Pushed beyond their limits by increasing demands for services and a nationwide shortage of nurses, hospitals across the state are struggling more than at any other point in the pandemic to meet their communities’ need for health care.

According to Oregon Health Authority epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger, St. Charles Health System has been especially hard-hit, KTVZ reported last week.

But, “this is not a St. Charles problem. This is an Oregon problem,” said Dr. Doug Merrill, St. Charles’ chief medical officer. “One hundred percent of the hospitals in Oregon are in the same situation we are, and it’s worse than it was during some of our better-known surges over the past two years.”

The problem is two-fold: Hospitals have “shrunk,” Merrill said, because lack of staff is forcing them to close beds. The labor crisis is the result of many factors, including health care workers fleeing the industry, staff who are temporarily out because of COVID-19 illness or vacation, and a nationwide shortage of nurses that has been brewing for years due to an aging workforce, the impact of the aging Baby Boomer population’s increasing need for health care services and a nursing education system that has not grown fast enough to meet demand.

“The industry has seen this coming, and now it’s here,” said Joan Ching, chief nursing executive for St. Charles. “Retirement is a factor. Pandemic stress and burnout is a factor. But beyond all of that, we as a country are not producing nurses fast enough to keep up with the increasing health care needs of our aging population.”

The nurse shortage affects organizations across the spectrum of health care, not just St. Charles, which leads to the second part of the problem: St. Charles hospitals discharge many patients who need additional care to facilities known as SNFs, which stands for skilled nursing facilities – long-term acute care hospitals, inpatient rehab clinics, memory care facilities and other specialized services. But SNFs and other such post-acute facilities across Central Oregon are short-staffed and also at capacity, which means there is nowhere to send hospital patients who are being actively treated for acute injury and illness, including those who present to a St. Charles Emergency Department and are medically stabilized but require additional treatment as a hospital inpatient.

Meanwhile, St. Charles’ Emergency Department in Bend is busier than ever due to the usual increase in injuries and alcohol- and drug-related visits that come with summertime recreation and visitors to the region, as well as population growth. The Bend ED’s average daily census in past summers has been around 126 patients per day, said Michelle Brenholdt, the health system’s director of emergency services for Bend and Redmond. This summer, that number has jumped to 145 patients per day. Without appropriately staffed beds available in the hospital, some patients must stay in the ED – known as “boarding” patients – sometimes for days or weeks, using space, staff and other ED resources that are otherwise dedicated to people who present to the Emergency Department with medical emergencies.

“Every hospital in Oregon is boarding patients in the ED. Every hospital is backed up with patients awaiting transfers to post-acute care beds,” said Daniel Davis, senior director of patient flow for St. Charles. “We’re getting transfer requests from the coast and other places that are much farther away than usual. The situation is reflective of the challenges across the state.”

All of these bottlenecks – in the EDs, on hospital floors and in the SNFs – are exacerbated by the current surge of the Omicron BA.5 variant of COVID-19, which is highly contagious and prevalent in Central Oregon. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has classified Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties as “high” transmission areas and is recommending that people wear masks when in crowded indoors settings to prevent the spread of the virus.

Following that recommendation would help slow the spread of COVID-19 and, in turn, help ease the pressure on Oregon hospitals. But it will not solve all the issues.

“Across the state and the country, health care is experiencing a crisis with regard to taking care of the communities we serve,” Merrill said. “This is a complicated mess we’re in, and there is no easy way out.”

Since we sent our June newsletter, we've experienced a significant change at St. Charles Health System: Joe Sluka, our President and CEO for the past eight years, decided to step down and transition to a role of strategic advisor to the organization.

I joined the St. Charles Board of Directors the same year Joe came to the health system, and I have enjoyed working closely with him. I can tell you from experience that Joe cares deeply about the future of health care in Central Oregon. I want to thank him for his friendship and leadership in a time of tremendous growth and, in the past two years, unprecedented uncertainty.

