inquietudes sobre la salud mental y el bienestar físico de los cuidadores a medida que superan la pandemia, ha presentado a los líderes de Renown una oportunidad única de reformular los enfoques sobre cómo ayudar a sus empleados a crecer, a sentirse apoyados económicamente e involucrarse como parte de un equipo saludable y pujante. Después de escuchar a los empleados, el Departamento de Recursos Humanos de Renown Health anunció una serie de beneficios adicionales para promover formas de aumentar el equilibrio entre el trabajo y la vida personal, apoyar estrategias de descanso y recuperación, y brindar nuevos recursos financieros fundamentales para que los equipos estén satisfechos y tengan un alto desempeño. Renown Health está contratando personas para ocupar puestos clave para apoyar la salud y el bienestar de nuestra comunidad, y alienta a aquellos a quienes les apasiona el sector de servicios a unirse a la familia de Renown y luchar por la causa justa. Para ello, deben postularse en línea en careers.renown.org Los beneficios nuevos y ampliados de 2022 para los empleados incluyen los siguientes: 1. Beneficios ampliados del plan de salud física, del plan médico y del dental. El programa MOBE, que se ofrece sin cargo, brinda a cada empleado una Guía de salud personal para apoyar cuatro elementos centrales de la salud: dieta, sueño, movimiento físico y bienestar emocional, con el fin de ayudarles a desarrollar hábitos saludables, impulsar una vida mejor, cargarse de energía y promover la sanación. Este año, Renown amplió su cobertura del plan médico al agregar nuevos beneficios, sin aumentar las tasas que pagan los empleados. Renown ofrece beneficios de seguro de salud a través de Hometown Health, la única y más grande compañía de seguros sin fines de lucro de propiedad local del norte de Nevada con cobertura médica de amplio alcance. Hometown Health ofrece acceso a la red más grande de servicios clínicos de la mayor calidad prestados por 1,200 médicos y especialistas en 150 centros de atención, incluidos los del Renown Medical Group: los centros de atención de urgencia, los servicios de laboratorio y de diagnóstico por imágenes, y los mejores hospitales del estado según el Us News & World Report, el Renown Regional Medical Center (2022) y el Renown South Meadows Medical Center (2021). Los nuevos beneficios médicos que se agregaron este año incluyen visitas de telesalud con un copago de $0; recetas de Renown Pharmacy sin deducible y, si los empleados y sus familias necesitan viajar fuera del área para recibir atención esencial, ahora se ofrece un estipendio para viajar al University Medical Center en Las Vegas o al University of Utah Health. La organización también redujo el costo de las primas del seguro de salud que pagan los empleados a tiempo parcial (entre 20 y 30 horas). Además de las mejoras en los beneficios para la salud, la red dental se amplió con MetLife Dental, sin aumentos en las primas de las tasas del plan dental que pagan los empleados en 2022. Como organización sin fines de lucro, Renown puede ofrecer a los empleados la capacidad de establecer cuentas de gastos flexibles como una forma de usar dinero libre de impuestos para pagar gastos médicos que no cubren otros planes de salud. 2. Mejoras en los programas de apoyo para el bienestar y la salud mental. Renown Health es el hogar del Stacie Mathewson Behavioral Health & Addictions Institute. Como líderes, están trabajando para eliminar el estigma y las barreras al uso de servicios de salud mental cuando se necesitan. Para ello, hacen énfasis en que buscar ayuda demuestra fortaleza, no debilidad. Esto incluye alentar a los miembros del equipo a tomarse un día libre para renovarse y recargar energía o aprovechar las visitas de consejería de salud mental que son confidenciales y sin cargo. Renown actualizó su política para incluir el bienestar mental y emocional como categoría elegible para el uso de la licencia por enfermedad. Durante la pandemia, para asegurarse de que los empleados contaran con el tiempo necesario llegado el caso, el equipo de liderazgo agregó 80 horas de licencia por enfermedad a la licencia por enfermedad a la que tienen derecho los empleados, así como un copago de $0 para sesiones de salud conductual y servicios de nutrición de Teladoc (servicio virtual). Renown fomenta el buen estado físico y estimula la salud y el bienestar de los empleados al apoyar la participación en carreras (a pie o en bicicleta) en sus comunidades. Los empleados que participan en carreras, que corren, caminan, que participan en triatlones o realizan ciclismo pueden solicitar un reembolso por el cargo de una entrada individual de hasta $100. 