Newborns in the St. Charles Neonatal Intensive Care Unit can now breathe easier, thanks to a new ventilator technology that helps makes breathing more comfortable for infants that need support. St. Charles is the first NICU in Oregon to use Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA), which has been used to assist more than a dozen babies at St. Charles in the past six months.

“We are proud to lead the way in Oregon. It’s one more way we are giving babies the best possible start,” said Cammie Egan, an advanced practice provider in the St. Charles NICU. “NAVA is safer and more comfortable than traditional ventilation. This is especially important for babies in the NICU whose lungs may have not yet fully developed, as the average gestational age for our NAVA patients is just over 29 weeks.”

Egan explains NAVA is more comfortable for the patients because it follows the babies’ cues. Whereas a traditional ventilator helps patients breathe by assisting with the breath on a steady cadence, NAVA assists with breathing by following the patient’s signals. A catheter with electrodes is placed into the baby’s stomach, where it measures the electrical activity of the diaphragm.

“That tells us when the baby wants to take a breath and then the ventilator supports that breath. It synchs the ventilator with the patient’s natural respiratory signals,” said Blake Andrews, manager of respiratory therapy for St. Charles.  

Andrews said using NAVA promotes sleep and development. Infants who are cared for with NAVA are able to transition to independent breathing more quickly.

I love Thanksgiving, for all the reasons you might guess: Good food. Spending time with family. Taking some time to reflect on all the things we have to be thankful for.

It’s one of my favorite days of the year.

I’m very much looking forward to what comes after Thanksgiving, too, and not just for the leftovers. While Mt. Bachelor isn't able to open on the day after the holiday this year, the mountain will open as soon as the snow flies, which means our new St. Charles Mountain Clinic will also be open soon in the ski patrol building near the West Village area.

This is our first year providing medical services at Mt. Bachelor, a partnership we announced back in July. Since then, teams from both organizations have been working hard to get the clinic up and running by the time skiers and snowboarders arrive. The plan is for providers from St. Charles Urgent Care clinics to staff it Fridays through Sundays and during holidays throughout the season.

I want to take a moment to thank all the St. Charles caregivers and Mt. Bachelor staffers who have worked closely together in recent months to bring the Mountain Clinic to life. Their efforts — and the clinic itself — are reflections of our shared values of collaboration, and of our shared history as pillars of the Central Oregon community.

Over the past few years, St. Charles has moved with great pace to preserve critical health care services across the region by launching new services, expanding existing programs and stepping in to fill growing gaps where needed.

The new Mountain Clinic is yet another example of this, and it’s a particularly meaningful one for me. As you may or may not know, I am a lifelong skier. I raised my family — in part, at least — on snowy slopes across Oregon, including many family trips to Mt. Bachelor over the years. Some of my fondest memories of days gone by are set on the resort’s soaring chair lifts and tree-lined runs. Even now, I get a little misty-eyed thinking about those times and how much Mt. Bachelor has meant to me and my family.

That doesn’t mean I want to be a patron of the clinic, of course. No one does. But I do feel a strong sense of pride knowing that when visitors to Mt. Bachelor find themselves unexpectedly in need of care, St. Charles will be there for them — just as we are in all the communities we serve.

See you on the slopes!

Sincerely,
Steve

Patients in St. Charles’ Inpatient Rehabilitation unit are now walking back to health using the latest technology, thanks to a generous donation from a local couple.

Through a donation to St. Charles Foundation, Bend residents Linda and Greg Halliday helped fund the purchase of a state-of-the-art virtual reality treadmill. An overhead harness keeps patients secure as they walk on the treadmill interacting with virtual games and projected visuals that precisely measure balance, gait and strength.

Physical therapists on the unit call the new treadmill a game changer.

“We are so grateful to have this new treadmill, which helps patients regain balance, strength and confidence in walking after a serious injury or illness,” said Laura Taylor, physical therapist. “The new virtual reality treadmill really allows us to help patients feel confident. They're able to use the overhead harness and not put themselves or their therapist at risk of a fall or injury as they move a little bit faster and a little bit harder.”

The gift was a personal one for Linda Halliday.  

