Reno, Nevada's medical centers have been making continuous investments to equip themselves with state-of-the-art facilities and professional medical staff.

Contrary to its image as a resort and casino city, Reno's healthcare infrastructure is among the best in the western inland region.

The first place to introduce is Renown Health. Renown Health is the largest nonprofit healthcare system in the Reno-Sparks area, operating several facilities including the Renown Regional Medical Center. The Renown Regional Medical Center is the largest hospital in northern Nevada, with over 840 beds, and has various specialized care centers including emergency medicine, cardiology, neuroscience, cancer treatment, and trauma surgery.

In particular, Renown's Heart and Vascular Center is known to have one of the most comprehensive heart treatment programs in the state of Nevada, and heart transplant surgeries are also performed at this facility. Renown Health is one of the largest employers in Reno, with over 7,000 employees. It is conveniently located about a 10-minute drive from downtown Reno.

The second is Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center. This hospital is one of the oldest healthcare institutions in Reno and is a nonprofit general hospital operated by the Catholic charity Ascension. With over 350 beds, Saint Mary's excels in obstetrics, pediatrics, orthopedics, and neurosurgery, and is particularly well-regarded in the fields of childbirth and women's health services.

Saint Mary's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) serves as a key facility for high-risk newborns in northern Nevada. Recently, it has introduced robotic-assisted surgical systems to enhance its minimally invasive surgery capabilities, and its cancer treatment center plays an important role for patients in the Reno area.

The third is Northern Nevada Medical Center. Located in Sparks, this hospital is an acute care general hospital with about 108 beds, operated by Universal Health Services (UHS). While smaller than the previous two hospitals, it provides essential services to the local community in emergency medicine, orthopedics, behavioral health (mental health), and internal medicine.

In particular, the behavioral health program contributes to meeting the demand for mental health services in the Reno-Sparks area. Northern Nevada Medical Center is more accessible to residents of Sparks than to those in downtown Reno, making it a frequently used healthcare facility for local residents.

Another essential part of Reno's healthcare infrastructure is the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR). Established in 1969, this medical school is the only one in the state of Nevada and trains medical personnel through close collaboration with local hospitals like Renown Health.

Nevada has traditionally been one of the states with a shortage of physicians relative to its population, but the UNR School of Medicine is gradually addressing this issue by contributing to the local physician supply. The medical school offers major specialties such as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, and family medicine, and operates an educational hospital system linked to a university hospital.

The challenges and future prospects of Reno's healthcare system are also noteworthy. Reno has recently experienced rapid population growth, leading to increased healthcare demand. In particular, residents from rural and mountainous areas around Lake Tahoe often travel to Reno for specialized medical services, resulting in long wait times for specialty care appointments.

Additionally, Reno's healthcare system is responding to the increasing demand for emergency care related to local homelessness issues and substance abuse. Major healthcare institutions, including Renown Health, are addressing these challenges through continuous facility expansion and investments in digital health, and telehealth services have significantly expanded since the COVID-19 pandemic.