Now, please allow me to introduce myself: My name is Dr. Steve Gordon, and I've stepped into the role of interim President and CEO of St. Charles. I'm a primary care and internal medicine physician by training, and I've worked as a health care management consultant since 2016. Before that, I served in executive leadership roles for PeaceHealth in Vancouver, Wash., Providence Health and Services in Portland and Salem Health.

As I mentioned, I served on the St. Charles Board of Directors from 2014 until earlier this year, so I bring to this role extensive knowledge of the health system in addition to my understanding of health care issues at the state and national level. The health care industry faces many unique challenges, and I am excited about the opportunity to lead St. Charles as the organization works to navigate those challenges and build toward a bright future.

In my first month on the job, I have spent time speaking with many individuals and groups across our organization and hearing their concerns. After more than two years of pandemic response, they are exhausted. Now that we are dealing with significant staffing and financial difficulties, they are worried about the future of this great organization. To ease their minds, I have committed to three main goals for the next 12 months:

• Create a better experience for St. Charles patients, caregivers and physicians.
• Improve the health system's financial situation. (Also, in case you’ve been hearing rumors: St. Charles is not for sale.)
• Find and hire an inspiring new president and CEO to lead us forward.

In the coming months, these three goals will drive everything we do at St. Charles, for one very simple reason: We are committed to being here for the people of Central Oregon, just as we have for more than 100 years.

Thank you for reading and for your support.

Sincerely,
Steve

It is with mixed emotions that I share with you today my decision to step down as president and CEO of St. Charles Health System.

Having served in this role for nearly eight years, I feel deeply connected to Central Oregon and the communities St. Charles has the privilege to serve. This is not an easy decision.

At the same time, after leading through more than two years of a global pandemic and the corresponding recovery I feel it is time for me to step aside, recharge and provide the opportunity for new operational leaders to guide St. Charles forward.

To that end, I’m happy to announce that Dr. Steve Gordon has agreed to step into the interim CEO role as I transition to a role of strategic advisor to the organization. Steve has an extensive background in health care leadership and served on the St. Charles Board of Directors from 2014 until earlier this year. His knowledge of the organization, along with his deep understanding of health care issues at the state and national level, will be a great benefit to our team. I will work closely with Steve, providing input and assistance in my capacity as strategic advisor.

All of this is to say that St. Charles is in good hands. I know how much you, our patients and community members, rely on St. Charles to be here when you need us. While we – like health care organizations across the nation – face significant challenges, I have every confidence that St. Charles will weather this storm and continue to be your trusted choice for health care well into the future.

When I joined the organization in 2014, I was drawn here by the bold vision statement: Creating America’s healthiest community, together. And during my tenure I am proud to say that our caregivers have done tremendous work to lead us toward that goal including:  

• Implementation of a Lean management system focused on a culture of continuous improvement
• Construction of a new patient tower, including state-of-the-art ICU, at St. Charles Bend
• Transition to the Epic electronic health record platform
• Expansions and remodels of both St. Charles Madras and St. Charles Prineville campuses
• Expansion of services in Redmond including robotic surgery
• Opening of additional outpatient clinics in La Pine and Bend South
• A long list of patient safety and quality awards for hospitals and clinics throughout the system

We also met the unprecedented challenge of COVID-19 head on, providing care to critically ill patients, supporting their families, vaccinating hundreds of thousands of people, offering novel therapies – and so much more.

Please know that these accomplishments are inspired by and in service to you.

Thank you for your support, encouragement, readership and engagement.

Sincerely,
Joe

After nearly eight years as president and CEO of St. Charles Health System, Joe Sluka has announced his intention to step down from the role.

“I am so proud of this organization and the more than 4,500 employees who put their hearts into caring for our communities every single day. This is a very difficult decision,” Sluka said. “At the same time, after leading through more than two years of a global pandemic and the corresponding recovery I feel it is time for me to step aside, recharge and provide the opportunity for new operational leaders to guide St. Charles forward.”