3. Aprecio y participación de los empleados. Es posible que muchos equipos ahora estén trabajando en el lugar, de manera híbrida o de forma remota, lo que significa que reunirse para crear nuevos recuerdos resulta más difícil. Los líderes de Renown Health continúan generando camaradería y vínculos en el lugar de trabajo al invertir en realizar eventos mensuales de orgullo para el personal, y organizar todo tipo de encuentros, desde reuniones sociales en línea hasta noches de juegos, con el fin de ayudar a restablecer los vínculos. En Renown, la participación de los empleados también adopta la forma de programas de reconocimiento. El programa Everyday Amazing alienta a los empleados a darse las gracias unos a otros por un servicio excepcional mediante una plataforma en línea, y a obtener certificados y puntos para tarjetas de regalo y premios. Employee and organization-led leadership and career education programs are encouraged, as well as paid volunteer opportunities (four hours each quarter), and matches of up to $1000 for non-profit organization boards on which Renown Health employees serve. Renown ofrece eventos y anuarios para ayudar a los empleados a celebrar su historia y logros. También organiza Celebrate Amazing, un evento especial para celebrar los hitos de servicio y honrar a los galardonados como “Mejores Talentos” y “Mujeres de Logros”. Renown apoya a la comunidad e invita a los proveedores médicos y a los empleados para que asistan a eventos de los Reno Aces, a partidos de fútbol y básquetbol de la UNR, a la Great Reno Balloon Race y a cientos de eventos de la comunidad cada año. 4. Vivir sin deudas con programas de bienestar financiero. Hay disponible un programa gratuito de bienestar financiero de Salary Finance para los empleados, con un préstamo vinculado al salario. Este beneficio permite a los empleados tomar préstamos o ahorrar dinero directamente a través de su cheque de pago. Los préstamos vinculados al salario permiten a los empleados acceder a crédito asequible que pueden pagar fácilmente mediante su salario, lo cual les ayuda a pagar deudas existentes o a evitar el uso de tarjetas de crédito con altos intereses, los cargos por sobregiro o los préstamos de días de pago. Salary Finance ofrece opciones de préstamo asequibles para momentos de necesidad, así como un componente de educación financiera que ayuda a los empleados a comprender su nivel actual de contenido financiero específico según sus necesidades. Desde su lanzamiento, más del 40 % de los empleados ha participado en la oferta de Salary Finance, y más de 500 han accedido a créditos asequibles a través del Financial Wellbeing Hub de Salary Finance para Renown. “Ha tenido un impacto maravilloso y ha disminuido el estrés frecuente que sentía respecto a mi deuda”, expresó un empleado de Renown inscrito en el programa. En total, se calcula que los empleados han ahorrado casi $275,000 en intereses, y esa cifra continúa aumentando a medida que más empleados aprovechan el beneficio. El programa Greater Perks de Greater Nevada Credit Union, la cooperativa de crédito oficial para empleados de Renown, ofrece una serie de beneficios que incluyen un bono de $100 por abrir una nueva cuenta corriente, $25 por abrir una nueva cuenta “I Can Save”, $500 de crédito por una valoración para un préstamo para vivienda, tasas bajas para préstamos personales a corto plazo y préstamos para automóviles, además de seminarios regulares sobre bienestar financiero en línea. No se requiere ser miembro de la cooperativa de crédito para aprovechar las ofertas de Greater Nevada Mortgage. Además, los donantes han aportado, mediante la Fundación de Renown Health, fondos para ayudar a los empleados que han sufrido una catástrofe financiera personal y necesitan financiamiento de emergencia para pagar facturas, sin necesidad de pago. 5. Reembolso de asistencia educativa, pago de préstamo estudiantil y educación continua para estudiantes. Renown valora y alienta a los empleados a continuar estudiando y apoya las aspiraciones y metas profesionales. El programa de asistencia educativa ofrece oportunidades de reembolso y pago de préstamos, así como orientación educativa y financiera de expertos. Se proporciona reembolso de matrícula, certificación y certificado a los empleados que actualmente están inscritos en una universidad/facultad o están trabajando por obtener una certificación o certificado profesional. Además, la organización apoya a los empleados que han completado su educación anteriormente y que ahora enfrentan la carga de los préstamos estudiantiles. Los empleados también tienen la opción de invertir en un plan de ahorros para la universidad 529, un programa de inversión diseñado para ayudar a las personas a ahorrar para gastos educativos futuros de hijos/dependientes en casi cualquier universidad privada o pública o institución de educación superior acreditada. 