In 2020, just a few days after she turned 65, Linda Halliday was exercising with one of her friends when she started to feel dizzy. She couldn’t move her arm well and struggled to speak. Linda’s husband Greg rushed her to the St. Charles Bend Emergency Department, where Linda learned she had experienced a stroke.

After several days in the Intensive Care Unit, Linda found herself in a relatively small unit of the hospital that few people know about: the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit. Tucked away on the lower level of the Bend Hospital, with 14 beds, this small but mighty unit is where patients heal and recover from traumatic injuries and serious illnesses – from car crashes to strokes and more.

Linda was one of the approximately 350 patients a year who are served by the unit, where patients undergo occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy and orthotics appointments for 3 hours a day at least five days a week. Linda spent 15 days in the unit, which is fairly typical.

“From the minute I got there, it was fabulous,” said Linda. “I had such wonderful care. The staff was just so wonderful and caring. There was always something new to get my neurons going. I felt very lucky. It was a blessing I was able to get into the unit.”

Linda and her husband Greg have partnered with St. Charles Foundation over the last five years to help purchase state-of-the-art equipment that will create a tangible difference for patients in the unit, just like Linda.

This year the Hallidays learned about a game-changing therapy treadmill that the team hoped to use with patients. The couple funded most of the purchase price with a generous gift of stock. The remaining funds came from 12 additional donors, who were moved by the Hallidays’ generous gift and added their support during the St. Charles Saints Gala in earlier this year.

The new entirely donor-funded treadmill will move to a permanent location in St. Charles’ new Susan A. Ellings Rehabilitation Unit when complete. 

“I feel great knowing we are giving back to future patients. I have a lot of empathy and I know how beneficial this equipment will be,” said Linda.

“We just feel blessed in what we’ve been given in life, that’s why we want to give back,” said Greg.

Learn more about how community members are helping with the Susan A. Ellings Rehabilitation Unit on the Foundation’s website.

LuAnn Lehnertz grew up in the Twin Cities, completed her post-college internship in Indiana and had a full-time job lined up back home in Minnesota when she set off on a road trip to Texas, taking the scenic route across the American West.

One stop on that road trip was Central Oregon, where St. Charles was in the process of moving its hospital from downtown Bend to its current location on Neff Road. The year: 1975.

“The part-time dietitian in Redmond was going to go full time in Bend, so I called the administrator and he said, ‘You’d want to work here?’ And I said, ‘Yes!’” she said. “So they hired me — November 10th, 1975 — for 15 hours per week. I dropped my full-time offer, came out here, and I’ve been here ever since.”

In other words, this month marks 50 years at St. Charles for Lehnertz, who currently works at the Center for Women’s Health in Redmond, doing outpatient nutrition therapy.

“I didn’t want to be in a big city. That was part of it,” she said. “It was my size and I knew I could cross-country ski, bike and hike here — which I did and still do.”

Her five decades at St. Charles have been an adventure of their own, full of varied experiences and firsts. Lehnertz was the first full-time dietitian in Redmond. She managed food service for 20 years while also visiting inpatients. She designed the hospital’s new kitchen, ordered supplies, handled scheduling and, as a working manager, filled in as needed, all without computers, internet or email.

“We worked side by side,” she said. “It was a family atmosphere and really nice. We knew most of the patients and most everyone who walked the halls.”

Lehnertz was on the team to first offer comprehensive lifestyle programs to supplement medical weight management efforts, and she was part of the team that started bariatric surgery support groups and classes. She was also the first dietitian in Redmond to get certified as a diabetes educator, and she started diabetes education programs and classes with St. Charles endocrinologists.

As the field of nutrition has changed over the years, Lehnertz has continued to learn and embrace challenges, choosing not to reject new ideas but to go with the flow and help make them work.

Asked to reflect on spending a half-century with one organization, Lehnertz is quick with a quip: “I was never bored for a minute,” she said. “I could never have guessed I’d be here for 50 years. It happened a day at a time.”

These days, Lehnertz is teaching fitness classes at the Redmond Senior Center through Redmond Area Park and Recreation District — it’s my  “hobby job,” she said. She spends more time looking forward than looking back.

