(pictured above: Emma Vlossak surrounded by members of Bend Fire and Rescue)
“My only job right now is to breathe.”
That’s what Emma Vlossak told herself as she lay in a ditch off Alfalfa Market Road east of Bend, unable to move, after being struck by an SUV while riding her bike.
Now, nearly a year later, Vlossak is “alive, upright and can hold (her) children again” and, for that, she feels tremendous gratitude.
Emma Vlossak stands chatting with members of the Bend Fire and Rescue team
Up until the day she was hit on her bike, Vlossak had experienced trauma primarily as part of a team that cares for patients with severe injuries. She spent 10 years as a trauma nurse, three years at St. Charles, serving in the emergency department, after that working as a house supervisor and as a nurse manager in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
When she entered St. Charles Bend’s Emergency Department as a patient last June, Vlossak was surrounded by people she considers family.
“I got to experience being cared for by my family,” she said. “These are the people I was in the trenches with. From the moment the fire crew picked me up to the time I was in recovery, I was surrounded by and cared for by our medical community, who are also my work family. Our caregivers and the Bend Fire crews do not just show up to work, they are deeply committed to the health of our community.”
This week, Vlossak shared her story as part of the first Trauma Survivors Day event at St. Charles Bend, where approximately 50 people including surgeons, nurses, emergency responders, clerical staff and others had a chance to connect with people who had needed their care.
The goal is for Trauma Survivors Day to become an annual event and to kick off a new Trauma Survivors Support Network for Central Oregon.
Meeting former patients is an important opportunity for emergency caregivers to experience connection and closure, said Michelle Brenholdt, St. Charles’ director of Emergency and Trauma Services for Bend and Redmond.
“We are here when patients are having their worst day, but we don’t get to see them when they are back having their best day,” she said. “To meet a survivor, that’s what fills our cups, knowing we played a role in it.”
Richard Macias (center) with wife Sherry (left) and Dr. Marika Gassner (right)
Connecting with trauma survivors “is like therapy for us,” said Trauma Medical Director Dr. Marika Gassner, who saw one of her former patients, Richard Macias, at the event.
“To see Rich walk in doing so well, it’s enormous,” she said.
Macias was excited to attend Trauma Survivors Day so he could thank all of his caregivers. He developed a relationship with them during his long recovery after falling from a roof late last year.
“It didn’t feel like strangers were taking care of me. The people here, they felt like an extended family," said Macias, who now has 11 plates and 86 screws in his new rib section.
“I just have so much appreciation for everyone,” he said. “I’m so glad I landed here.”
Grand Rounds - May 19, 2023 "Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)"
Speaker: Joslyn W Fisher, MD, MPH. Associate Professor of Medicine and Medical Ethics, Baylor College of Medicine.
Objectives
Cite the epidemiology of intimate partner violence.
Identify those populations at risk for intimate partner violence while navigating cultural views and/or barriers.
Recognize the signs and symptoms of intimate partner violence.
Apply the appropriate strategies and interventions in the treatment of intimate partner violence.
Address the patient appropriately when the suspected perpetrator is present.
Accreditation: St. Charles Health System is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. St. Charles Health System designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM.
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].
Oher CME or Clerkship questions: also contact Continuing Medical Education at [email protected].
Grand Rounds - May 12, 2023 "Chronic Kidney Disease"
Speaker: Golriz Jafari, MD. Olive View-UCLA Medical Center.
Objectives
Describe symptoms of chronic kidney disease.
Discuss the latest diagnostic tests and treatments.
Improve prevention of chronic kidney disease and preservation of kidney function.
Discuss indications and patient eligibility for kidney transplantation.
Indications of acute and chronic dialysis treatment.
Accreditation: St. Charles Health System is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. St. Charles Health System designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM.
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].
Oher CME or Clerkship questions: also contact Continuing Medical Education at [email protected].
Grand Rounds - May 5, 2023 "Ophthalmology for the Primary Care Provider"
Speaker: Ronald N. Gaster, MD, FACS. Clinical Professor, Ophthalmology UCLA and UC Irvine; Private Practice, Beverly Hills and Orange County, CA.
Objectives
Identify common eye problems seen by primary care physicians.
Evaluate patients with common eye complaints.
Utilize diagnostic techniques in the office/clinic of a primary care physicians.
Treat common eye disorders.