6. Asistencia para el cuidado infantil y de adultos en el lugar. Organizar el cuidado infantil ha sido un obstáculo para los padres que trabajan a lo largo de la pandemia. Renown es uno de los pocos sistemas de salud que ofrecen cuidado infantil en el lugar. En Renown Health Child Care Center, se recibe a los hijos de los empleados que tienen entre seis semanas y seis años (que aún no asisten al jardín de infantes). El centro está autorizado para 176 niños y cuenta con 11 aulas: tres aulas para bebés, cuatro para niños pequeños y cuatro aulas para niños en edad preescolar. El personal ayuda a los padres con recursos para buscar cuidado infantil en el lugar o con proveedores de servicio de guardería autorizados en la comunidad. Los empleados cuidan cada vez más de los adultos mayores en sus familias. Como organización sin fines de lucro, los empleados pueden contribuir en sus cuentas FSA con ahorros libres de impuestos que cubran el cuidado de niños y adultos mayores. 7. Horarios y ubicaciones flexibles. Renown ahora brinda a los proveedores médicos y a los empleados la posibilidad de trabajar en el lugar, de manera híbrida o remota. Este año, dado que muchos empleados que trabajaban de forma remota se mudaron del estado para estar más cerca de sus amigos o familiares, Renown no se quedó atrás y contrató a una organización de empleo profesional llamada Tri Net, en un modelo de empleo conjunto para obtener ayudar con los beneficios y la administración de impuestos a nivel nacional. Ahora, Renown puede reclutar y conservar empleados que trabajan de forma remota en ubicaciones que van desde Maine hasta Minnesota y ofrecer, para una amplia variedad de puestos de TI, servicios de apoyo de finanzas y otros tipos, horarios remotos y flexibles que resultan atractivos para muchos empleados en todo el país. Los médicos ahora cuentan con una gran variedad de puestos disponibles en más de 100 ubicaciones en todo el estado. El 7 de marzo, Renown aumentó el límite del diferencial de turno a 10 % hasta $6 por ahora y agregó un diferencial de fin de semana para el personal de hasta un 5 %. En los hospitales de Renown, hay puestos de trabajo disponibles las 24 horas, los 7 días de la semana para servir a la comunidad. Otros proveedores y empleados aprovechan las opciones de semana laboral comprimida, turnos de 12 horas, entre otras, que les permiten tener flexibilidad para llevar la vida que desean en el trabajo y en el hogar. 8. Plan de ahorros para la jubilación de Renown. Hay disponibles planes de ahorro para la jubilación, incluido el plan 401(k) completo a través de Vanguard, para que los empleados ahorren para el momento de jubilarse. Los empleados pueden contribuir entre el 1 y el 75 % del pago antes de aplicados los impuestos (hasta el límite anual que establece el IRS) y recibir una contribución equivalente de Renown del 4 % cuando aportan un 4 % o más a un plan 401(k). Se pueden hacer traspasos de planes 401(k), 403(b), 457 u otros planes calificados de un empleador anterior a un plan de Vanguard en cualquier momento. Además, se permiten retiros en servicio la edad de 59 años y medio 2de la cuenta 401(k) y se agregó una nueva opción de Roth 401(k). Únase al equipo de Renown: Renown Health está contratando personas para ocupar puestos clave en la organización para apoyar la salud y el bienestar de nuestra comunidad. Para unirse a la familia de Renown y luchar por la causa justa, postúlese en línea en careers.reown.org. Acerca de Renown Health Renown Health es la red de atención médica integrada de administración local y sin fines de lucro más grande de la región, que presta servicios a Nevada, Lake Tahoe y el noreste de California. Con una fuerza laboral diversa de más de 7,000 empleados, Renown ha fomentado una cultura de excelencia, determinación e innovación de larga data. La organización se compone de un centro de urgencias, dos hospitales de cuidados agudos, un hospital infantil, un hospital de rehabilitación, un grupo médico y una red de atención de urgencias y Hometown Health, la compañía de seguros sin fines de lucro más grande de la región y de propiedad local, Hometown Health. Actualmente, Renown está inscribiendo participantes en el estudio genético de salud poblacional basado en la comunidad más grande del mundo, el Healthy Nevada Project®. Visite renown.org para obtener más información.
