After Charlie Hoffmeister had her first baby at age 28, her body changed. She started struggling with her pelvic floor — the muscles spanning between the tail and pubic bones, which cradles the organs above it.

Pelvic floor dysfunction after childbirth is a widespread ailment. In fact, one in three women will be affected by a pelvic floor issue at some point in their life. Symptoms can include loss of bladder or bowel control and pain during intercourse, as well as low back or hip pain. And these frustrating symptoms aren’t just limited to people who have recently given birth: Men and women, young and old, can experience pelvic floor dysfunction, with severity ranging from inconvenient to life-altering.

In Hoffmeister’s case, the time she spent recreating outside dwindled, and she wasn’t as able to join her child in play.

“I was annoyed,” she said. “I felt like it really limited my ability to be the adventurous, rock climbing, running person that I had been.”

Although awareness about pelvic floor dysfunction is becoming more common, it’s still a relatively hushed topic. In part, that’s because it centers around a private area of the body, said Brooke Collins, a pelvic floor and physical therapist who started St. Charles’ pelvic floor therapy program more than a decade ago.

Pelvic floor therapy sessions begin with a thorough consultation, including a physical exam, and then center on the unique needs of a patient’s pelvic floor muscles, which either need to be strengthened or relaxed — or sometimes both. The ultimate goal? For the patient to regain control of their body. Pelvic floor therapy helps 97% of patients with stress urinary incontinence, for example, and cures it for 73% of patients.

“When there's dysfunction there, it can affect every aspect of your life,” Collins said. “We're helping people get control back so that their body is functioning the way they want.”

For patients whose muscles are weakened, a program plan will typically include exercises, not just for the pelvic floor muscles but also for the surrounding hip and core muscles. Patients with overly tight pelvic floor muscles will learn relaxation techniques. In both scenarios, practitioners employ biosensors that reflect muscle activity in real-time on a screen, allowing patients to understand better what is happening in their bodies.

Hoffmeister says she felt more confident after just the first session. After returning for another eight-week round of pelvic floor therapy following the birth of her twins, she could lace up her sneakers and get back into running after only six months postpartum. Now, at 33, she has no remaining symptoms, and she encourages anyone struggling with pelvic floor dysfunction to at least have a consultation, even if they ultimately decide against therapy, because it is empowering to learn about how the body works and what is considered normal, she said.

“You’re not alone; it’s very common,” Collins said. “Don’t put up with it, and don’t give the companies that make pads any more money.”

Learn more about the pelvic floor therapy services, which are offered at St. Charles' clinics in Madras, Prineville and Redmond.

Pictured above are Melissa Chalker, Anthony Mattioda and Dominic Mattioda sitting on Guy's bench. Pictured below are Anthony and Dominic, plus Guy's sister Gina and his parents, Faye and Jerry.

When Melissa Chalker graduated from college and started working at St. Charles Bend 32 years ago, one of her jobs was to deliver paper patient charts from the medical records department to the Emergency Room.

“I would do that 10 or 12, maybe 15 times each day,” she said. “And when I did that, I had to pass the satellite phlebotomy station in the main hallway twice, once on the way and once on the way back.”

One day, she spotted someone new at the station: Guy Mattioda, a phlebotomist who had recently moved from night shift to days. Mattioda was friendly and had a great sense of humor. It wasn’t long before they started dating and were married in 1993.

“If it wasn’t for that job change, I’m not sure we would’ve found each other,” Chalker said.

Eventually, Chalker moved into utilization management and Mattioda became a Registered Nurse, where he earned the nickname “Father Guy” because of his ability to put patients and families at ease. They both got to know many St. Charles caregivers. The couple’s sons, Anthony and Dominic, were both born in the Bend hospital, as well.

“St. Charles has been an important part of our life,” Chalker said.

Life changed, however, in February of 2003, when Mattioda passed away. His funeral was held at the Catholic church in downtown Bend, and it overflowed with people mourning his loss.

“I have always felt like that was a great testament to him. There were tons of people from the hospital: Doctors, nurses, people he knew, people I knew,” Chalker said. “It was really, really heartwarming.”