Know which eye disorders need to be referred to an ophthalmologist and how urgent the referral will be.
Accreditation: St. Charles Health System is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. St. Charles Health System designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM.
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].
Oher CME or Clerkship questions: also contact Continuing Medical Education at [email protected].
Body
Cancer Wise, Know Your Risk, a program designed to identify those at increased risk for cancer -- through personalized assessment, genetic testing and education.
Helping our community become more “Cancer Wise” includes:
Expanded genetic testing, helping identify people with a greater risk for cancer and designing a personalized plan for medical management.
Expanded community outreach so that everyone has equal access to testing and follow-up services. Where someone lives or what kind of insurance they have should not be a barrier to receiving the best cancer care possible.
Promotion of lifestyle modification strategies for cancer prevention and risk reduction, with focus on healthy habits of nutrition, exercise and smoking cessation.
To learn more, call our Cancer Screening Coordinator at 541-706-5800.
St. Charles to focus on reducing loneliness, fostering belonging through funding priority
Effort coincides with U.S. Surgeon General initiative to combat loneliness
Today, St. Charles Health System is announcing a new focus for its Community Benefit funding: reducing feelings of loneliness and social isolation while fostering a sense of belonging among Central Oregonians. This priority funding area means that, for the next three years, St. Charles will direct thousands in grant funding to community organizations to target loneliness and isolation.
“We are increasingly seeing that loneliness and depression are root causes of a number of health problems and societal problems, and the pandemic has only exacerbated that issue,” said Molly Wells Darling, administrative director of Behavioral Health Services for St. Charles. “If we can help people feel less lonely by connecting with others and becoming part of a community, we know that Central Oregon will be healthier community.”
The announcement of this priority funding area comes alongside U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s introduction of a new initiative to combat loneliness and isolation, writing in an op-ed in the New York Times that this must be a “top public health priority” for the country.
“We need to acknowledge the loneliness and isolation that millions are experiencing and the grave consequences for our mental health, physical health and collective well-being,” wrote Murthy.
St. Charles leadership believes access to mental health care is a major need in Central Oregon. As part of the Community Benefit program, the health system will partner with local organizations working to address loneliness, social isolation and belonging to capitalize on the energy that surrounds the subject. The Community Benefit department will dedicate grant dollars to groups that are trying to provide opportunities to decrease feelings of loneliness and social isolation in communities across the region. Exactly how that looks will be up to the individual communities, according to Carlos Salcedo, manager of community partnerships for St. Charles.
“Our hope is that each community will choose where to focus their time and energy around this issue. Maybe one will focus on older adults while another focuses on supporting youth or new parents finding community,” he said. “St. Charles may find itself supporting communities in a variety of ways, such as offering financial assistance for projects identified by the community or providing relevant research to enable people to move forward in redefining what it means to be part of a community in Central Oregon.”
Reducing feelings of loneliness and social isolation while fostering a sense of belonging was identified as a priority based on the 2023-2025 Community Health Needs Assessment, which brought together population health data, input from community members, community survey results and analysis of available community resources to address health needs.
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, Madras, Prineville, Redmond, La Pine and Sisters. St. Charles is a private, not-for-profit 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.
Fresh and healthy, these tacos are packed with flavor!
Ingredients
2 fresh Mahi Mahi steaks, approx. 6 oz. each
8 white corn tortillas
3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 cups shredded red cabbage
1 avocado, pitted and sliced
1/4 cup garlic powder
2 Tbsp. sea salt
1 Tbsp. brown or coconut sugar
1 Tbsp. parsley
1 tsp lemon pepper
1/2 tsp. ground cayenne pepper
Pico de Gallo
1 medium tomato, diced
½ white onion, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
¼ cup chopped cilantro
Juice from 1 lime
Creamy Cilantro Lime Sauce
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
1 Tbsp. white vinegar
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
½ cup plain Greek yogurt
1 Tbsp. lime juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. sea salt
Instructions:
Combine Pico de Gallo ingredients in medium bowl, cover and place in fridge.
Prepare the creamy cilantro lime sauce by placing cilantro, vinegar, yogurt, lime juice, garlic and sea salt in a food processor. Pulse to combine. While processor is running on lowest setting, slowly add in olive oil. Pour into bowl, cover and refrigerate until the tacos are ready to assemble.
