Starting Oct. 18, visitors to St. Charles facilities must be fully vaccinated

To further protect its patients and caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Charles Health System will soon require that visitors to any of its hospitals or clinics be fully vaccinated.

Effective Oct. 18, visitors will only be allowed if they provide acceptable proof that they are fully vaccinated. On Oct. 18, health care workers are also required to be fully vaccinated by the state of Oregon. See our Visitor Guidelines page for more.

“We know what an important role visitors and support persons play in a patient’s healing process,” said Dr. Jeff Absalon, the health system’s chief physician executive. “However, throughout this pandemic, safety has been our top priority. With this as our guide, we have had to make changes to our visitor policy to keep our patients, caregivers and others safe.”

A person is considered fully vaccinated if at least two weeks have passed since they received their second dose of a two-dose series (Pfizer or Moderna) or a single-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson).

Acceptable proof of vaccination is:

• A COVID-19 vaccination record card
• A copy or digital picture of the vaccination record card
• A print-out from the Oregon Health Authority’s immunization registry
• A screenshot or printout from an electronic medical record showing vaccination status
• A St. Charles Health System badge with a COVID vaccination sticker

Unvaccinated visitors will only be allowed under extraordinary circumstances. This could include a visitor to a patient in comfort care, a parent of a pediatric patient or a baby in the NICU, a person accompanying an obstetric patient, a “support person” as defined by Oregon law or an emergency response worker who may need to enter a hospital or clinic while on duty.

Currently, patients who are positive for COVID-19 are not allowed any visitors. This will continue to be the case regardless of a visitor’s vaccination status. Virtual visits for COVID-19 patients are still encouraged to support the family’s involvement.

All other patients have the right to at least one fully vaccinated visitor per day provided the visitor is 12 or older. That same visitor may come and go throughout the same day.

“We want nothing more than to return to ‘normal,’ but we’re just not there yet,” Absalon said. “As a health system, we must continue to be hypervigilant about controlling the spread of the virus in our facilities. We owe that to our patients, many of whom are medically fragile, and to our hard-working caregivers, who put themselves at risk every day to care for our community.”

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, La Pine, 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 4,600 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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Grand Rounds - Oct. 1, 2021
"The Gut-Brain Connection: Diseases and Therapies"

Speaker: Joseph B. Weiss, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine University of California, San Diego

 

 

Objectives

1. Identify mechanisms in the relationship between the gastrointestinal and nervous systems.
2. Examine how digestive diseases can cause neurologic diseases, and vice versa.
3. Explore current and potential therapies that target the gastrointestinal system to benefit the nervous system, and vice versa.
4. Provide tools and strategies to patients, including community resources, to make healthier dietary choices to improve their overall physical and mental health.

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.

Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Claim Credit

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 541-706-4680, [email protected]. For CME or Clerkship questions, contact Sheila Jordan, MMGT, CHCP, Manager of Continuing Medical Education at 541-706-6780, [email protected].

The British Library shares, under an open-access license (cc bt 4.0), five useful guides for anyone who wants to learn more about research, scholarly publication, intellectual property rights, access, and communication. Here are the titles and links to each of the guides: 

• A guide to Publishing Research: Find out how to choose the right format of publication and select a publisher, including methods of peer review and open access policies.
• A Guide to Sharing Your Research Online: Find out how to share your research publications online, including publishing open access, the benefits of social media, making use of research evaluation and analytics tools, and how to use persistent identifiers.
• A Guide to Research Data Management: Find out how to manage your research data, from organisation and storage to security and sharing.
• A Guide to Copyright and Creative Commons in Research: Learn the basics of copyright and licensing, find out what to consider when publishing your work and how to make use of published materials in your own research.
• A Guide to Open Access: Find out what open access means, how to publish research on an open access basis, and discover the resources and tools that enable free, online access to publications.

St. Charles acquires refrigerated trailer to increase morgue capacity

In response to a fast-growing population and the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Charles Health System has acquired a 17-foot, fully refrigerated trailer to serve as a mobile morgue.

The Acela Truck pull-trailer was delivered to the Bend hospital last week and is already in use.

“It has been a known gap in our emergency preparedness for a number of years,” said Lara Simpson, St. Charles’ supply chain director. “With this recent COVID-19 surge, we just finally hit that critical point where we needed to do something.”

Built in the early 1970s, the Bend hospital’s morgue is only large enough for three decedents. On at least three occasions recently, the number of decedents exceeded the morgue’s capacity and were stored elsewhere in the hospital until local funeral homes were available to transport them, Simpson said. In one seven-day period alone, 19 people died, all but six from COVID-19.

“Sadly, this mobile morgue is a critical need right now,” she said.

