In this issue

Anna Roth CEO

Greetings from Tahoe Forest Health System!

As May arrives, it brings fresh energy, moments of reflection, and the promise of summer. At Tahoe Forest Health System, it’s also a time to celebrate what defines us—our people, our values, and our commitment to the community we serve.

This month, we proudly celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, honoring the rich cultures and contributions that strengthen our region. May also marks Mental Health Awareness Month, reminding us to support one another with compassion and help reduce the stigma around mental health.

We’re grateful for the incredible nurses we honor during National Nurses Week (May 6–12) and for every team member we celebrate during National Health System Week (May 12–16). Their dedication truly makes a difference in the lives of so many.

As Memorial Day approaches, we pause to remember and honor those who gave their lives for our country. To our veterans and military families, we offer our deepest gratitude.

Wishing you a healthy, joyful start to summer.

With appreciation,
Anna M. Roth, RN, MS, MPH
President & CEO

classroom kids on a field trip to urgent care

A Field Trip to Our Urgent Care Clinic

Creekside Charter’s Kindergarten class made a field trip to our Urgent Care Clinic over at Palisades. The kids got a tour of the clinic, saw the X-ray machine, got some hands-on learning on how to wrap up a broken bone, and even got a visit from one of the avalanche rescue dogs, Brackett, and his handler, Ivan!

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Upcoming Events

ECC Bake Sale
May 23rd
Kick off Memorial Day Weekend with us starting at 9vam at the Tahoe Forest Hospital lobby and grab some sweet treats!

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Latest News

The Silent Struggle: Caregiver Stress and the Need for Support

Bone Health Matters: Strategies for Preventing Osteoporosis by Liz Schenk BS, MBA and Lisa Fligor MS, RDN, LD

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May Celebrates

Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Mental Health Awareness Month

National Nurses Week
May 6-12

Health System Week
May 11-17

Memorial Day
May 26th

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In the Spotlight

Free Medication & Sharps Disposal Programs

Protect your health and the environment.

We’re excited to partner with Med-Project to bring you two convenient and completely free services, now available at our community pharmacy!

Medication Take-Back Kiosk

Our new in-store kiosk makes it easy to safely dispose of any unused or expired prescription medications, including Schedule II–V controlled substances. Simply drop your medications into the secure kiosk, no questions asked.

Proper disposal helps prevent accidental misuse, protects local waterways, and keeps medications out of the wrong hands. Please note: We cannot accept herbal remedies, vitamins, supplements, cosmetics, sharps, or illegal drugs.

Sharps Mail-Back Program

If you use injectable medications, take advantage of our FREE sharps mail-back service. You’ll receive a special container to collect used:

  •  Needles
  •  Syringes
  •  Lancets
  •  Injectable device products

Once full, just seal the container and use the included pre-paid shipping label to mail it back safely. This program helps prevent injury, protects sanitation workers, and keeps sharps out of the trash.

Together, we can support a healthier, safer community. Stop by today to learn more about the Sharps Mail-Back Program or pick up your disposal materials!

Tahoe Forest Pharmacy is located at:
10956 Donner Pass Road, Ste. 101, Truckee
Inside the Medical Office Building, across from Tahoe Forest Hospital

IVCH Mammo Techs in pink

Incline Village Community Hospital

Get your Mammogram Today

Breast cancer doesn’t wait and neither should you!

Protect your health and book your mammography at Incline Village Community Hospital! If you’ve never had a mammogram or it’s been over a year, now is the time to schedule one.

  • Offering 3D Mammography Exams with Enhanced Genius AITM Detection Technology
  • Walk-in and next-day appointments may be available at Incline Village Community Hospital

Early detection saves lives—mammograms and monthly self-checks are proven to be the most effective ways to catch breast cancer early. The procedure is quick, non-invasive, and performed by our certified mammography technologists using equipment accredited by the American College of Radiology.

No referral needed, and most insurance plans are accepted. Free or low-cost screenings may be available for those who qualify.

When you need answers fast, we’ll get you in ASAP! Call (530) 582-6510 to schedule your appointment.

Learn more about our latest updates to our Diagnostic Imaging Services, including mammography.

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Kind Words

“Thank you for such wonderful care today! Each person was helpful, cheerful, and I felt such support in just being sick. I really appreciated being treated like a human being. Keep up the good work, Tahoe City Tahoe Forest Urgent Care!”

Tahoe City Urgent Care

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Health & Wellness

Caregivers’ Support with Tahoe Forest

Upcoming Health & Wellness Events

Building Better Caregivers Virtual Course

An evidence-based program developed by the Self-Management Resource Center. Join us for 6 weekly classes and learn:

  • Self-care methods to improve caregivers’ health
  • How to handle difficult emotions
  • Managing troublesome care partner behaviors
  • Planning for the future
  • Information about resources

When: Thursdays, next on is May 22, 3 pm – 5:30 pm
Cost: FREE
Location: Virtual, Building Better Caregivers Virtual Course event information

Caregiver Support Group

Come share in a safe and supportive setting and learn ways to ease the stress of caregiving, as well as strategies and skills to solve problems. Learn how to maintain your own health while providing the best care for a loved one. Facilitated by Liz Schenk, Certified Health Coach.

When: Third Friday of every month from 11 am – 12:30 pm
Cost: FREE
Location: Tahoe Forest Wellness, Caregiver Support Group event information

For more info or to register for either of these programs, contact (530) 587-3769, email [email protected] or visit our webpage.