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La gratitud toma vuelo en Renown Health durante la celebración de la Semana del Personal de Enfermería y del Hospital
La Unidad de Cirugía General de Renown estrena un par de alas de ángel elaboradas por el personal y sus familias para conmemorar la Semana del Personal de Enfermería y del Hospital, del 4 al 10 de mayo. Una obra de arte especial en la Unidad de Cirugía General de Renown Health aporta color y alegría a todos los que pasan por allí. The unit’s new angel wings backdrop is made up of individually-decorated feathers – created by Renown nurses, certified nursing assistants, unit clerks, supervisors, staff’s family members and anyone else who wanted to contribute their creativity. Este adorno angelical se creó para celebrar la Semana del Personal de Enfermería y del Hospital en Renown, que se celebra del 4 al 10 de mayo, y arroja luz sobre algunas de las cosas por las que nuestro personal de enfermería está más agradecido. “This art project was a month in the making,” said nurse manager of Renown’s general surgical unit, Deanna Olson. “A true collaborative effort, our staff, and even some of their children, would use their breaks and downtime to cut out and decorate feathers. Some focused on using bright, vibrant colors, while others wrote about what they are grateful for and the things that make them happy.” Doodles of pets, names of family members and inspirational quotes are just a few of the things featured on the feathers. Los nombres de los 110 empleados que trabajan en la unidad también se pueden encontrar en las alas de ángel. The idea behind the backdrop theme was inspired by nurse Melissa Vierra, who spent her last night as part of the general surgical unit working with a few team members to build the angel wings. Vierra now serves as a nursing administrative manager for Renown. “It takes an angel to be selfless enough to devote oneself to the care of others,” said Vierra. All our angels are as unique as the feathers in the wings, but together, we are united as a team to provide the best care possible for our patients. I am extremely grateful for my nursing family and all the lives they touch, including mine, every day.” A few Renown nurses joined Vierra in expressing their gratitude: “I am grateful that I have a job and for everything I have in my life.” – Elizabeth Rios, CNA “I am grateful for my family.” – Jena Smith, RN “I am grateful for my health.” – Mary Gutierrez, UC “I am grateful that I am not sick.” – Barby Workman, CNA “I am grateful for my life.” – Sierra Genz, RN “I am grateful for my health.” – Alyssa Daly, RN “I am grateful to be working.” – Skye Sauls, RN “I am grateful for my pets and my family.” – Colette Chapman, RN “I am grateful for the Bob Ross-esque landscapes.” – Tahni Murphy, RN “I am grateful for my family, my health and having a job that I love.” – Deanna Olson, RN During times of uncertainty, it’s these things, coupled with our amazing patients and teammates that keep us going,” added Olson. “I’m lucky to have the angel wings right outside my office. Seeing our angels from all departments take photos in front of the wings and hearing the love and happiness in their voices gives me hope to look towards the future – our community is in amazing hands.” ### 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 es uno de los mayores empleadores privados de la región y cuenta con una fuerza laboral de más de 7,000 empleados. 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. Visite renown.org para obtener más información. Media Contact: Public Relations M: 775-691-7308 E: news@renown.org
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La comunidad reconoce a los homenajeados con el premio Northern Nevada Nurses Of Achievement 2020
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. El Comité acaba de anunciar a los 2020 galardonados, entre los que se incluyen siete enfermeros de alto desempeño de Renown Health. El personal de enfermería está al frente de los equipos de atención que trabajan para combatir la pandemia de COVID-19, y el 2020 fue declarado acertadamente como el “Año Internacional del Personal de Enfermería y Partería” por la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Celebrar a nuestro personal de enfermería este año es más importante que nunca, y Renown se enorgullece de ser el hogar de siete de los ganadores del premio Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement 2020 en las siguientes categorías: 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. De un grupo de más de 400 enfermeros nominados públicamente que prestan cuidados en los centros de atención y hospitales del norte de Nevada, el Comité anunció un total de 14 ganadores de premios durante una celebración virtual de premios el viernes, 28 de agosto. 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. Los enfermeros tienen una influencia directa en los resultados de cada paciente, y felicito a los 14 enfermeros por sus logros excepcionales”. 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.” Oportunidades de entrevista Un 2020 miembro del personal de enfermería que recibió el premio Nurses of Achievement y un representante del equipo de liderazgo de enfermería de Renown estarán encantados de hablar sobre este prestigioso honor, así como también sobre lo que significa ser enfermero durante estos tiempos sin precedentes. Envíe un correo electrónico a news@renown.org o llame al 775691-7308 para programar una entrevista. 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. Con una fuerza laboral diversa de más de 7,000 empleados, Renown ha fomentado una cultura de excelencia, determinación e innovación de larga data. La organización se compone de un centro de urgencias, dos hospitales de cuidados agudos, un hospital infantil, un hospital de rehabilitación, un grupo médico y una red de atención de urgencias y Hometown Health, la compañía de seguros sin fines de lucro más grande de la región y de propiedad local, 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. Actualmente, Renown está inscribiendo participantes en el estudio genético de salud poblacional basado en la comunidad más grande del mundo, el Healthy Nevada Project®. Visite renown.org para obtener más información. Acerca de Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement El Comité de Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement, que ha destacado la profesión de enfermería desde 1999, trabaja para honrar a sus colegas y para aumentar la concienciación sobre la enfermería como profesión. The committee also supports the growth of the profession in awarding scholarships for nursing students.