The mobile morgue—which is equipped to run on both electricity and a diesel generator—is large enough to hold 24 decedents. The health system purchased it for $82,000. Next week, the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners is expected to discuss using ARPA funds to purchase the trailer from St. Charles. The County’s Emergency Management program could use the trailer as a resource to assist in response to natural disasters.

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, La Pine, 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 4,600 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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Grand Rounds - Sep. 17, 2021
"Perfect Phrases For Difficult Situations: Effective Communication for Medical Practitioners"

Speaker: Diane Birnbaumer, MD, Professor of Clinical Medicine, Emeritus David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Senior Clinical Educator Department of Emergency Medicine Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

 

 

Objectives

1. Detect and decipher the nonverbal cues from patients and their family members to maximize communication
2. List at least two techniques to defuse a potentially volatile patient interaction.
3. Explain how to reword phrases to facilitate communication between your patients and you.

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.

Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Claim Credit

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 541-706-4680, [email protected]. For CME or Clerkship questions, contact Sheila Jordan, MMGT, CHCP, Manager of Continuing Medical Education at 541-706-6780, [email protected].

About a year ago, I used this space to thank­ the many Central Oregon businesses that stepped up to support St. Charles during the early months of the pandemic. Though some were struggling themselves, they donated food and beverages and services and other goodies, all in an effort to comfort and celebrate the frontline caregivers working so hard to take care of people in such an uncertain environment.

At the time, it felt like we were all going to get through this, together. And we will. But a year later, it also feels like we are in the same boat as we were a year ago. Worse, it feels like we are not all rowing in the same direction anymore.

That is discouraging, but I can assure you that St. Charles’ caregivers are rowing as hard as they ever have. Their strength, determination and dedication to the communities we serve inspires me every single day.

I say all that to say this: Local businesses across Central Oregon are still out there supporting St. Charles, even though the spotlight has moved on. Every week, I am made aware of some generous and thoughtful gesture toward our caregivers from within the local community, and every time I am heartened because I know that our caregivers are heartened as well.

It would be impossible for me to try to name them all, because I would inevitably forget some. Instead, I am just going to name one as an example: As we speak, our longtime local partners at Mid Oregon Credit Union are working with the St. Charles Foundation on a plan to provide meals to many caregivers across several departments. They’re not doing it for attention, or even a thank you. They’re doing it because they are a part of this community, and they know the people working so hard inside our hospitals are their neighbors and friends and relatives. They also know that even something as modest as having dinner already made can feel like a lifeline after a very busy day on the front line of a deadly pandemic.

So thank you, Mid Oregon Credit Union, for your generosity and for caring about our people. And if you are part of a business that has reached out to help at any point over the past 18 months, please know that we appreciate you, too. I am grateful that St. Charles is part of such an incredible and supportive community.

A lot of things have changed over the past year, but one thing remains absolutely true: We will get through this, and it will be easier if we work together than if we’re divided.

This week, school children across Central Oregon are heading back to class, just as the highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19 is fueling a record number of infections and hospitalizations across the region.

And although Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has mandated vaccination for teachers and mandated indoor masking for kids, pediatric physicians at St. Charles say there is reason to be concerned about a recent surge in the number of pediatric COVID cases in the area.

In total, St. Charles has recorded 183 pediatric visits to the Emergency Department for COVID-19, including 45 in August alone – the most in any single month during the pandemic. Hospitalizations remain low – 35 total – but they seem to be rising, too, said Dr. Scott Olson, a pediatric hospitalist with St. Charles.

“Nationally, as the Delta variant has become more prevalent, we’ve seen the rate of hospitalization increase among children,” Olson said. “Early estimates placed pediatric hospitalizations somewhere around one in every 100 COVID infections. Over the past several months, that rate has jumped up closer to one in 50.”

Olson, a father of two young children, said he is personally concerned that the start of the school year could worsen the situation locally – both for kids and the community as a whole.

“I don’t know that we can define a trend, but we know from data in other parts of the country where school has restarted that they are seeing a significant increase in symptomatic disease in children,” he said. “On an individual basis, the risk of hospitalization for infected children is low. But infected children can spread the disease, and that’s a major concern from a hospital capacity standpoint.”

COVID vaccines are approved for children ages 12 and older but only about half of eligible kids in Central Oregon have been vaccinated. For kids under 12, Olson and another St. Charles pediatric hospitalist (and mother of three school-aged children), Dr. Suzanne Mendez, suggest these five tips for parents to follow to help protect their children this school year:

1. Mask up.

“Universal masking is key to preventing transmission of COVID in schools. All kids over the age of 2 should wear a mask that fits well over their mouth and nose when they’re inside,” said Mendez, “and also when they’re outside and within six feet of another person who doesn’t live in their household.”