After the funeral, St. Charles nurses supported the family by delivering food and collecting money to install a memorial bench in Mattioda’s honor. The bench is located just outside the hospital’s main entrance.

“They asked me what the plaque should say, and I thought, ‘What touches people the most?’” Chalker said. “I think it was his smile, because he was always smiling. That’s why we put, ‘Forever smiling, Forever in our hearts.’”

For the past 20 years, Jerry and Faye Mattioda have visited the bench outside St. Charles as a way to remember and honor their son, who grew up in the family’s home just down the road from the Bend hospital. Guy also took religious classes in Sister Catherine’s home when he was a child.

“It was very touching when they placed the bench after he died, and it’s very touching now,” Jerry Mattioda said. “Time goes by, but the memory is always there.”

Over the years, the family had worked with St. Charles’ Facilities crew on upkeep of the bench, but in recent years, Mattioda noticed that it was really starting to show its age. He and Chalker discussed another round of “loving care,” Mattioda said, but word of their concerns got to Derek Miller, director of Facilities for the health system, who had a different idea: To replace the original bench, which was nearing its end of life, and install the new one in the same location.

“I can’t thank Derek enough for how quickly and graciously he responded to our request. I could stand here all day thanking him and his team, because this just means that much to our lives,” Jerry Mattioda said. “St. Charles was a very special place to Guy. He loved his job and he loved what he did here.”

On a sunny Friday afternoon in late September, the family gathered under the trees outside the Bend hospital for a short, simple ceremony, where Jerry said a few words about Guy, then Anthony and Dominic removed the original bench and put the new one in place. There were stories told and photos taken, soft chuckles and tears on cheeks. And now there is a nice, clean, new place for patients, visitors and caregivers at St. Charles Bend to sit and reflect, whether or not they remember the person behind the name on the plaque.

“The real story is kindness: The kindness of Guy and the kindness of our coworkers,” Chalker said, “and the fact that his legacy lives on.”

St. Charles Health System and the Bend Police Department are hosting a medication take-back event on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bend Police Department at 555 NE 15th St., Bend.

The take-back event is intended to help households dispose of medications that could be ingested by someone other than the person for whom they were prescribed and to prevent medications from ending up in the water table.

In 2022 this event collected 500 pounds of medications and sharps that were then disposed of safely.  

No questions will be asked. Individuals can drive through the parking lot and drop off medications right from their car window. Evidence technicians will accept the medications, then give them to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to dispose of safely.

Any non-oncology medications will be accepted. Liquids, pills, powders, patches, creams, prescriptions or over-the-counter medicines can be dropped off. Representatives from St. Charles pharmacy will also be on-site to answer questions.

About St. Charles Health System

St. Charles Health System, Inc., headquartered in Bend, Ore., owns and operates St. Charles Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond. It also owns family care clinics in Bend, La Pine, Madras, Prineville, Redmond and Sisters. St. Charles is a private, nonprofit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 4,800 caregivers. In addition, there are more than 350 active medical staff members and nearly 200 visiting medical staff members who partner with the health system to provide a wide range of care and service to our communities.

Health system will no longer be in-network for Humana, HealthNet and WellCare

Citing continued, unresolved concerns about patient care and administrative burdens, St. Charles Health System announced today it will no longer be an in-network provider for Medicare Advantage plans from Humana, HealthNet and WellCare starting in 2024. Seniors and others on Medicare plans will continue to have options for insurance coverage at St. Charles, as the health system continues to accept traditional Medicare and some Medicare Advantage plans.

“We care deeply about our patients and the care they receive, which is why we are unwilling to continue with the status quo with Medicare Advantage plans that result in restrictions to patient care, longer hospital stays and administrative burdens for providers,” said Dr. Mark Hallett, chief clinical officer. “We are grateful that some insurance partners were willing to come to the table and try out innovative solutions to these complex problems.”

St. Charles joins many other hospitals and health systems around the country that are reevaluating their participation in Medicare Advantage plans, which are publicly funded, but privately run (“Hospitals are dropping Medicare Advantage left and right”).