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Brian Erling, MD, MBA, Named President & CEO Of Renown Health
Healthcare physician CEO with 20 years of experience to lead northern NV’s largest health system on Nov. 14, 2022 Renown Health has selected Brian Erling, MD, MBA, as the health system’s next CEO and president, effective 14 de noviembre de 2022. Dr. Erling is a seasoned healthcare executive with over 20 years of experience leading teams in diverse healthcare settings, including locally governed, not-for-profit hospitals and integrated health systems; physician practices; publicly traded healthcare companies; and private equity-backed healthcare ventures Dr. Erling is a former healthcare executive with Centura Health in Denver having served since 2016 in positions of increasing and major responsibility, including Chief Medical Officer, Senior Vice President & Chief Clinical Officer and most recently as President & CEO of Penrose-St. Francis Health Services which represents the Colorado Springs market for Centura Health and includes Penrose Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, and St. Francis Hospital-Interquest slated to open in July 2023. During his tenure, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, responsible for providing clinical leadership to 17 hospitals and 21,000 caregivers. A highly experienced emergency medicine physician, Dr. Erling has long been a leader in quality improvement and is a Baldrige Executive Fellow through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Dr. Erling also oversaw a partnership between Penrose-St. Francis Health and the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs through the William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center, a first-of-its-kind facility, designed with intentional collaboration spaces for student and faculty education and research that opened in 2020. Prior to joining Centura Health, Dr. Erling served as President of the Alliance Group, a subsidiary of Envision Healthcare. He was also a founding partner of the Apex Emergency Group, PC in Denver and has served as the Denver medical director for American Medical Response. Dr. Erling received his Bachelor of Science in biology from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa; his Medical Doctorate from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore; and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado in Denver. He completed his residency in emergency medicine at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Dr. Erling is board certified through the American Board of Emergency Medicine. “Dr. Erling is a collaborative and relational leader who brings a depth of experience to Renown Health and to our community. He is a healthcare executive focused on clinical quality and safety, an approachable servant-leader who inspires others with emotional intelligence and relationship skills; and a seasoned strategist with experience and discipline around healthcare operations, finance, and a proven ability to advance performance,” said Adam Kramer, chair of Renown Health’s Board of Directors. “Dr. Erling has the exceptional leadership skills, experience, background, vision and a commitment to Renown’s mission, values, and culture. We are happy to have Dr. Erling leading Renown Health and know he, his wife Jessica and family will be warmly welcomed to our northern Nevada community.” “I am so excited to be joining Renown Health at this important time. Healthcare and our economy are in the midst of a major transformation, and Renown Health is very well positioned for the future,” Dr. Erling said. “Our ongoing success will hinge on our ability to establish positive and productive relationships, maintain high-quality patient clinical outcomes and experiences, reduce healthcare costs, encourage innovation and improve access and affordability for patients and members.” Dr. Erling will assume the full duties of president and CEO on 14 de noviembre de 2022. Dr. Thomas Graf, who has served as interim CEO and Sy Johnson MBA, who has served as interim president, will both work with Dr. Erling to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities. Dr. Graf will continue to serve as Chief Clinical and Quality Officer for Renown Health and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. Sy Johnson, MBA, will continue to serve as Chief Operations Officer and Chief of Staff for Renown Health. Dr. Erling and his wife Jessica have three adult children and enjoy making the most of the great outdoors. 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 6,500 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. Renown is currently enrolling participants in a community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®.
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20 Years of Compassion and Dedication
When you meet Poeth Kilonzo, Director of Oncology Nursing at Renown Health, you are immediately greeted with a warm smile that puts your mind at ease. Within the William N. Pennington Cancer Institute, Poeth enjoys a strong reputation among her employees and patients as someone they can always rely on, no matter how rough the tides may flow. As an incredibly humble oncology professional, you may not realize that behind that smile is the power of a best-in-class nurse and leader holding a 20+ year career of diverse nursing experience and leadership excellence – dedicating the majority of her service to Renown Health. Join us as we dive into Poeth’s unique journey through Renown. Finding Her Passion Ever since she could remember, Poeth has been a “people person.” Above all else, she cared for people – and she cared a lot. What better place for her to be than healthcare? After moving to northern Nevada from Kenya, she began working in private patient care working with home health and dementia patients while taking classes at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) in 2000. One day, a patient asked her a question that would change the course of her career journey: Did you ever think about becoming a nurse? Driven by not only the words of encouragement of her patients and supervisors in home health but also the rallying support from her family and friends, including her husband and high school friend, who both have decades of experience interacting with nurses in healthcare (with her husband spending many of those years at Renown), Poeth knew this was the path she was meant to take. “That was it; it was like a light switch had flipped,” said Poeth. “I switched to nursing overnight.” According to Poeth, TMCC’s nursing program offered her an incredibly supportive environment, which was especially