“For me, I believe I’ve had the very best years of being a dietitian in health care and the very best years in Redmond,” she said. “I think the years I was doing this job were the best anybody could’ve had.”

St. Charles’ new Community Pharmacy in Prineville is now open and serving customers, helping to preserve access to local pharmacy services in Crook County. The pharmacy transitioned from Clinic Pharmacy to St. Charles officially today.

“Today is an exciting day for St. Charles and our community, as we can now offer seamless pharmacy services to patients throughout Crook County,” said Todd Shields, Vice President of Operations for the Northern Campuses.

This is the second Community Pharmacy St. Charles has opened this year, after opening a pharmacy in Madras in June.

“We are proud to maintain access to this critical service for patients, especially at a time when many pharmacies across the state and nation are closing,” said Kevin Russell, Director of Ambulatory Pharmacy Services for St. Charles.

The Prineville Chamber of Commerce will help celebrate the opening of the pharmacy with a ribbon cutting event at 8 a.m. on Dec. 5.

The new pharmacy will offer prescriptions (in-store and via a drive-up window), immunizations, medication management, over-the-counter medicine and durable medical equipment such as crutches and walkers. It is located at 198 NE Combs Flat Road in Prineville and will be open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn more on our website.

Today, St. Charles Health System is announcing an agreement with PacificSource, allowing thousands of patients on both the commercial and Medicare Advantage plans to remain in-network for St. Charles hospitals and clinics.

“We are grateful we were able to come to an agreement with PacificSource to maintain in-network coverage for thousands of local residents, who we hope will welcome this news,” said Matt Swafford, Chief Financial Officer for St. Charles. “We appreciate PacificSource coming to the table and working with us on a solution that meets all of our needs.”

The agreements reached are for one year for the Medicare Advantage contract and two years for the commercial contract.

“We recognize that uncertainty about insurance coverage can cause stress for our patients, especially given state and national trends in declining Medicare Advantage options,” Swafford said. “Negotiations like these are an important part of the overall process that ensures St. Charles can continue to provide access to health care services locally for the communities we serve.” 

St. Charles continues to work closely with insurance providers on coverage options for local residents and also recently reached an agreement with Providence Health Plans, along with Aetna and Cigna. For the latest information on which plans are currently in-network for St. Charles providers and facilities, visit our website.

In honor of Veterans Day, we wanted to take a moment to salute and offer thanks to our caregivers and their loved ones who have served in the Armed Forces. St. Charles caregivers shared the following information about their service or honoring a loved one who served. We appreciate you all!

Johanna Peterson, Air Force, 1996-2008

Johanna Peterson, a physician assistant for St. Charles Gastroenterology, served as an airman working as a paramedic and aerospace medical technician.

Thank you for your service, Johanna!

Emory Souza, U.S. Coast Guard

Emory Souza, public safety officer for St. Charles, served in the U.S. Coast Guard for seven years and shared this about his experience:

I entered the Coast Guard in 1974 and after basic training was assigned to the USCGC Red Birch, a 157' buoy tender stationed at Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco. I later attended "A" school for Storekeeper and then to Coast Guard Island in Alameda, Calif. From there, I went to Coast Guard District 12 Headquarters in San Francisco. My final duty assignment was the USCGC Morgenthau, a 378' high endurance cutter. I patrolled the waters of Alaska as a law enforcement boarding officer aboard the Morgenthau. The Coast Guard is a great humanitarian service.

Thank you for your service, Emory!

Garrett Van Brenk, Army, 2006-2012

St. Charles caregiver Lindsey Van Brenk shared the following about her husband, who served in the Army: Garrett served in the Washington Army National Guard's 81st Heavy Brigade as a Combat Engineer and was deployed to Iraq from 2008-2009.

Thank you for your service, Garrett!