“The conversation about Medicare Advantage continues at St. Charles and at health systems around the nation,” said Matt Swafford, chief financial officer. “We hope the innovative solutions we are piloting with PacificSource that we announced last week will serve as a model for future discussions.”

When Medicare open enrollment begins Oct. 15, local seniors will have options should they want to remain in-network for St. Charles. In addition to traditional Medicare and PacificSource, St. Charles will start the year accepting the following Medicare Advantage plans: Providence, Moda and Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Individuals on Medicare Advantage plans from Humana, HealthNet and WellCare should receive a communication from their insurance provider about the changes to their health plan offerings and in-network provider availability.

Key dates:

• Oct. 15, 2023: Medicare open enrollment begins

• Dec. 7, 2023: Medicare open enrollment ends

• Dec. 31, 2023: Humana coverage ends

• Feb. 1, 2024: HealthNet and WellCare coverage ends

Central Oregonians who wish to explore insurance options, can contact:

• Oregon Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) at 800-722-4134, option 2,
• 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227),
• Council on Aging of Central Oregon at 541-678-5483,
• or an insurance broker of your choosing.

Additional information can be found on the St. Charles Medicare Advantage FAQ webpage or individuals can call 541-612-8378.

About St. Charles Health System

St. Charles Health System, Inc., headquartered in Bend, Ore., owns and operates St. Charles Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond. It also owns family care clinics in Bend, La Pine, Madras, Prineville, Redmond and Sisters. St. Charles is a private, nonprofit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 4,800 caregivers. In addition, there are more than 350 active medical staff members and nearly 200 visiting medical staff members who partner with the health system to provide a wide range of care and service to our communities.

Fall and winter is a wonderful time in Central Oregon, with plenty of fun stuff to do: Snow sports, sledding with the kids, hanging out by a fire, holiday gatherings and, of course, that much-needed February getaway to warmer climes.

Unfortunately, fall and winter is also respiratory illness season. Influenza, COVID-19 and RSV are all common in the region, and each of them can cause serious illness that will wreck those plans you’ve been looking forward to.

Here’s the best way to protect yourself and your plans: Get vaccinated.

“This season, safe and effective vaccines designed to prevent serious cases of flu, COVID and RSV are available,” said Dr. Cynthia Maree, St. Charles’ infectious disease expert. “Getting sick is no fun, especially when it takes you away from doing the things you love to do. So I want to urge everyone 6 months old and older to get vaccinated against flu and COVID-19, and to talk to their primary care physician about whether they should get the RSV vaccine.”

Vaccines do not always prevent illness, but they can curtail how sick you get if you are infected. It is especially important for people over the age of 65 and people with underlying health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity or a weakened immune system to protect themselves by getting vaccinated, Maree said. 

“Vaccines remain our best protection against serious respiratory illness,” she said. “Other things you can do to stay healthy include washing your hands, physically distancing, wearing a mask in crowds and staying home if you do get sick.”

• This season’s flu vaccine targets four strains of seasonal influenza and is recommended for everyone 6 months old and older. October is the ideal time to get a flu shot, because protection wanes throughout the season.
• An updated COVID-19 vaccine is available now and is recommended for everyone 6 months old and older. For protection against severe disease, get it now unless you have received a booster within the past two months OR you were infected within the past three to four months.
• There are two RSV vaccines (GSK and Pfizer) that are very similar and recommended for people 60 years old and older, as well as pregnant people. If you’re eligible, talk to your provider about getting the RSV vaccine. Protection is durable throughout the season.

For more information, including where to get vaccines, visit stcharleshealthcare.org/vaccines.

St. Charles announces agreement with PacificSource that will benefit patients and providers

St. Charles Health System announced today that it has reached an agreement with PacificSource that promotes excellence in cancer care, reduces administrative burdens and keeps St. Charles hospitals and clinics in-network for PacificSource Medicare Advantage plans in Central Oregon through 2024. The agreement includes PacificSource’s Oregon Health Plan and commercial insurance plans. 