If you’d like to read more about masks and kids, Mendez suggests reading this brief from the Centers for Disease Control, this article from the Washington Post and this information from medRxiv.

2. Go outside.

“Encourage your child to be outside when they’re playing with friends, when they’re eating lunch, and during recess,” Mendez said. “This is good advice anytime, but especially right now.”

3. Get vaccinated.

Children’s hospitals like the one at the University of California at San Francisco are finding that the children who require hospitalization are either older unvaccinated children or younger children who live with unvaccinated adults.

“If parents can be vaccinated, they should be. If they aren’t, they should get vaccinated, and they should get their kids who are 12 and older vaccinated, too,” Mendez said. “A recent study showed that more than 6.2 million people who received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines had no increase in serious health outcomes, with more than 11.8 million doses given.”

4. Practice COVID safety outside of school as well.

“You can tell your kids to do this or do that, but you want to make sure to model those behaviors for them, too,” Mendez said. “If you go out as a family, avoid large crowds without masks and eat outside whenever possible, especially if you’re eating with others who don’t live in your household.”

Parents should also carefully consider potential exposures their children have to other people outside of school, Mendez said, such as sleepovers, indoor birthday parties and indoor play areas.

5. Stay home when sick.

“Again, this goes for parents and kids: If you’re experiencing illness or your child is ill, please don’t go to work or send them to school. Stay home and call your primary care provider instead,” Mendez said. “We have seen a variety of presentations of COVID in children – from runny noses to headaches – so if you have a sick child, please keep them home and call your pediatrician to talk about testing for COVID if you are concerned.”

In general, symptoms experienced by young COVID patients at St. Charles include fevers, cough, nasal congestion, muscle aches, headaches, and labored breathing, Olson said. There are no pediatric ICUs in the region, so local children who require advanced care for respiratory failure or who develop a post-inflammatory syndrome after COVID infection are transferred to children’s hospitals in Portland or out of state.

St. Charles awards Central Oregon nonprofits more than $65K in grants 

BEND, Ore. — St. Charles Health System is pleased to announce it is providing $65,500 in grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Central Oregon. 

Schools, cities and health and wellness programs for underserved youth are among the 11 nonprofits in the region that are helping meet the critical needs of individuals and families, providing services that prevent or end homelessness and break the cycle of poverty.

Some of the largest grants were awarded to:

• City of Madras, which received $30,000 for its Jefferson County Broadband Plan;
• Heart of Oregon Corps Inc, which received $3,000 for its Heart of Oregon Corps: Training Tomorrow's Workforce Today;
• Bend-La Pine Schools, which received $10,000 for Summit Bryt Trailhead - Bridge for Resilient Youth in Transition;
• High Desert Food & Farm Alliance, which received $2,500 for Translation of Recipes for Increased Food Security;
• The 1017 Project, which received $5,000 for its Fresh beef for food banks and shelters project;

Since its inception, St. Charles Health System has been contributing to programs that benefit the communities it serves. By collaborating with other nonprofits in the area, St. Charles aims to implement and support best-practice and evidence-based initiatives that address community needs and improve the overall health of the region.

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, La Pine, 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 4,600 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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Grand Rounds - Sep. 10, 2021
"COVID-19 Update: Epidemiology of Variants"

Speaker: 
Shira Shafir, PhD, MPH, Director, MPH for Health Professionals Department of Community Health Sciences Director of Field Internships Department of Epidemiology UCLA Fielding School of Public Health

Objectives

1. Describe characteristics of the Delta variant including transmissibility and severity of illness.
2. Detail effectiveness of available vaccines in protecting against the Delta variant.
3. Describe the risk of post-vaccination infections and severity of illness where cases occur.

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.

Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Claim Credit

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 541-706-4680, [email protected]. For CME or Clerkship questions, contact Sheila Jordan, MMGT, CHCP, Manager of Continuing Medical Education at 541-706-6780, [email protected].

trabajo de limpieza

¡Aplica hoy!

Este puesto califica para una bonificación combinada de incorporación al trabajo y retención por un monto de $3,000*. Para calificar para el bono, los candidatos deben comenzar entre las fechas del 7/25/2021 al 10/30/2021; Y no debe haber sido empleado por St. Charles Health System en los últimos 6 meses.

* Las bonificaciones están disponibles solo para solicitantes externos y están sujetas a todas las retenciones de impuestos que correspondan.

Debe tener al menos dieciséis (16) años de edad.

Trabajo cómodo en un entorno de ritmo rápido en el sector de la salud.