Dr. Steve Gordon, an experienced health care executive and former member of the St. Charles Board of Directors, will take on the interim CEO role as Sluka transitions to a strategic advisor position. Gordon, a primary care and internal medicine physician by training, has worked as a health care management consultant with Point B, Inc. since 2016. Previously, he served in executive leadership roles for PeaceHealth in Vancouver, Wash., Providence Health and Services in Portland and Salem Health. He is a graduate of Harvard College, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

“Having spent several years on the St. Charles Board of Directors, I understand the unique role our health system plays in the Central Oregon community. I am energized to build on Joe’s legacy and advance and strengthen St. Charles despite the current challenges the health care industry faces,” Gordon said. “I will continue to work closely with Joe in his strategic advisor role and am grateful that I’ll have his support, insight and ideas moving forward.”

During Sluka’s time at the helm, St. Charles has grown into a robust regional health care system. Some highlights include:

• Implementation of a Lean management system focused on a culture of continuous improvement
• Construction of a new patient tower, including state-of-the-art ICU, at St. Charles Bend
• Transition to the Epic electronic health record platform
• Expansions and remodels of both St. Charles Madras and St. Charles Prineville campuses
• Expansion of services in Redmond including robotic surgery
• Opening of additional outpatient clinics in La Pine and Bend South
• A long list of patient safety and quality awards for hospitals and clinics throughout the system

“Joe’s leadership through a period of growth for the health system and throughout the past very challenging two years of a global pandemic have been exemplary,” said Jamie Orlikoff, chairman of the St. Charles Board of Directors. “He has been a reassuring and trusted voice to the Central Oregon community and has also been an important advocate for health care resources at the state and national level. On behalf of the entire board, I would like to thank Joe for his service.”

In addition to his role as president and CEO of St. Charles, Sluka also served as chairman of the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems Board of Directors for two years through the height of the pandemic.

“Joe served as OAHHS board chair for the two most challenging years of the pandemic, 2020 and 2021. During that time, he guided the association through uncharted waters, as Oregon’s hospitals and health systems collaborated to take care of patients during surges, to navigate changing regulatory requirements, to vaccinate Oregonians, and to serve as the only door that was always open when Oregonians needed care,” said OAHHS CEO Becky Hultberg. “He has been a leader, a trusted colleague, a friend and mentor to Oregon hospital leaders throughout the state. It is with sadness and our deepest gratitude that we wish him well on his departure from St. Charles Health System.”

The leadership transition will take place this week and the St. Charles Board will begin a national search for a permanent replacement.

Watermelon Cucumber Salad

The tang of the feta contrasts beautifully with the fresh flavor of watermelon and cucumber.

Ingredients

¼ of a medium-sized seedless watermelon, rind removed and cut into 1-inch cubes
½ C feta cheese, crumbled
¼ c fresh mint leaves, thinly sliced
¼ tsp lemon zest
½ cucumber, chopped into cubes
¼ c extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
 
In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Add watermelon, cucumber, mint and feta and gently toss together. Serve immediately.

St. Charles Family Care clinics to start offering COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months and older

Central Oregon’s youngest children can begin receiving the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at St. Charles Family Care clinics starting Monday, June 27.

The vaccine is free and can be given to children 6 months to 4 years of age. Appointments are required and can be scheduled by calling a Family Care clinic or via the MyChart patient portal.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved COVID-19 vaccination for young children who are at least 6 months old.

“This is important progress in our fight against COVID-19,” said Dr. Cynthia Maree, St. Charles’ medical director of infection prevention. “Vaccines continue to be effective at preventing severe illness and hospitalization. In children, they also help prevent multisystem inflammatory syndrome and may prevent long COVID.”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine emergency use authorization because clinical trials—which included more than 4,500 children and continued during different phases of the Omicron wave—proved it is safe and effective. The FDA also gave emergency use authorization for the Moderna vaccine, but for efficiency, St. Charles is only offering the Pfizer vaccine.

For the 6-months to 4-years-old age group, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will be delivered in three doses, with two doses spaced three weeks apart and followed by a third dose at least two months later. Each shot has less vaccine in it than the dosage for older children and adults. Vaccination is considered most effective seven days after the third dose.

