Now Available: Virtual Visits!

You can conduct an on-demand virtual visit through our new platform! Simply visit our informational page and click the "Start Visit" button.

Virtual Visits for GI

At St. Charles Gastroenterology, our highly trained providers diagnose and treat a full range of digestive system and biliary organ conditions, including ailments of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon, as well as the pancreas, liver, gallbladder and bile ducts. Our skilled team is committed to a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach that incorporates years of gastroenterology experience and advanced medical and surgical treatments. The goal: To provide exceptional care and ensure the best possible outcome for you.

We offer evaluation and treatment of:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

• Barrett’s esophagus

• Swallowing issues

• Eosiniphilic Esophagitis

• Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

• Celiac disease

• Diseases of the pancreas

• Biliary disease 

Our specialized services include:

• Upper Endoscopy

• Colonoscopy

• ERCP

• Upper endoscopic ultrasound +/- biopsy

• Lower endoscopic ultrasound

• Esophageal and colonic stenting

Understanding your insurance

Navigating insurance coverage can be confusing, especially when it comes to colonoscopies. Coverage and guidelines vary, and no one wants unexpected costs. Take a moment to learn the difference between a screening and a diagnostic colonoscopy to avoid surprises. Need help knowing what to ask your insurance provider? Read our simple guide to help you discuss your benefits with your health plan provider.

Understanding your results

Your initial procedure results and notes will be sent to your primary care provider within two business days. If a biopsy was taken, it will be processed by a GI pathologist at St. Charles or sent to Central Oregon Pathology Consultants for analysis. Once results are available, your physician will review them and contact you within 2–3 weeks.

Just over four years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Central Oregon and promptly shut down St. Charles' robust, region-wide community outreach and educational efforts.

Now, the health system's calendar of classes, events and other gatherings is getting busier, with more on the horizon, said Carlos Salcedo, manager of community partnerships for St. Charles' Community Benefit department.

"It has taken a lot of work, a lot of coordination and a lot of patience, but we're ramping back up and we're going to be ramping up even more," he said. "We really appreciate the partnerships and the collaboration with the public health agencies, nonprofit organizations and the citizen groups in the communities we serve."

Over the past year or so, Salcedo and his team have spent time in each of the region's smaller towns — La Pine, Madras, Prineville, Redmond and Sisters — reconnecting with individuals and groups and talking with them about their local health and wellness needs and goals and how St. Charles can help achieve them. Last year, those efforts took root in Sisters, where the health system partnered with the Sisters Park & Recreation District to stage Heart Health 101 classes at Coffield Community Center.

This year, the La Pine Activity Center has embraced a partnership with St. Charles and hosted a number of different events, including classes on heart health, basic wound care, fall prevention, stroke recognition, end-of-life care planning and common home safety improvements. And in Prineville, the nonprofit group Crook County on the Move — which has worked closely with St. Charles for many years — has helped coordinate stroke recognition education, grief support groups and healthy cooking classes.

Each of these events are led by experts from the health system, but engaging with individuals local to each community is vital and a key step to a successful program, Salcedo said.

"It’s really about empowering communities and making sure they have a role in what happens where they live," he said. "They know their population and their needs the best. We're just here to work with them to meet those needs."

Community Benefit is not the only St. Charles department involved in more in-person gatherings. The health system's Trauma Program recently hosted free Stop the Bleed classes and held its annual Trauma Survivor Day event. Bariatric support groups are meeting in Redmond and Bend. In Prineville, the Hospice and Bereavement team leads guided walks for people experiencing grief. And the Bend Family Birthing Center hosts breastfeeding education classes and recently relaunched free tours of the FBC and childbirth education classes. (The Madras Family Birthing Center also offers tours; give them a call to schedule one.)

The goals for St. Charles: To be a good community partner, to provide educational opportunities for local people and to help make Central Oregon a healthier place. And as a bonus, bringing people together also aligns with the health system's Community Benefit priority for the next three years: reducing feelings of loneliness and social isolation while fostering a sense of belonging in the communities we serve.

"Part of our effort to make Central Oregon a healthier place is creating opportunities for connection," Salcedo said. "We know that loneliness and isolation are root causes of a number of different health problems and societal problems, so any time we can help and support people coming together to find connection in their community, that's a good thing."

To stay up to date with St. Charles’ offerings, visit our Classes & Events calendar. For La Pine events, visit the La Pine Activity Center’s website. In Sisters, check out the Sisters Park & Recreation District. And in Prineville, connect with Crook County on the Move.