Warm the tortillas by heating a medium frying pan over medium-high heat. Add one tortilla at a time, flipping to warm both sides, about five minutes total. Wrap the warm tortillas in a clean dishcloth and set aside while you prepare the fish.
In small bowl, mix together garlic powder, salt, sugar, parsley, lemon pepper and cayenne pepper. Sprinkle each piece of fish liberally with seasoning mix. Pour oil in a fry pan and heat over medium-high heat until oil starts to shimmer. Gently place fish in pan. Reduce heat to medium and cook about 4-5 minutes. When bottom of fish gets golden brown, carefully flip to the other side and continue cooking another 4-5 minutes until cooked through, being careful not to overcook. Transfer to a plate with paper towel to remove any excess cooking oil.
To assemble tacos, start by breaking a piece of fish in half and placing it in a warm tortilla {It’s best if you stack two tortillas together to keep the taco from breaking apart in your hand}. Add the shredded cabbage, avocado slices and top with Pico de Gallo. Finish with a heavy drizzle of the creamy cilantro lime sauce. Enjoy!
I want to take a few minutes to talk about the effects of social isolation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and what our health system is doing about it.
At St. Charles, we believe this is a major health need in Central Oregon – a need that was identified and confirmed through our recently completed triennial Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) for the regions served by each of our four hospitals.
You can read more about the importance of this new priority if you’d like. To summarize, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic – the social isolation, separation from loved ones and so on – has led to an increase in the number of people experiencing feelings of loneliness, depression and other associated health issues. Social isolation compounds other health challenges our communities are already facing.
Every three years, St. Charles conducts the CHNA, and the resulting report helps guide the selection of a priority for the program. Past priorities include prevention of suicide and prevention of alcohol misuse. With a new CHNA complete, we now have a new priority for the next three years: fostering a sense of belonging and reducing feelings of loneliness.
Why does that priority matter? Because all profits at St. Charles are reinvested in our communities, and the CHNA helps guide that reinvestment. We reinvest in a number of different ways, one of which is partnering with local groups on prevention and ensuring people in Central Oregon have access to core health care services when they need them most. Since its inception, St. Charles has been contributing to programs that benefit our community, and we prioritize those that are taking care of underserved, disadvantaged populations throughout the region.
With our CHNA complete, we will once again be partnering with like-minded local organizations, this time with a focus on social isolation and related issues and awarding grants to groups working to address them. Look for more information about those grants in the coming months.
We also have other Community Benefit grants available: One for those providing basic needs such as shelter, food or safety; sponsorships for community events and/or fundraisers; and small grants for those seeking $500 or less. You can learn more about these opportunities here.
When people think about St. Charles, most think about hospitals, clinics, doctors and nurses. And with good reason! Taking care of Central Oregonians is what we do here, every single day.
But there are many ways to take care of people that don’t involve visiting our facilities, and our Community Benefit programs are an important part of our efforts to create America’s healthiest community, together.
Neurological conditions such as traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease and cerebral palsy can be debilitating, potentially shrinking a person’s world.
Destination Rehab, based in Bend, strives to combat that effect by helping people with these conditions get outside via adaptive, accessible activities. In addition to one-on-one physical therapy, Destination Rehab offers programs packed with fitness and adventure, such as hiking and rock climbing. The programs give patients an opportunity to build a support system and reconnect with activities they enjoy, says Stephanie Odell, the donor journey coordinator at Destination Rehab.
“There’s a lot of meaningful connections that get created,” Odell said. “It's really showing them that they can go out and do it on their own and empowering them to get back into things that they love.
The non-profit organization offers three community programs:
The Adventure group, which runs from May to October and takes participants outside for activities like kayaking, bird watching and hiking.
Peak Fitness and Education, which provides year-round workout classes adapted to the needs of participants, ranging from yoga to boxing.
Rock Climbing for Health, launched this year, meets fox six weeks at Bend Rock Gym.
In addition, Destination Rehab hosts a day-long event, Soar, packed with wellness and outdoor activities specifically created for people with physical challenges and disabilities. This year, Soar is set for Saturday, July 8.
Any patients over the age of 18 are welcome to join Destination Rehab. Some people find the program through physical therapy and stay for the engaging programs, Odell said, while thers come just for the programs – participants don’t need to be physical therapy patients to join.
Odell said she sees patients build confidence and take back their life, not letting their diagnosis define who they are.
“There's so much confidence building and independence building and social support,” she said.