important as she was a young mom at the time. Working in healthcare, going to nursing school and raising a family all at the same time is no easy task, but to Poeth, this was her calling. “Regardless of my path, I knew I wanted to be a nurse that was close to patients, sitting with them and holding their hand throughout their treatment,” said Poeth. During nursing school, Poeth completed clinicals at several hospitals in Reno – three of them were at Renown Health (known as Washoe Medical Center at the time). What immediately stood out to her was the passion of the pediatrics unit, especially in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). “While I knew that pediatrics wasn’t going to be my arena, some of the best times in my life were during my pediatrics clinical,” said Poeth. “It opened me up to how welcoming Renown is.” While doing her rotations, nursing leaders helped Poeth and her fellow classmates discover Renown’s Nurse Apprentice program, an apprenticeship designed exclusively for local northern Nevada nursing students. One of those leaders asked her, “have you considered doing a rotation in oncology?” And another light switch flipped. “Bingo. I am becoming an oncology nurse apprentice,” Poeth recalls. And that’s exactly what she did. After her four-month apprenticeship ended in February 2002, she walked into her interview with Joanna Gold, who would end up being her supervisor and one of her greatest mentors until she passed away in recent years. With her experience and enthusiastic spirit on her side, Poeth fervently expressed her passion and interest in working in oncology. And Joanna saw all of that and more. In June 2002, Poeth was presented with a two-year oncology RN contract, which she easily signed – however, she knew right then and there but she was not going anywhere. Renown was her home, and oncology ignited the fire within her. “The nurses in this unit are part of what kept me here,” Poeth remembers. “These nurses would really do anything for their patients. The commitment and love they all had for one another truly was like family. It inspired me to learn more and give even better care to my patients." To Poeth, it didn’t feel like she was coming to work just to do a job – she was following her dreams. “You don’t think about the work you do; you think about the service,” said Poeth. From there, Poeth spent three years on the floor as an oncology RN and became a night shift supervisor in 2005. She was thriving. But this part of her journey was only the beginning. When Opportunity Arises, Take It In March 2007, Poeth and her husband welcomed their third child – and for her, working a day shift position would serve her the best at her current stage of life. This revelation led her down to Renown South Meadows Medical Center, where she became a staff nurse in Medical Telemetry. It was in the telemetry unit where Poeth contributed to one of the largest digital transformations Renown would ever go through: transitioning from paper records to electronic records on EPIC. From there, Poeth was inspired to get back into leadership in 2012 as the Supervisor of Clinical Nursing overseeing nurses, clinical outcomes and payroll in the medical/telemetry unit and intensive care unit (ICU). The timing of her leadership role lined up perfectly with her decision to take her skills to the next level, achieving a bachelor’s degree from Nevada State College in 2016. The timing of her degree lined up perfectly with what was about to come; she embarked on her first leadership role at Renown This is where she would happily stay for 11 years, eventually becoming the Manager of Nursing in telemetry and the ICU, noting that Renown South Meadows felt like a second home to her. “I wore many hats at South Meadows,” Poeth recalls. “From piloting back coding and handling compliance work to being on the patient floor and heading up South Meadows’ first high school hospital volunteer program, I got very involved. We had seven years without having a single nurse traveler in our unit." It wasn’t long before Poeth was inspired to expand her education even further, and she graduated in January 2018 with a master’s degree in nursing clinical leadership from Western Governors University. Thanks to Renown’s educational assistance programs, our health system invested directly in Poeth’s education with tuition reimbursement and a $1,000 nursing scholarship. Soon after celebrating her achievement, Jennifer Allen Fleiner – who was the Director of Nursing at Renown South Meadows at the time – asked Poeth yet another question that would bring her to the precipice of another career detour: “Have you ever considered transferring from South Meadows to Renown Regional?” Moments later, Alicia Glassco, Director of Nursing for Renown Regional, asked her the same question, noting that the hospital’s neurosurgery unit needed the leadership of someone just like Poeth. “It took me a whole week to make a decision, because this was one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made in my life,” said Poeth. “I truly loved South Meadows. After that week, my leader told me, ‘you know what, Poeth? You’ve reached your pinnacle. You need and deserve a new challenge. Learn from this new team and teach them something. I think you have a huge opportunity for growth.” So, Poeth decided to apply for the position and shadow the neurosurgery team, where unlike her unit, the majority of the team at the time were travelers. But this was a challenge Poeth was up to – so she was accepted into the role. “At the end of the day, these patients deserved consistent care,” Poeth emphasized. “I knew I had to take this position for the patients – they were the ones who sold me on this job. They are the reason why we are all here. It was important for me to be an advocate for them.” The big hills to climb didn’t slow down Poeth; in fact, the exact opposite happened. Within her first year in the neurosurgery unit, her team onboarded 18 new graduates and replaced travelers. “We were hiring like crazy,” said Poeth. “My standing agenda at all section meetings focused on hiring and our quality metrics. I started having a relationship with our doctors. Once we created a strong doctor/nurse collaboration, our nurses started staying with us longer.” Everything on the unit was going great. Then, COVID-19 hit. “Since we had private patient rooms, our unit became the first COVID unit at Renown Regional,” Poeth recalls. “My whole staff that I had built up had to be distributed elsewhere. I started caring for COVID patients. We relied on our Infection Prevention team a lot. And at the same time, I was worried about my family in Africa.” Despite the stressful