For caregivers in the St. Charles Trauma Program, Memorial Day is not just the kickoff of summer – it also marks the beginning of the busiest time of year for the department, often referred to as trauma season. The onset of warm weather brings an increase in recreational activities, which means an increase in trauma patients needing emergency services in Central Oregon.

Dr. Annie Onishi says there are some key steps individuals can take to stay safe while enjoying the outdoors.

• Wear a helmet while biking or riding on any motorized vehicle.

• No driving, biking, boating, etc. while intoxicated.

• Understand the rules of the road.

• Be safe with fireworks – or better yet, just watch the big show and don’t set off any yourself.  

“In general, if you wouldn’t do something in front of your parents or your kids – don’t do it,” said Onishi. “We hope to see you on the river or the trails and not in the Emergency Department.”

St. Charles cares for approximately 2,300 trauma patients every year across its four hospitals, including injuries caused by falls, vehicle crashes, recreational accidents and more. St. Charles Bend is a level 2 trauma center, the only one east of the Cascades. The average trauma patient stays 5.5 days in the hospital and receives care from more than 200 caregivers during that time.

Care you trust

At St. Charles Center for Women’s Health, we are committed to providing women with the latest health information and services from skilled, compassionate and knowledgeable caregivers. Doctors, midwives, nurse practitioners and medical assistants are part of our team dedicated to helping you achieve your best health. Because our clinic is part of the St. Charles Health System, our patients benefit from ready access to specialized services complemented by the most trusted care in the region.

Our Services

• Routine and preventive care for women of all ages

  • Prolapse and pelvic floor support

  • Sexual health

  • Sexually transmitted infections

  • Nurse navigation support

  • In-office ultrasound tech

  • High-risk OB care

  • Midwifery services and delivery options

  • OB hospitalists

  • Transgender health

  • Same-day birth control appointments

• Care before conception, during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care

• Behavioral health consultations

• Comprehensive gynecologic care

  • Reversible and permanent birth control

  • Initial infertility evaluation and treatment

  • Well-woman examinations, with current health maintenance recommendations

  • Menstrual disorders

  • Menopause – diagnosis, information and treatment options (Menopause Society Certified Practitioners)

  • Evaluation and treatment of endometriosis and pelvic pain

  • Bladder and urinary problems, including incontinence

  • Initial diagnosis and treatment of gynecologic cancers

I’m excited to share with you St. Charles' 2023 annual report, which we’ve just published.

Historically, this document has acted as a snapshot of our activities within a given 12-month period. This year, however, we are bookending our 2023 report with a look back at some key metrics that illustrate the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our health system, and a look ahead to where we go from here.

As for 2023, it’s the year we regained our footing and started to more confidently move forward, with the wind of a rebuilt workforce and a remarkable financial turnaround at our backs.

We will never forget the profound emotional and physical toll the pandemic took on our workforce, our patients and our world. So, to be clear: We are not leaving the pandemic behind. In fact, we are taking some of the qualities that helped carry us through the past few years – tenacity, resourcefulness, teamwork, compassion and an unwavering commitment to caring for all – and working to ensure they are embedded within the very fabric of our organization.

We are working hard to stay agile and adaptable in the face of many challenges, including some we cannot control. And we are pleased to be on solid ground as we consider the next steps we need to take to remain viable – not just for our patients, but for all of Central Oregon. As a local, nonprofit organization, we know St. Charles is a vital and valued pillar in this community.

As you take in the information in this annual report, please do so knowing that St. Charles has cared for Central Oregon for more than a century, and we intend to be here for the next 100 years, too. I am incredibly proud of the progress our health system made in 2023, and the momentum we’ve gained as we head into a very bright future.

Sincerely,
Steve

Pictured above: From left, Bette Johnson, neonatal nurse practitioner, examines an infant’s retina with help from pediatric ophthalmologist John Davis and NICU nurse Rochelle Simonds.

St. Charles’ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit has a new tool to help prevent blindness in premature infants, thanks to $85,000 in funding from St. Charles Foundation. The new retinal camera now in use allows caregivers to take high quality images of babies’ eyes, giving ophthalmologists the ability to detect early warning signs and recommend treatment for infants before the disease progresses, possibly leading to blindness.