“COVID-19 is still in Central Oregon and is still a threat to our children,” Maree said. “I strongly recommend parents discuss vaccination with their pediatrician if they have more questions.”

To schedule an appointment:

Bend East Family Care Clinic
2600 Northeast Neff Road
541-706-4800

Bend South Family Care Clinic
61250 Southeast Coombs Place
541-706-5935

La Pine Family Care Clinic
51781 Huntington Road
541-907-7040

Madras Family Care Clinic
480 Northeast A Street
541-475-4800

Prineville Family Care Clinic
384 Southeast Combs Flat Road
541-447-6263

Redmond Family Care Clinic
211 Northwest Larch Avenue
541-548-2164

Sisters School-Based Health Center
535 N Reed Street
541-526-6623

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, 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.

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DAISY Award winners honored for extraordinary nursing

Four St. Charles Health System nurses have been honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®, recognizing the outstanding, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day:

• Bend: Kathryn Phillips, Medical Services
• Madras: Kate Goodling, Family Birthing Center
• Prineville: Julie Rariden, Emergency Department
• Redmond: Susie Tuttle, Emergency Department

Nominated by patients, families and colleagues, the award recipients were chosen by a committee at St. Charles.

The nurses—who represent all four St. Charles hospitals in Bend, Redmond, Madras and Prineville—were recognized with a ceremony on their respective units and presented with a certificate, a pin and a "healer's touch" sculpture by their hospital’s chief nursing officer. The DAISY honorees will also receive ongoing benefits, such as special rates for tuition and ANCC certification. 

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that was established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

"When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night,” said Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, president and co-founder of The DAISY Foundation. “Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human, extraordinary, compassionate work they do. The kind of work the nurses at St. Charles are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”

This is one initiative of The DAISY Foundation to express gratitude to the nursing profession. Additionally, DAISY offers J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects, The DAISY Faculty Award to honor inspiring faculty members in schools and colleges of nursing and The DAISY in Training Award for nursing students. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.

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, 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.

                                                                        ###

A Bend couple’s $100,000 gift to the St. Charles Foundation will help fund education and training for nurses in St. Charles Bend’s Intensive Care Unit.

Chris and Laura Crownover said they made the donation because of the high-quality care Chris received during a stay in the ICU last year.

“We wanted to do something that would encourage (the nurses) and give them something special,” said Laura, who has been married to Chris for 35 years. “The nurses we had showed us a lot of compassion and kindness, just by talking with us and visiting with us, and the time and attention they gave us.”

Crownover spent 17 days in the hospital – including 15 in the ICU – last summer after undergoing emergency surgery to drain blood from his brain after one of his blood vessels burst.

“I get headaches,” Chris said. “I threw up one night and then the next day I felt better. But that afternoon, my headache came back and it was so bad, I told Laura I needed to go to the hospital.”

At St. Charles Bend, a CT scan revealed the bleeding, Laura said, and caregivers quickly began to prepare him for surgery. “I barely was able to bring my four kids in to see him and then they whisked him right away,” she said. “It was pretty scary.”

Chris was in surgery for more than two hours, and his prognosis afterward was good. Over the next couple of weeks, however, he experienced a number of complications, including a seizure and more bleeding, said Laura, who stayed at the hospital from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day Chris was in the ICU.

“It was a lot of days with a lot of different (caregivers), and I felt like we got very good care,” she said. “They were attentive and kept us pretty well-informed.”

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, Chris was limited on how many visitors he could have, so a couple of times, nurses wheeled him out to the front of the unit so he could see his adult children. It was those kinds of efforts that motivated the Crownovers to make a donation.

“I’m just so grateful to be alive,” Chris said. “We had the money to do it, so we did it.”

The Crownovers’ gift comes at a time when St. Charles is facing significant financial challenges, and the money will fund important educational efforts.

“Our nurses are the best of the best, and St. Charles is committed to making sure they get the education and training they need to continue to practice at the highest level,” said Joan Ching, vice president and chief nursing executive for the health system. “This money will definitely help us do that, and we are so grateful to the Crownovers – and to hear that Chris is doing well.”