nature that the pandemic brought upon health systems everywhere, according to Poeth, she knew she had to continue on. “The neurosurgery team ended up merging with orthopedic trauma, which was very difficult,” said Poeth. “We went from 28 beds to 58 beds. The key to success here was training. Nurses are very resilient, and through training, we were able to stabilize the unit.” Noticing the opportunity for virtual demonstrations that were previously offered only in-person, Poeth spearheaded online trainings for nursing, physical therapy, mobility, head injuries and more, allowing teams across Renown to upskill in safe spaces. These programs continued throughout the pandemic, and Poeth was proud to be a figurehead through it all, helping to stabilize the unit while creating strong relationships with the entire team, many of whom followed her from Renown South Meadows to Renown Regional. Then, she gets another visitor – her Chief Nursing Executive – in her office with yet another opportunity. Have You Considered... In September 2022, Chief Nursing Executive Melodie Osborn walked into Poeth’s office with those three words that Poeth has heard for decades: “Have you considered...” “Before Melodie could even finish, I thought, ‘I have considered A LOT in my career!’” said Poeth. Melodie told Poeth that the William N. Pennington Cancer Institute was looking for a Director of Oncology Nursing, noting that this could be yet another growth opportunity for her and a chance for her to go back to her roots. “I had just celebrated my twentieth year at Renown; I knew this was going to be a decision I really had to think about,” said Poeth. “Everyone believed in me. Alicia Glassco told me, ‘Poeth, you are ready for this. Go for it.’ Once I applied for the position and started getting my updated chemotherapy certifications, I thought, ‘they are right; I got this.’” At this point in her career, Poeth had been hyper-focused on inpatient care, and this role would be her first time caring for patients in the outpatient setting. After going through the interview process, however, Poeth knew that this was where she was meant to be yet again – and colleagues she hadn’t seen in years reaffirmed that commitment. “I felt the most excited about the job when I toured the facility,” Poeth recalls. “I’ll never forget what one of the infusion nurses told me on my tour. She told me, ‘I don’t know if you remember me, but I remember you; I came from Renown South Meadows, and you were so nice to me as I was precepting as a new nurse. Your kindness was unforgettable to me.’ The fact that people like her wanted me in the unit so badly inspired me to come back.” Soon enough, Poeth became the Director of Oncology Nursing, a position she still proudly holds to this day. Once she was hired, she immediately went into deep learning mode, mastering skills such as revenue integrity, credentialing and the insurance process. She attributes Supervisor of Infusion Kaitlin Hildebrand and Director of Radiation Oncology Services Susan Cox for helping her succeed. Shortly after assuming the position, Poeth noticed yet another opportunity for cross-training within the organization to combat short staffing – training nurses from the Float Pool to care for patients in Infusion Services. “Between May and July of this year, we trained six nurses from Float Pool to do infusion therapy services, which offered so much relief to my team; I am so thankful to Rendee Perry, the Manager of Nursing in our Float Pool unit, and her team for their support,” said Poeth. “My mission in outpatient oncology is to serve the staff and patient population and create those strong relationships." Poeth's efforts to circumvent nurse burnout go beyond cross-training – as a director, she is always there for her team members no matter what, leading with kindness every step of the way. “I never miss a 7:45 a.m. huddle unless I am in a ‘cannot miss’ commitment; I want my employees to always know that I am there for them and that they are cared for both on and off the job,” Poeth emphasizes. “I want them to feel like they are valued, their families are valued and their mental health is valued; after all, without my team, we cannot care for patients. It’s important for them to know that I am here to be a security blanket and that there is always something we can do to solve a problem." Today, Poeth enjoys a full team of core Renown staff members whom patients look forward to seeing – and the high patient satisfaction scores to prove it. “Our team is so established that patients feel comfort in knowing they are always going to know exactly who they are being treated by,” said Poeth. “We will always work to maintain that consistency.” Staying True to the Mission Renown’s mission of making a genuine difference in the health and well-being of our community resonates closely with Poeth. Before she arrives at the infusion unit every day, she asks herself: What can I do to make it easier for my team to deliver care? “It takes a village to deliver the care we do,” said Poeth. “Our nurses are priceless. You can’t place a monetary value on dealing with life and death every day. This is what inspires me. It’s all about helping each other out and keeping those relationships strong.” Maintaining those relationships on the floor, according to Poeth, requires one main ingredient: work-life balance. “I want my nurses to be able to balance sending their kids to kindergarten and giving their patients their first chemotherapy treatments,” Poeth emphasizes. “I genuinely care about their lives. It’s nice when you get to know your team’s children, grandkids, spouse and hobbies. I’m grateful that Renown has given us the autonomy to foster that flexible environment within our teams. It is so rewarding to have such a strong impact on these employees.” To Poeth, it’s all about doing and then duplicating. Luckily for her team and infusion patients in northern Nevada, a new infusion center at Renown South Meadows is planned to open in the coming years as part of our commitment to expanding care. Her team is excited to grow their expertise down to south Reno – Poeth's original home hospital. “I strongly believe that as nurses, we are meant to be where we are meant to be at the time,” said Poeth. “Be kind to yourself and remember your ‘why.’ Take advantage of the opportunity you have.” To all nurses (and future nurses) out there, Poeth wants you to know that you are welcomed and valued. You are saving lives every day, and to her, that is worth everything. “Always remain focused, even throughout all the challenges. Never forget why you got into nursing. And lastly, always stay true to your own mission,” closes Poeth.