“We feel very fortunate to have this new tool, and the improved monitoring and quality of care for our patients. It is exciting for St. Charles to have the newest technology and the best equipment to support our community,” said Dr. Patrick Lewallen, NICU medical director.  “We are grateful to the Foundation for helping raise the level of care our infants are receiving that is ultimately reducing the risks that premature babies have visual difficulties related to prematurity.”

Infants who are born premature are vulnerable to a number of health concerns – including eye disease and blindness. This is caused by a condition called retinopathy of prematurity. Infants born before 30 weeks’ gestation or weighing less than 3 pounds need to be scheduled for regular eye exams following birth. Until 2024, those exams at the St. Charles NICU were not that dissimilar from a regular eye exam: a pediatric ophthalmologist would shine a light into the eye and provide a written description of what was observed.

But starting this year, caregivers in the NICU are using a state-of-the-art retinal camera to observe and record the condition of the eye, thanks to donors who gave to the St. Charles Foundation’s General Fund. The camera takes highly detailed photos of the retina so they can be closely examined and compared to images over time. Early detection is key for this condition, as it is very treatable.

Pediatric Ophthalmologist Dr. John Davis works at the Oregon Health & Science University Casey Eye Institute’s Bend clinic and visits the NICU at St. Charles at least once a week to evaluate premature babies meeting criteria for this special monitoring. OHSU’s Bend clinic utilizes a similar retinal camera to the one used in the NICU. This allows for easy collaboration between the two organizations to compare images and best support patients as they transition from NICU to an outpatient setting.

When infants are born, blood vessels in their eyes have not fully developed, explained Davis. It takes between 36-40 weeks for infants to completely develop these blood vessels, and in premature infants, sometimes they never fully develop, which can lead to visual impairment and blindness.

Catching it early is critical as there are ways of treating it through the injection of a medication or laser procedure.

“The majority of patients who are screened do not need treatment, but for those that do, this is a critical tool to preserve vision,” said Davis.

The retinal camera is an example of new technology that is funded through St. Charles Foundation to give caregivers access to the best tools possible to treat patients.

“This is an example of how the Foundation can elevate our care for patients from good to excellent,” said Jenny O’Bryan, Executive Director for the Foundation, about why this project was funded. “Our goal is to raise funds that ultimately elevate the care we are able to provide for people in Central Oregon.”

Historically, our annual report has acted as a snapshot of St. Charles’ activities within a given 12-month period. This year, however, we are bookending our 2023 report with a look back at some key metrics that illustrate the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our health system, and a look ahead to where we go from here. As for 2023, it’s the year we regained our footing and started to more confidently move forward, with the wind of a rebuilt workforce and a remarkable financial turnaround at our backs. We will never forget the profound emotional and physical toll the pandemic took on our workforce, our patients and our world. So, to be clear: We are not leaving the pandemic behind. In fact, we are taking some of the qualities that helped carry us through the past few years – tenacity, resourcefulness, teamwork, compassion and an unwavering commitment to caring for all – and working to ensure they are embedded within the very fabric of our organization. We are working hard to stay agile and adaptable in the face of many challenges, including some we cannot control. And we are pleased to be on solid ground as we consider the next steps we need to take to remain viable – not just for our patients, but for all of Central Oregon. As a local, nonprofit organization, we know St. Charles is a vital and valued pillar in this community. As you take in the information in this annual report, please do so knowing that St. Charles has cared for Central Oregon for more than a century, and we intend to be here for the next 100 years, too. I am incredibly proud of the progress our health system made in 2023, and the momentum we’ve gained as we head into a very bright future. Sincerely, Steve Gordon, MD, MPP, FACP President and CEO St. Charles Health System

Risk-Adjusted Mortality Index (RAMI)		WHAT'S RAMI?
		A hospital’s risk-adjusted mortality index (RAMI) is a comparison of actual deaths in the hospital to expected deaths based on the acuity of patients. A RAMI below 1.0 means fewer patients died than expected. A RAMI above 1.0 means more patients died than expected. RAMI is used to assess the quality and safety of care being provided in the hospital.

Download campus stats

Trauma survivors invited for day of connection and healing at St. Charles Bend

St. Charles Health System’s Trauma Program is hosting an event to honor and recognize former trauma patients Wednesday, May 15 at St. Charles Bend. The event will include a visit from therapy dogs, free barbecue lunch and the chance to connect with St. Charles caregivers, first responders and fellow trauma survivors.