Need a moment to destress?

Learn some mindful breathing techniques with one of our Health and Wellness Coaches, Justine Nelson.

Hi my name is Justine Nelson, I’m an integrative wellness coach here at Tahoe Forest Hospital. I focus on mindfulness and tobacco cessation.

if you’re ever feeling stressed out and can’t think clearly you want to take a deep breath. Slowing down to consciously be aware of our breath is the easiest and quickest way to help regulate our nervous system and clear the mind. So here are some effective ways to deep breathe.

First we want to roll back our shoulders to correct our posture and open up our lungs. Then we want to focus on inhaling through the nose and exhaling out the mouth with pursed lips. Inhaling through the nose helps us filter out different dust allergens and boost our oxygen intake. Exhaling throughout the mouth allows us to have that audible sound to the brain that indicates relaxation and give a nice full exhale.

And then the next thing we want to do is focus bringing our breath down into our diaphragm. So expanding our abdomen near our ribs as we inhale and contracting our abdomen as we exhale. This allows us to slow down our breath, utilize more of our lungs, clear out old air, and actually takes pressure off the heart and less energy to breathe.

And then finally we want to focus on a longer exhale than inhale. A longer exhale allows the vagus nerve to signal to the brain to activate the rest and digest phase of the nervous system and can help ease the stress response.

Okay now you can follow along with me for a few rounds of conscious deep breathing. First we want to roll back our shoulders then we’re going to focus on inhaling through the nose and expanding the abdomen. And then exhale out the mouth pursing the lips, contracting the abdomen. Focusing in a nice long exhale.

And again breathing in through the nose expanding the abdomen and exhaling out the mouth and contracting the abdomen. And then one more time inhaling through the nose expanding the abdomen, and then exhale out the mouth contracting the abdomen.

Now you can return to your natural breath. Again my name is Justine Nelson. Thank you so much for following along with me uh you can contact the Center for Health for more information and how to work with me

patient pointing to side of abdomen in front of doctor

Department Spotlight

Tahoe Forest Urology

Your health, our priority.

Our Urology Department offers expert care for both men and women dealing with urinary tract and male reproductive system conditions.

Our skilled urologists provide comprehensive diagnosis, treatment, and management for various urological issues, including:

  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs): Symptoms may include frequent urination, a burning sensation during urination, and cloudy or strong-smelling urine.
  • Kidney stones: Hard mineral deposits that can cause severe pain, nausea, and difficulty passing urine.
  • Bladder and prostate conditions: Comprehensive care for various bladder and prostate issues.
  • Male reproductive health: Addressing concerns related to the male reproductive system.

We are pleased to have Dr. Brian N. Naftulin and Dr. Mark Wainstein as part of our urology team.

For more details, including location and hours, visit our Urology Services page.

Karli Burnell

IVCH Surgery Suite Renovation Project

Karli Burnell, Executive Director of IVCH and TFHS Foundations, highlights a $7.8 million grant from the Dave and Cheryl Duffield Foundation to enhance Incline Village Community Hospital’s surgical program. The funding will add two operating rooms, upgrade facilities, expand post-op and registration areas, and support infrastructure improvements, including telehealth capabilities.

Read more about this exciting project.

Hi there, my name is Karli Epstein. I’m the executive director of the Incline Village Community Hospital Foundation and Tahoe Forest Health System Foundations. And as foundations, our main job at the hospital is to raise funds for vital equipment, programs, technology that make a difference for our patients and our employees right here at Tahoe Forest.

So, we were able to receive a 7.8 8 million grant from the Dave and Cheryl Duffield Foundation. This grant is going to be absolutely transformational for Incline Village Community Hospital Foundation. This is the largest grant that our foundation has ever received and it is for one particular project which is our surgical enhancement program.

Uh this is going to really energize our surgery program. It will uh completely redo our surgery, which I don’t know if any of you have been to Incline Surgery but it is the last original space that we have at Incline Village Community Hospital. So we are going to be adding two ORs, which will allow us to expand some of the programs that we’re able to do and surgical offerings that we have but also just really allow us to also recruit and retain some of our talented surgeons that need that updated space.

So, we’re going to redo the entire space, have two ORs. We’re doing the air handlers, which will allow us to have the negative air pressure to allow us to do some of those GI procedures. We’re going to redo our data closet. Right now, we are completely maxed out of data in Incline Village, which doesn’t allow us to add new programs and services, potentially telehealth. We are unable to do that right now. So, this program and these funds will allow us to change that.

We also expand our post op area and our registration. So those of you who walk into incline, you’ll be expecting to see a beautiful new registration space uh very similar to what uh Tahoe Forest has on the second floor of the cancer center or the MOB and we’re going to have new staff lounge for our employees. So it’ll be the last kind of frontage area. We’re going to do a whole big expansion there.

So, Incline Village Community Hospital Foundation is a proud recipient of Dave and Cheryl Duffield Foundation dollars. They are a charitable private foundation in Incline Village. And Dave and Cheryl Duffield, they have done so much to improve life in Incline Village. Their entire mission is to make sure that they leave, you know, our town better than they found it. And we are just so proud and grateful to receive this funding that’s going to impact so many patient lives.

My name is Karli Epstein. I’m the executive director of the Incline Village Community Hospital Foundation and Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation. Thank you so much for watching and if you want to learn more information about the foundation or the health system, go to tfhd.com.