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New CEO of Renown Health, Dr. Brian Erling, Shares Thoughts With Physicians And Colleagues on His First Day
Get to know Renown’s new CEO in his letter to employees and care providers. Today marks Dr. Brian Erling’s first day as Renown Health’s President & CEO. Dr. Erling sent the following letter and this video to Renown’s employees and care providers. We are pleased to share it with our community. Hello! Today marks my first day as your Renown Health President and CEO, so I thought I would kick off the occasion with a note. Throughout the interview process, I have been beyond impressed with the passion and purpose demonstrated by all who I have met, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the warm welcome that we have received. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you, but it may take some time to get to all 7000 of you, so I thought I would share some information not included in the initial announcement. A bit about where I come from and what I believe, which informs how I approach leadership. Healthcare has been my passion for as long as I can remember. I grew up in Minnesota and started my healthcare career as a nursing assistant during high school, and then as a monitor tech during college. After medical school and training, I went on to spend the next dozen years in the ED of a Level I trauma center in west Denver. I met my wife, Jessica, while attending medical school in Baltimore. She was working as a nurse in the surgical ICU and I was smitten. I offered to help her with a 3 am turn and bed linen change for our trauma patient, and the rest was history. We have three kids ages 17-22. I may wear a suit, but first and foremost I am a husband, father, clinician and a caregiver. Over the last 20+ years, I have worked my fair share of nights, weekends, and holidays, and I know the sacrifice you and your families make to care for our community. I will never take it for granted. I have been the sole provider covering a busy night shift, and I know that the trust and collaboration with your immediate team matters more than anything I am putting in this email. In fact, being part of a high performing, mission-driven team is my number one motivation. It’s what gets me up in the morning and why I work in healthcare. I have provided clinical leadership for a large, regional health system and understand that quality, safety, and innovation comes from the people doing the work, not from a corporate office. But you also need strong managers and leaders to facilitate and prioritize the work, and to provide support and inspiration. I view our greatest resource to be our people (each of you). Fancy robots, imaging equipment, etc. are essential, but they are not why our patients choose us. They come for your brand of hometown, trusted care. I am very excited about the new partnership with Renown and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. While still in its infancy, it provides the platform for us to be the center for training, research, and tertiary care for the region (and beyond). Most health systems would love to have their own health plan. The reality is that you cannot meaningfully improve the health of the population without managing value and risk. We are fortunate to have Hometown Health as part of Renown Health, and in our community, and I am excited to work with them to fulfill the mission of the organization. I have worked in for-profit and not-for profit healthcare. Renown is unique in the market as the only nonprofit health system in the market. What that means is that we invest every penny earned back into caring for our community. We don’t send money to shareholders in California or Pennsylvania, we invest it right here in Nevada. That is the kind of organization that I want to work for and where I want my family to get care. Some of you may have noticed that healthcare leaders have an impressively short half-life. I recall not being terribly impressed with one of our hospital leaders early in my career, and one of my senior partners told me to “just wait, he’ll be gone in a year or two.” She was correct. In fact, I had five CEOs in the time I was practicing in Denver. It’s difficult to create and move an organization toward a unified vision when your leader changes every few years. As my track record will support, this is not my style. I have been in Colorado for over twenty years and now look forward to making Reno and Renown my home for years to come. We are in an unprecedented time in healthcare, as all U.S. health systems are experiencing skyrocketing expenses and insufficient revenue growth. Renown is not immune to these pressures, but we are well positioned in the market to weather the storm. By focusing on continuous clinical and operational improvement, Renown will continue to set the gold standard for community health system performance. I appreciate you taking the time to read this message. I look forward to meeting with and learning from all of you. When you see me in the hallway or out and about, please come up and say hello. The work we do is hard, but I try to make it fun when I can, and I definitely like to play hard outside of work. I have been snowboarding the Rockies for the last 20 years and am excited to ride some new trails. When I see you around, let me know if you have some favorite terrain to recommend. Here, at your side, and ready to FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT! Brian Erling, MD, MBA President & CEO, Renown Health About Renown Health Renown Health is Nevada’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. Con una fuerza laboral diversa de más de 7,000 empleados, Renown ha fomentado una cultura de excelencia, determinación e innovación de larga data. 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. Actualmente, Renown está inscribiendo participantes en el estudio genético de salud poblacional basado en la comunidad más grande del mundo, el Healthy Nevada Project®.