The program will include a welcome from a trauma doctor and two trauma survivors will speak: Emma Vlossak will share her experience as a former trauma nurse who became a trauma patient and Richard Marcias will perform a song that he wrote during his stay at St. Charles while recovering from a fall.

Jeremy Buller, trauma program coordinator, is excited to bring the event back for a second year, after a successful first Trauma Survivor Day in 2023.

“I hope that the trauma survivors and family members can connect with each other and understand they aren’t alone in their experiences. For some people, this event helps provide a sense of closure,” said Buller. “Our caregivers also find tremendous meaning and joy when they are able to interact with former patients who are healing.”  

All former trauma survivors are invited to attend the event; RSVPs are required at the link. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the St. Charles Bend Conference Rooms A and B and the outside patio, weather permitting.

More about the Trauma Program at St. Charles

St. Charles cares for approximate 2,300 trauma patients every year across its four hospitals, including injuries caused by falls, vehicle crashes, recreational accidents and more. St. Charles Bend is a level 2 trauma center, the only one east of the Cascades. The average trauma patient stays 5.5 days in the hospital and receives care from more than 200 caregivers during that time.

2024 NICU Reunion

Members of the St. Charles Neonatal Intensive Care Unit family, including current and former patients and their families, and current and former staff, are invited to the St. Charles NICU reunion. It will be a time to connect and celebrate with families and children who were cared for in the St. Charles NICU. 

Wear your favorite superhero costume!

Lots of fun activities:

• Games
• Sweet treats
• Refreshments
• Crafts
• Bouncy House
• Photobooth
• Face painting
• AirLink Helicopter Tours

RSVP Today!

Pictured above: Dr. Michael Lavelle of St. Charles Urology.

What’s better than a win-win situation?

Here’s something: St. Charles’ new Urology service – a rare win-win-win, with benefits for all involved.

“It’s exciting to be part of building something like this,” said urologist Dr. Michael Lavelle. “It’s a lot of work, but I’ve been so impressed by the enthusiasm and the positive attitude of everyone involved.”

The new service came together over the winter, when Lavelle joined the health system after the closure of his previous practice. At St. Charles, he found not only a place to continue serving Central Oregon – that’s win #1 – but also an organization that was already considering starting a urology service.

“It just so happens (that had) been on our minds for a while,” said Jonnie Becker, administrative director of Surgical Services for St. Charles.

Urology is an attractive service for the health system because caregivers in the field do a lot of interesting things day-to-day, generally are practicing at the top of their scope and have high job satisfaction, Becker said.

“People (in urology) tend to enjoy what they do, which makes it easier to attract and retain great caregivers,” she said.

That’s win #2.

Win #3 is the most important: The new service meets a need for urology services in the community, and it also allows Lavelle’s patients at his previous practice to continue seeing him rather than having to find a new provider.

“It’s great for them, because they know me and my style, and I know them and their history. No one wants to change doctors and start over with someone new, particularly in an area like urology, which can feel sensitive or embarrassing,” Lavelle said.

“I had a lot of people say they’d rather just wait a few months for me to get set up here than go see someone else,” he said. “I think that speaks to how important that relationship is between patient and provider.”

Lavelle, who is originally from Portland, went to medical school at Loyola University of Chicago, completed his residency at Oregon Health & Science University, and is certified by the American Board of Urology. Like a lot of people in the field, he became interested in urology because it offers a lot of variety: Medical practice, patient relationships fostered by office visits, and regular surgical duties, with all the associated new techniques and procedures.

“Clinically, there is significant variety in urology,” he said. “It keeps our office staff interested and happy, which creates a great work environment.”

Besides Lavelle, the Urology team currently includes a nurse practitioner, a physician’s assistant, medical assistants and office staff. Urology services are available in Bend at 2200 NE Neff Road (in The Center) and in Redmond at 1245 NW 4th Street. Lavelle and nurse practitioner Eden Fair are currently seeing patients in both the Bend and Redmond locations.

St. Charles Urology offers evaluation and treatment of:

• Urinary tract disorders, including infections
• Kidney stones and kidney disease
• Incontinence and overactive bladder
• Male sexual health
• Prostate health
• Urological cancers

Specialized services include:

• Urodynamcis
• Bladder instillation: BCG, Botox
• PTNS
• Voiding trials
• Catheterization
• Vasectomies
• Vasectomy reversal

You can reach St. Charles Urology by phone at 541-706-4200 or fax at 541-797-5820, and learn more on our website.