Foot and Nail Care now offered at St. Charles Wound Clinics! 

Routine foot and nail care by a Certified Foot and Nail Care Nurse (CFCN) has been shown to reduce pain and injuries in the patient population at risk for limb loss. The patients that benefit from this specialty care include those with diabetes, neuropathy, and lower extremity arterial disease. 

Regular foot care can reduce the risk of foot ulcers and infection, reduce the risk of amputations, increase quality of life, and reduce hospitalizations and the cost of care related to diabetic and neuropathic foot ulceration. 

Services provided by our certified foot and nail care nurse include: 

• Foot assessment and inspection 
• Vascular assessment 
• Management of nails and skin 
• Management of corns and calluses 
• Patient/Caregiver education 
• Referral to specialist (podiatry, vascular, diabetic educator, nutrition, surgical) as needed 

To make an appointment at one of our outpatient wound clinics (Bend, Madras or Prineville), please contact your physician to obtain a referral. 

According to the WOCN Society, in collaboration with the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, preoperative stoma site selection and ostomy education should be performed for all patients who are undergoing surgery that may involve the creation of a stoma. This statement is supported by numerous evidence-based studies that show fewer postoperative complications when a stoma site is selected pre-operatively. 

The appointment 

A referral to the St. Charles outpatient Wound & Ostomy clinics can be obtained from your primary care physician or the surgeon who will be performing your procedure. The outpatient setting is ideal for this preoperative visit. The hour-long visit provides ample time, with no interruptions, for stoma site marking and education regarding the planned procedure and postoperative expectations. The ostomy nurse can also discuss ostomy resources, including supplies and ostomy support group information. 

Issues that are explored during the preoperative stoma site marking visit include: 

• Surgical considerations and diagnosis
• Physical considerations and limitations, including a protruding abdomen, skin folds, and the presence of scars or other stomas
• Patient considerations and limitations, including vision, manual dexterity, age, occupation, and clothing preferences
• Positioning considerations and limitations, which may include whether a patient uses a wheelchair or has postural issues such as contractures or scoliosis 

Ideally, the stoma site should be placed in an area you can easily see to facilitate self-care. The stoma site selection is completed after the ostomy nurse visualizes your abdomen while you are lying down, sitting, standing, and bending forward. 

Preoperative stoma site marking, along with pre– and postoperative education, has been shown to reduce complications, promote self-care, and improve an ostomate’s quality of life. 

A new cancer center in Redmond 

Located on the corner of NW Kingwood Ave. and NW Canal Blvd. in Redmond, our new cancer center will have a tremendously positive impact on our community, as it will expand access and services to Redmond and surrounding communities, serving up to 300 patients every day. At more than 53,000-square-feet, the new St. Charles Cancer Center in Redmond will be nine times the size of our current facility in Redmond and will provide patients with comprehensive cancer services including radiation oncology, chemotherapy infusion, surgical oncology, expanded support services and much more.

Making a hospital stay less stressful for children is what the St. Charles child life specialists do best. They have incredible skills to help walk kids through the worrying or confusing parts of their stay and they use a collection of toys, games, puzzles, books and movies to help support our young patients. Layla was just 7 when she was in St. Charles Bend, and she loved getting visits from Jeri Young, a child life specialist who played with her and helped make her feel more comfortable.

Now 11, Layla has never forgotten Jeri and has been working for years to find a way to show her gratitude.  

“It always made me happy to see Jeri, so I wanted to say thank you,” said Layla. “And I wanted to help other kids who were in the hospital.”

Layla worked for more than a year to raise money by walking dogs, cat-sitting, hosting bake sales and more. She took that hard earned money and used it to buy supplies that were on the child life specialists’ wish list (via St. Charles Foundation). This included new toys, books, movies, games and other supplies for pediatric patients. Layla ended up filling more than five large shopping bags with much-wanted supplies and then she and her parents delivered them to a grateful pediatric team earlier this month.

“I’ve been trying to find the words about how much this means to me for a former patient to be moved to do such an amazing act of kindness: working so hard with bake sales and lemonade stands to raise money to purchase toys and activities for other children. Layla proved through her actions just how important play is to children and especially how important play is to hospitalized children,” said Jeri. “For child life specialists, toys are the tools that help children cope with the hospital experience. For Layla to recognize that being able to play and do art made a difficult experience a little more manageable and that she wanted to do something to support us is beyond incredible. I will think of Layla and her wonderful selfless act each time I share one of the items she personally selected for us to provide a little opportunity of play for another hospitalized child.”

Layla says shopping for the items was fun and she took time to think about different things the patients might like, from tabletop foosball to movies to watch together.

Brooke Jensen, director of Women’s and Children’s Services, said, “I was just so impressed with this extraordinary young person. She had the idea to help other children needing to stay in the hospital and acted on that idea in a very meaningful way.”

To support the Child Life Specialists program, visit stcharlesfoundation.org.

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.”