John Weierich, Navy, 1994-2014

St. Charles caregiver Nicole Hayford shared the following about her husband, who served in the Navy: I would like to honor my husband, a proud U.S. Navy Veteran who served for 20 years as a Nuclear Machinist Mate. During his two decades of service, he embodied the Navy’s core values of honor, courage, and commitment, values he continues to carry into his life today. Now a devoted stay-at-home dad to our two daughters, he is also pursuing his degree in Environmental Conservation at OSU and coaches our girls’ sports teams. His dedication to learning, leadership and service has seamlessly transitioned into his roles as a father and husband. He supports me in my work as a healthcare provider and in my volunteer efforts, showing the same steadfast dependability he demonstrated throughout his military career.

We are incredibly proud of him, both for his service to our country and for the love, integrity, and strength he brings to our family every day.

Thank you for your service, John!

Keri Worley, Marine Corps, 2005-2013

Keri Worley, a respiratory therapist in Bend, served in the Marine Corps for eight years and shared this about her experience:

I wasn't sure what I would do after I graduated high school. My sister had joined the Marine Corps a year earlier and while we were at her boot camp graduation, I saw my dad cry for the first time. When he told her he was proud of her I knew what I wanted to do. So out of high school I joined the Marine Corps. I wanted to make my family proud. I spent eight years in the Corps, did one combat tour to Afghanistan in 2010 and multiple humanitarian missions while I was in. Looking back on it, I would have to say it was the best decision I have ever made in life, and I wouldn't change it for the world. It made me a better person, and it made me appreciate all the things that a lot of Americans take for granted. I think everyone should experience it. It makes you disciplined and gives you a sense of responsibility because it's not just you you're looking out for – it’s the guy next to you who wants to go home to his family just like you do.

Thank you for your service, Keri!

COMING SOON! Planned opening Nov. 28, 2025!

Walk-in care for injuries and illness. No appointment needed:

• Ski and snowboard injuries (sprains, fractures, dislocations)
• Cuts, lacerations and wound care
• Minor head injuries (concussion evaluation)
• Asthma, allergic reactions, dehydration
• Cold exposure and altitude illness
• Acute respiratory illnesses for adults and children
• Other minor, non-life-threatening illnesses

For life-threatening injuries or emergency, call 9-1-1.

St. Charles, Deschutes County Health Services, COPA, Mosaic Community Health, Summit Health, Praxis Health join together to encourage vaccination conversations.

As respiratory virus season arrives in Central Oregon, providers from local health care organizations are joining together to share an important message about vaccination. Six health care organizations are releasing a joint video message to emphasize the importance of vaccines and to reassure the community that providers are ready to answer any questions.

“Our message is simple: vaccines are safe, effective and they protect the health of our community, including the most vulnerable. We also recognize that people may have questions about vaccinations, and we want Central Oregonians to know that we are here to listen,” said Deschutes County Health Officer Dr. Richard Fawcett. 

The message comes at a time when vaccine rates are decreasing across the United States and here in Oregon. 

“Our voices are more powerful together. We want our community to see that health care providers in Central Oregon stand together,” said Dr. Carey Allen, clinical division director of primary care medicine for St. Charles. “Above all, we care about the health of our patients and our community.”

Enduring Materials - October 29, 2025      
"The Science of Public Discourse: A Guide for Navigating Divisive Conversations"

Course Director: Christopher Wolsko, PhD.

Access the Course Materials

Objectives

1. Identify core social and moral values that people are commonly trying to express when they enter into public discourse.
2. Examine two key social scientific theories and how they predict the patterned ways in which people fear the annihilation of their core values, and how this can lead to intense animosity.
3. Interpret the latest research on framing divisive issues. A series of empirical case studies are presented (on suicide and firearms, climate change, political preferences, and Covid policies) that demonstrate how affirming peoples’ core values can drastically influence their opinions on important issues.
4. Practice applying a 5-stage, research-based communication strategy that will help promote respectful dialogue in personal and professional life.

Accreditation: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of St. Charles Health System and OSU. St. Charles Health System is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. St. Charles Health System designates this live virtual activity for a maximum of 3.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The period to claim credit for this activity expires one year after its original publication. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Target Audience: Physicians, Nurses, Pharmacists, Allied Health Professionals

Accessibility/Program Questions: St. Charles Health System encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact Continuing Medical Education at [email protected].