“We are excited to bring this agreement to our community and believe it addresses many of our concerns,” said Dr. Mark Hallett, chief clinical officer for St. Charles. “We are grateful to PacificSource for working with us to identify creative solutions that we believe will benefit patients and health care providers throughout the region.”

In particular, the teams agreed to focus on reducing administrative burdens for patients and health care workers, initially prioritizing the following innovative ideas: 

• Beginning in 2024, St. Charles Cancer Center patients will be able to receive care prescribed by their physicians without prior authorization from PacificSource. This change recognizes St. Charles Cancer Center’s stellar record providing care within National Cancer Care Network guidelines. 
• PacificSource and St. Charles will work together to ensure patients are able to be discharged from the hospital when they no longer need hospital-level care. 

“We are all committed to ensuring Central Oregonians retain access to high quality health care and this agreement is a step in the right direction,” said Matt Swafford, chief financial officer for St. Charles. “This is just the beginning of an ongoing conversation with all of our health insurance partners and we hope the innovative solutions we are piloting with PacificSource will serve as a model for future discussions.” 

Both organizations will monitor these new initiatives throughout the coming year to ensure they are achieving the desired outcomes of reducing stress on patients and families and increasing speed and access to appropriate levels of care, while also reducing the administrative burden on health care providers. 

St. Charles will continue to evaluate participation in Medicare Advantage Plans going forward and has not yet reached an agreement with Humana, HealthNet and WellCare Medicare Advantage plans for 2024. For more information on the traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage options available in the Central Oregon region, seniors are encouraged to contact their health insurance provider, the Central Oregon Council on Aging at 541-678-5483 or the Oregon Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) at 800-722-4134 option 2. 

Open enrollment for Medicare begins Oct. 15.

About St. Charles Health System

St. Charles Health System, Inc., headquartered in Bend, Ore., owns and operates St. Charles Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond. It also owns family care clinics in Bend, La Pine, Madras, Prineville, Redmond and Sisters. St. Charles is a private, nonprofit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 4,500 caregivers. In addition, there are more than 350 active medical staff members and nearly 200 visiting medical staff members who partner with the health system to provide a wide range of care and service to our communities.

Recently, I had a chance to see firsthand the impact of St. Charles’ Community Benefit program, which gives thousands of dollars in grant funding to community organizations throughout Central Oregon each year.

On a recent Tuesday morning, I had the honor of presenting a $30,000 grant to the La Pine Senior Activity Center to help the facility pay for a much-needed kitchen remodel and new commercial ovens.

This work is vital in La Pine, where the center provides nutritious meals to 60 to 90 community members every week. In a town of a few thousand folks, that is a significant number of people who depend on the center for food.

While I was there, I met a staff member named Barbara, who calls herself “the baker.” She has been putting the new ovens to good use, making treats for patrons of the center.

“There are really no words,” she said. “I love it so much!”

That day, I was reminded of what an important role senior centers play in our communities. By providing a place for seniors to gather, they help to reduce social isolation and give people a place where they belong and can make connections with others.

As you may already know, St. Charles’ Community Benefit program recently announced its grant priority for the next three years: reducing loneliness and increasing belonging in Central Oregon. We’re calling this effort Celebrate, Together; Celebrando Juntos, and the goal is to direct thousands of dollars in grant funding to organizations that are creating opportunities for communities to connect in person.

We’re doing that because we know that isolation, loneliness and depression affect more than just the individual experiencing them. They are root causes of a variety of health problems and societal issues, and we believe that by bringing people together and helping them connect with others, we can make a positive impact on their health and the health of our community.

That’s why we’re here. It’s one reason St. Charles has a Community Benefit program. And it’s why seniors in La Pine will be able to come together and enjoy Barbara’s baked treats for the foreseeable future.

The health system is now accepting grant applications, and community-based groups, nonprofit organizations, education systems and tribal entities that serve youth, older adults and/or vulnerable populations are encouraged to apply. Applications are due Sept. 30. To learn more about the grant requirements and application process, visit our webpage.

