October 2025

Dear Community Members,

October is shaping up to be a busy and inspiring month at Tahoe Forest Health System. As we step into fall, I’m excited to share highlights that reflect both our community spirit and the progress we are making across our organization.

We have been celebrating meaningful achievements across our health system. Congratulations to Marie Clukey, recipient of the 2025 Tom & Pam Hobday Spirit of Giving Award, and to our inpatient nursing staff for earning a 5-star HCAHPS rating for communication, a distinction achieved by only a handful of hospitals statewide. At Incline Village Community Hospital, our emergency and stroke teams recently achieved a door-to-needle time of just 33 minutes for Telestroke patients, an extraordinary accomplishment well above the national benchmark.

This October, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I encourage everyone to prioritize preventive care by scheduling a mammogram or reminding the women in your life to do so.

We’re also proud to introduce CredibleMind, a new online resource offering free, confidential access to thousands of trusted mental health and wellness tools. This important addition expands the ways we can support both our community and staff in their emotional well-being.

Finally, I’d like to recognize the incredible generosity of our community. Thanks to our thrift store staff, volunteers, and local shoppers, more than $200,000 has been raised this year to support hospice care, an inspiring example of compassion in action.

Thank you for all that you do to make our community strong and vibrant. Together, we are building a healthier, more connected community.

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

Physician Assistant Week
October 6-12

Indigenous Peoples’ Day
October 14

Respiratory Care Week
October 19-25

Medical Assistants Recognition Week
October 19-25

National Physical Therapy Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Saturday, November 1
North Tahoe Event Center

Join us for an unforgettable evening on the shores of Lake Tahoe, featuring exquisite appetizers from some of your favorite local chefs, perfectly paired with exceptional wines from across California. Together, we’ll celebrate community, cuisine, and philanthropy—raising vital funds for Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation.

Tickets are limited—secure your General Admission or VIP tickets today!

Myth: Only people with a family history of breast cancer are at risk.

Fact: Most breast cancer cases occur in people with no family history. Being a woman and growing older are the biggest risk factors. Learn more about the risks and take action.

Early detection saves lives—mammograms and monthly self-checks are proven to be the most effective ways to catch breast cancer early. If you’ve never had a mammogram or it’s been over a year, now is the time to schedule one.

Tahoe Forest recommends regular breast cancer screening every 1-2 years for women ages 40+. Talk to your primary care provider about what screening frequency is best for you.

3D Mammography Exams with Enhanced Genius AI™ Detection Technology are available at both Tahoe Forest Hospital and Incline Village Community Hospital. Walk-in and next-day appointments may be available at Incline Village Community Hospital.

The procedure is quick, non-invasive, and performed by our certified mammography technologists using equipment accredited by the American College of Radiology.

Tahoe Forest Appointments: (530) 582-6205
Incline Village Appointments: (530) 582-6510

Mammograms are covered by insurance. If you are uninsured, contact our Financial Counselors at (530) 582-6458 or [email protected] to discuss options such as Every Woman Counts or the Safeway grant.

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

Community Medication Take-Back Day

October 25^th from 10 am-2 pm
Safeway Parking Lot
11290 Donner Pass Rd, Truckee

Accepting pills/capsules and liquid medications. Please do not bring sharps, illicit or recreational drugs, or caps/e-cigs.

Tahoe Forest Health System Recognized on 2025 SUD Care Honor Roll

Marie Clukey Presented with the 2025 Tom & Pam Hobday Spirit of Giving Award

Making Sense of Recent Autism News with Dr. Brian Evans, Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Joshua Pfent Completes World-Renowned Leadville 100 MTB Race

Tahoe Forest Celebrates Graduates of the Prevent Type 2 Diabetes Program

2025 Community Health Needs Assessment Now Available!

Tahoe Forest Health System Hosts 33rd Annual Winter Illness & Injury Symposium

Support as a Vital Sign: Why Connection Is Essential

At Tahoe Forest Health System, our Pediatric Otolaryngology (ENT) specialists provide compassionate, comprehensive care for children with both routine and complex ear, nose, and throat conditions. From chronic ear infections to airway concerns, our team offers advanced medical and surgical treatments tailored to each child’s needs.