Indeed, Chris said he’s feeling great. “I’m pretty much perfect now,” he said with a laugh, before pausing and continuing. “Other than the scar on my head. It looks like someone did brain surgery on me.”

St. Charles Foundation provides scholarships to nurses and other caregivers through several special funds, including one recently set up in memory of Dr. Doug Lowery-North. An emergency physician for more than three decades, Doug highly valued the nurses he worked with and the nursing profession as a whole. Through donations to that fund, nurses and certified nursing assistants at St. Charles will continue to have access to scholarships and continuing education.

“Gifts from community members like the Crownovers allow St. Charles Foundation to continue to support the nonprofit St. Charles Health System in providing top-notch care,” said Michelle Solley, philanthropy officer for the foundation. “We so appreciate their generosity.”

If you would like to make a gift to St. Charles Foundation to support health care in Central Oregon, go to stcharlesfoundation.org or call 541-706-6996.

Like many of you, I have lived in Central Oregon long enough to know that we cannot count on consistently warm, sunny weather until (at least) the middle of June. I've spent too many Memorial Day weekends bundled up at an outdoor event to be fooled by a mild stretch in March or April.

Sure enough, it has been another chilly spring, and this one has felt particularly rainy, too. Happy hunting, mushroom enthusiasts!

According to the forecast, it looks like temperatures will soon rise into the 70s and 80s and they'll mostly stay there for the next few months. For many of us, that means it's time to get outside for walking, running, hiking, biking, rock climbing and other fun activities on Central Oregon's trails, rivers, lakes and backcountry.

No one likes a killjoy, but as the leader of the region's largest health care provider, it is my duty to tell you this: Summer is the busy season at St. Charles' Urgent Care clinics and the Emergency Departments in Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond. And the folks who manage those facilities tell me we are already seeing high volumes of patients, even before the weather has really turned.

This is not like the past two summers, when I asked you to stay home in hopes of reducing strain on our clinics and ERs as they took care of COVID-19 patients. I am not asking you to skip that ascent up Smith Rock or the ATV ride through the Ochocos this year.

What I do want to do is encourage you to recreate safely and responsibly so you don't have to come see us at St. Charles. Wherever you’re going and whatever you're doing, please slow down, be patient and courteous, wear protective gear (including a helmet) if appropriate and follow all applicable laws and regulations. I'd rather you head home after having fun – not to one of our facilities.

If you do need care, by all means, visit one of our clinics or, in an emergency, your nearest ER. We'll be here if you need us and we will take care of you.

Have fun and be safe out there this summer!

Sincerely,
Joe

Pictured above from left: Outstanding St. Charles nurses Kathryn Phillips, Susie Tuttle, Kate Goodling and Julie Rariden.DAISY Award winners honored for extraordinary nursing

The following St. Charles Health System nurses have been honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®, recognizing the outstanding, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day:

• Bend: Kathryn Phillips, Medical Services
• Madras: Kate Goodling, Family Birthing Center
• Prineville: Julie Rariden, Emergency Department
• Redmond: Susie Tuttle, Emergency Department

Nominated by patients, families and colleagues, the award recipients were chosen by a committee at St. Charles.

The nurses—who represent all four St. Charles hospitals in Bend, Redmond, Madras and Prineville—were recognized with a ceremony on their respective units and presented with a certificate, a pin and a "healer's touch" sculpture by their hospital’s chief nursing officer. The DAISY honorees will also receive ongoing benefits, such as special rates for tuition and ANCC certification. 

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that was established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

"When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night,” said Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, president and co-founder of The DAISY Foundation. “Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human, extraordinary, compassionate work they do. The kind of work the nurses at St. Charles are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”

This is one initiative of The DAISY Foundation to express gratitude to the nursing profession. Additionally, DAISY offers J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects, The DAISY Faculty Award to honor inspiring faculty members in schools and colleges of nursing and The DAISY in Training Award for nursing students. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.