Thanks, as always, for reading.
Steve

St. Charles is pleased to welcome Dr. Jeremy Kenison as a new Family Medicine physician at the Sisters Family Care Clinic.

Born and raised in New Hampshire, Kenison attended Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Colorado and then went on to serve for 10 years as an active duty physician in the U.S. Navy, most recently in Washington. Now a civilian, he is excited to be serving the Sisters community and to start building relationships with patients of all ages.

“I’m looking forward to engaging with my patients, from newborns to retirees, and building that physician-patient bond while providing them with a broad spectrum of care,” Kenison said. “I want to understand who they are and their concerns, and what they need from me so I can better advise and help them understand their health and their health journey.”

Dr. Kenison is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, which typically take a more holistic, whole-person approach to health care and emphasize improving wellness through education and prevention. Kenison believes in providing his patients with an informed and clear understanding of medicine, and empowering them to understand and take charge of their well-being.

Osteopathic forms of treatment and diagnosis can also involve manual medicine, called osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT), of which Kenison is a big proponent.

“OMT is often focused on musculoskeletal and chronic pain issues, but it can also help out in other areas like your lymphatic and pulmonary systems. There’s a lot of opportunity for where hands-on manipulation can augment what the body is naturally doing to heal, with very minimal side effects.”

Hiring a new provider is one of the ways that St. Charles is demonstrating its commitment to serving the Sisters community. The health system also reopened the Sisters lab this summer, eliminating the need to commute to Bend or Redmond for lab services, a move that has already garnered gratitude from patients and caregivers.

Kenison is looking forward to being a part of that long-term commitment and becoming a health resource patients can look to in times of need. 

“Sisters is a smaller practice but that’s exactly what I’m excited for and what I came from in Washington. Growing the clinic and finding how we can be of service and how we can best support that community is something I’m definitely excited for.”

When not working, he and his family are looking forward to exploring Central Oregon and spending as much time outdoors as possible.

This is a joint press release from Mosaic Community Health, St. Charles Health System and Deschutes County: 

Sisters, Oregon, Sept. 13, 2023 – The Sisters School-Based Health Center, located adjacent to Sisters High School, will soon expand its operations from two days a week to four days a week, thanks to a partnership between Mosaic Community Health, St. Charles Health System and Deschutes County. On Oct. 18, Mosaic will assume operations of the health center, which is currently operated by St. Charles Health System, in a building owned by Deschutes County. 

“We are thrilled to be able to provide additional access to pediatric patients in Sisters by offering expanded hours for the health center,” said Tamarra Harris, pediatrics manager for Mosaic. “In addition to a pediatric-trained medical provider, we also plan to have a full-time behavioral health consultant on site. We want to thank our community partners, St. Charles and Deschutes County, for supporting this transition, which will benefit our community.” 

Under Mosaic, which operates six additional SBHCs throughout Central Oregon, the health center will provide a pediatric-trained medical provider, a full-time behavioral health consultant, a community health worker, plus clinical pharmacy, Oregon Health Plan enrollment and nutritionist support. Deschutes County Behavioral Health staff will also be located on site.

“We believe this transition will benefit the Sisters community and shows the exceptional partnership the medical community has in Central Oregon,” said Emily Salmon, vice president for whole person care and community health at St. Charles. “Ultimately, our goal is to provide the best access possible to medical care in our community and, in this case, that means transitioning the clinic to Mosaic, which has access to federal funding to expand services.”

Since 2015, the Sisters SBHC, located at 535 N. Reed St. in Sisters, has been providing convenient access to quality healthcare for local pediatric patients—one of the primary goals of SBHCs, according to the Oregon Health Authority. Other goals for SBHCs include:

• Providing patient-centered care for all students, regardless of insurance status
• Reducing costs related to unnecessary hospital stays and use of emergency rooms
• Improving education outcomes—because healthy kids learn better
• Saving parents time by reducing hours of missed work to transport children to appointments

Utilizing unique public-private partnerships, SBHCs have been operating in the state of Oregon since 1986. There are currently 85 certified SBHCs across Oregon. Mosaic and their school district and county health partners currently operate six of those in Central Oregon, including at Bend High, Mountain View High, Madras High, Redmond High, Lynch Elementary and Crook Kids in Prineville. La Pine Community Health Center operates one SBHC in La Pine.

