NBJ PR Wire

Regional Health Network Celebrates Renewed Vision with New Name: Renown Health

Release Date: September 21, 2006

Contact: Don Butterfield

Reno, Nev.-- During a day's worth of events and celebrations,
hospital officials formally announced the new name for Washoe Medical
Center. After much anticipation, the name was officially changed to Renown
Health to better reflect the skilled and caring employees, highly qualified
physicians and the latest in medical technology provided to the community
each and every day.

"Although our name has served us well for over 140 years, research
demonstrated that not all of our community recognizes the advanced care
and professional service available right here at home," said Jim Miller,
president and CEO of Renown Health. "Our research highlighted clear benefits
to having a brand name that better reflects our regional, and in some cases,
national leadership in healthcare."

The announcement included a number of employee, physician, and

community events through out the day, including a roof-top unveiling
ceremony for city and community leaders. With Renown's10-story patient
tower construction project serving as the backdrop, the event represented
over a year of community and leadership research aimed at supporting the
not-for-profit organization's vision for the future.

"We view our name change as an investment in the future, much like building
and expansion projects. Renown Health has the advanced care usually found
in much larger cities. This community is blessed with some of the country's
best hands, hearts, and minds combined with advanced medical
technologies," said Michael Alonso, chairman of the Renown Health System
Board of Directors. "When people stay in town for their care, it benefits the
entire community and allows us to do even more to improve programs and
services for those who live in the region."

Renown Health is the region's oldest hospital, tracing its roots back
to 1864, when Nevada became a state. Formerly affiliated with Washoe
County, Renown Health has been a private, not-for-profit health network for
more than 20 years and is the region's Level II Trauma Center. During the
ceremony, Miller, Alonso, and the other community volunteers who serve on
the health system board of directors all participated in the ceremony to honor
the organization's past and celebrate the future.

Officials paid tribute to the organization's heritage and link to the Washo
Tribe (the original form of the word Washo is Washiu, the tribal self name).
The ceremony included a presentation of three traditional hand-woven
baskets from award-winning Washo artist Sue Coleman, which will be on
permanent display in the new patient tower to be completed in spring of 2007.

In addition, Renown Health presented a $500,000 donation to the City of
Reno and Mayor Bob Cashell to assist with funding for a mental health facility
to help address the critical need for more behavioral health services. Renown
Health's Foundation was also the recipient of a major gift. The Brian and Iva
Hillstrom Family presented a $60,000 gift to the foundation to express their
appreciation for the care their twin girls received at the hospital's Newborn
Intensive Care Unit.

Renown Health announced a massive recycling effort to avoid waste and
donate Washoe Med-branded items to needy schools, police stations and
hospitals in the Philippines. Items such as shirts, napkins, stationary, and
minor packaged medical equipment like band aids and anti-bacterial gel were
collected and will be shipped overseas through a partnership with the Carson
City Sunset Rotary Club.

The switch to Renown Health coincides with the construction of the new
patient tower, which is schedule to be completed in 2007, as well as a
change in address from Pringle Way to the more commonly known Mill Street.
Officials pointed out that the timing for the name change was optimal
because they already had a need to change signage and all the written
materials associated with an address change.

The ceremony concluded with officials recognizing employees for making a
genuine difference. Several employees were honored for their role in the name
change, as well as one employee who recently celebrated her 50th
anniversary as an employee in the Maternal Child unit.

As a 50-by-100-foot Renown Health banner was unveiled off the top of the
patient care tower, Miller expressed his closing remarks. "Our name change is
an important decision for our organization and the community, and not one
taken lightly. Northern Nevada is growing; it's changing; and Renown Health
is evolving right along with it."


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We are Renown Health. A private, not-for-profit health network that includes
Renown Regional Medical Center, Renown South Meadows Medical Center,
Renown Rehabilitation Hospital, and Carson Valley Medical Center in
Gardnerville, a partnership with Barton HealthCare System.

We are proud of our 144-year heritage of serving the community and making
a genuine difference for the many lives we touch. Our name reflects the
expert care provided by our physicians and staff, and we admire and
appreciate their service to our patients. We look to a future with renewed
vision, drive and passion.

We are Renown Health

Skill*Expertise*Technology

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