We commonly care for children experiencing:

• Ear conditions: Ear infections, hearing loss, eardrum perforations, cholesteatoma, ear deformities, and more
• Nose and airway concerns: Nasal obstruction, recurrent sinus infections, snoring, stridor (noisy breathing), and laryngomalacia
• Throat conditions: Recurrent tonsillitis, tonsil and adenoid issues, and tongue-tie (ankyloglossia)
• Head and neck masses: Thyroid and neck masses, dermoid cysts, branchial clefts, thyroglossal duct cysts, and preauricular pits

Our pediatric ENT specialists provide expert diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of conditions—helping children breathe, hear, and thrive with confidence.

To schedule an appointment or learn more, call (530) 582-8300 or visit our website.

Pediatric Otolaryngology (ENT)
12313 Soaring Way Unit 1C & 1D
Truckee, CA 96161

Tahoe Forest Health System has a new partnership with CredibleMind, an innovative online platform providing free, confidential, and 24/7 access to more than 10,000 science-backed mental health and wellbeing resources.

Through CredibleMind, community members can explore expert-rated videos, podcasts, apps, books, online programs, and articles, all in one convenient digital hub.

To celebrate the launch, Tahoe Forest Health System invites the community to take the “What’s Your Mental Health Profile?” assessment- an engaging self-checkup that offers insights across more than 20 areas of wellbeing. Participants who create an account and complete the assessment by October 31, 2025, will be automatically entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card. All personal information remains fully confidential; Tahoe Forest Health System will not have access to names, emails, or assessment responses.

CredibleMind explores more than 100 topics related to wellbeing, including:

• Happiness and Flourishing
• Sleep and Time Management
• Relationships, Parenting, and Aging
• Mindfulness and Resilience
• Grief and Loss
• Substance Use
• Stress and Burnout
• Anxiety and Depression

Start your journey to better mental health today. Sign up and explore resources.

Progress continues across Tahoe Forest Health System’s major construction projects, including the Sierra Center, Gateway, and North Shore Clinic. Crews are hard at work completing exterior improvements before winter, with interior construction planned through the colder months.

A special Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Gateway project was held on September 24, attended by TFHS leadership, TFHS Board of Directors, and S+B James Construction.

Read the full construction project update.

“The best experience I’ve ever had in a ER visit situation. Hands down the kindest, most professional and efficient staff and medical personnel I’ve had the opportunity to interact with. 100% satisfied and even prompted me checking into health care in general in your area for additional medical needs, it’s definitely worth the 2 and a half hour drive from my current town of residence, but lucky for me, this ER trip was during a vacation stay!”

IVCH Emergency Department

Upcoming Health & Wellness Events

Flourish Through Menopause Workshop

This group coaching and educational program is designed to support women through the menopause transition. In six sessions, we will focus on nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, and preventative health to help you feel empowered and strong in midlife and beyond.

This program is NOT about restriction, quick fixes, or fear-based health messaging. It’s about empowerment, evidence-based strategies, and real-life solutions to help you feel your best in midlife and beyond!

When: Mondays, 6-week series starts November 10th, 5:15-6:30 pm
Cost: $150 for 6-week series
Location: Tahoe Forest Wellness

Wise Minds Series

Did you know your brain begins to undergo changes up to 20 years before noticeable symptoms appear? While some factors are beyond our control, there are many impactful steps we can take to support and protect our brain health!

Learn how lifestyle habits can work together to boost memory, improve focus, and lower the risk of cognitive decline. Whether you want to preserve your brain health or support someone you love, this series will give you the tools and confidence to cultivate a sharp and resilient mind.

When: November 5th, Wednesday 4-5:30 pm
Cost: FREE
Location: Eskridge Conference Room Tahoe Forest Hospital

As families prepare for Halloween, it is important to keep in mind that carving the traditional “jack-o-lantern” can be a tricky and slippery business. Tendons, nerves, and arteries are close to the palm surfaces of fingers and thumbs and can be easily cut if the knife slips. If the unexpected does happen, seek professional

medical help. The complex structures in the hand require careful examination and repair in order to preserve full function.

The American Society of Hand Therapists recognizes the hazards of this tradition and has provided suggestions for avoiding the unanticipated scare of a puncture or laceration.

By following these tips and carving with care, the scariest scene on the block will be your decorations and costume!