“School-Based Health Centers provide a great service within Deschutes County, helping eliminate barriers for our youngest residents to receive health care. Together, Mosaic and St. Charles are helping to create a healthier Central Oregon and we applaud our continued partnerships,” said Holly Harris, Deschutes County behavioral health director. 

In addition to medical and behavioral health care, providers at Mosaic SBHCs emphasize prevention, early intervention, risk reduction and the development of healthy habits with their young patients. Mosaic SBHCs are open to anyone from birth through age 18; patients do not need to be a student at the school where the SBHC is located. 

“We appreciate St. Charles, Deschutes County Health Services and all of our local partners for working together with us to improve the health of everyone in Central Oregon,” said Elaine Knobbs-Seasholtz, Mosaic director of strategy and development. 

At St. Charles, one of my responsibilities as president and CEO is to keep our community informed about health care services, access to care and other topics that could impact local residents. That’s why we recently shared the news that St. Charles is reevaluating its participation in all Medicare Advantage plans, which are operated by private insurance companies and are different from traditional Medicare, which is funded and operated by the federal government.

To hopefully alleviate some of the concerns that have been raised, I’d like to share a few facts about why we are evaluating our participation in Medicare Advantage plans and where we are in our negotiations.

Please know that all of us at St. Charles are listening and we understand your concerns about possibly having to change plans or incurring increased costs. We take these concerns seriously and are certainly weighing potential impacts on community members in our decision-making. But we have also seen and felt for years the impact of not publicly acknowledging these problems, and the burden often lands on the shoulders of our sickest patients and our caregivers.

Every day, I hear stories of Medicare Advantage patients who have trouble getting the care they need. Recently, a patient in the St. Charles Cancer Center was diagnosed with prostate cancer. As a routine next step, the treating physician ordered a PET scan to see if the cancer had spread. It was denied by the patient’s Medicare Advantage plan. The patient had to wait and wonder if the cancer was spreading while three different physicians ordered the test and all three times it was denied, even though it is nationally accepted best practice care for this type of case. Eventually, the scan was approved.

As a physician, I have firsthand knowledge of how delays in care can impact a patient both emotionally and physically. I started out in my career when managed care plans were just coming into existence. I’m struck now by how dramatically the administrative burden has piled up on the backs of my colleagues, our caregivers and our patients since those early days.

It is increasingly clear that Medicare Advantage plans do a pretty good job of providing coverage for outpatient visits and procedures, and some plan members rave about their experience. For patients sick enough to need hospitalization or high levels of specialty care, however, the plans too often fall short. Patients on Medicare Advantage plans frequently end up staying in the hospital longer than traditional Medicare patients. In many cases, these patients also wait longer for approval of necessary care and experience a high rate of denials for care that has already happened.

From my perspective, it’s important for people to understand that we do not believe the current system under Medicare Advantage is working effectively for the interests of all patients.

We, like many other health care organizations across the nation, are asking insurance providers to do better through ongoing contract negotiations. Here is where we stand today:

• St. Charles Health System is currently in contract negotiations with four Medicare Advantage plans.
• Contract negotiations between health care providers and insurance companies are routine.
• We are asking for proposals that address our concerns about delays in patient care, denials for treatments that have already been provided and administrative burdens on our care teams.
• Since our recent announcement, we are pleased to share that some insurers have responded with their intention to continue negotiating. We believe some are willing to work with us to find creative solutions to these complex problems.
• Regardless of where we land in negotiations, we anticipate St. Charles will continue participating in some Medicare Advantage plans in Central Oregon in 2024.
• We want people to be aware that these negotiations are taking place so they have plenty of time to research options and consult with insurance experts before the annual open enrollment period for Medicare beings on Oct. 15.

If you have continued concerns, your insurance provider is the best source of information about the plans they will continue to provide to Central Oregonians into the future. We are also committed to providing updates once negotiations are complete.

Sincerely,
Steve