Capacidad para interactuar de manera positiva y profesional con los compañeros de trabajo, el personal del hospital, los pacientes y las visitas.

Estar dispuesto(a) a aprender diferentes áreas de operaciones del SVE de St. Charles.

Disponibilidad para trabajar por las tardes, los fines de semana y los días festivos.

Rango de pago típico: $ 15.23 - $ 17.63 (Dependiendo del nivel de experiencia en limpieza en el sector de la salud).

Este puesto califica para un paquete integral de beneficios (tiempo libre pagado, plan de seguro médico, dental, de la vista y de jubilación con una aportación de hasta el 6%)

Medidas para minimizar el riesgo al COVID-19: Aunque estamos viendo pacientes que dieron positivo en la prueba del COVID-19, hemos hecho todo lo posible para minimizar su riesgo de exposición y ayudarle a sentirse cómodo(a) durante su visita. Queremos asegurarle que los hospitales y las clínicas de St. Charles continúan siendo lugares seguros para trabajar y recibir atención médica.

ST. CHARLES HEALTH SYSTEM

DESCRIPCIÓN DEL TRABAJO

TÍTULO: Asistente de Servicios Ambientales I

SE REPORTA AL: Gerente de Servicios Ambientales

DEPARTMENTO: Servicios Ambientales, St. Charles Health System

FECHA DE LA ÚLTIMA REVISIÓN: 14 de junio, 2019

NUESTRA VISIÓN: Creando juntos la comunidad más saludable de Estados Unidos

NUESTRA MISIÓN: Con espíritu de amor y compasión, mejor salud, mejor cuidado, mejor valor.

NUESTROS VALORES: Responsabilidad, Solidaridad y Trabajo en Equipo

RESUMEN DEL DEPARTAMENTO: Los Servicios Ambientales de St. Charles Health System (EVS, por sus siglas en inglés) son responsables de mantener un ambiente limpio y seguro en todo el hospital. EVS limpia y desinfecta todas las superficies. Proporcionamos estándares de limpieza que respaldan un entorno seguro para los pacientes, las familias, las visitas y los trabajadores.

DESCRIPCIÓN GENERAL DEL PUESTO: El puesto de Asistente de Servicios Ambientales I en St. Charles Health System, mantiene la limpieza de las áreas interiores asignadas del hospital con el más alto grado de precisión y atención a los detalles para asegurar que se mantenga la seguridad de los pacientes y los trabajadores. El Asistente de Servicios Ambientales I crea un ambiente cómodo para los pacientes e invitados, saludando a todos mientras les protege la privacidad. Este puesto no supervisa directamente a ningún otro trabajador.

FUNCIONES Y DEBERES ESENCIALES:

Inspecciona las áreas asignadas durante el turno para verificar su limpieza y luego hace las correcciones adecuadas para asegurar la higiene de las áreas asignadas. Sigue las pautas y los estándares laborales establecidos por la gerencia del departamento y el hospital para garantizar que se cumplan las pautas sanitarias y de limpieza de las instalaciones.

Realiza tareas de limpieza como se describe en la lista de tareas. Siempre debe seguir los Estándares de los Servicios Ambientales de St. Charles Health System para la limpieza.

Limpia inodoros, lavamanos, duchas, tinas, paredes, muebles, accesorios, puertas, escaleras, pasillos y otros muebles interiores relacionados, utilizando los suministros y los procedimientos de limpieza adecuados.

Barre, limpia, trapea, friega y desempolva los pisos de las áreas asignadas.

Transporta, retira y elimina la ropa sucia, la basura y los desechos biomédicos de manera adecuada. Elimina las cajas vacías y las coloca en las áreas designadas apropiadas.

Etiqueta y retira las bolsas y contenedores de los residuos infecciosos.

Mantiene un stock adecuado de suministros en las áreas asignadas y transporta los suministros y los equipos de conserjería hacia y desde las áreas de almacenamiento y trabajo.

Opera, limpia y mantiene equipos, carros y aspiradoras industriales. Informa las inquietudes a la (s) persona (s) apropiada (s) para asegurar que el equipo funcione y esté listo para usar.

Fomenta y mantiene relaciones de trabajo positivas y un ambiente de trabajo cooperativo con los pacientes, las visitas y otros trabajadores.

Participa en las actividades del Mejoramiento de la Calidad según sea necesario para mejorar el entorno para los pacientes, el personal y las visitas de St. Charles Health System.

Informa las reparaciones y / o servicios necesarios a las instalaciones del hospital, según las pautas de St. Charles Health System.

Realiza proyectos de limpieza especiales, según sea necesario. Puede ser asignado(a) para realizar varios tipos de cuidado del piso.

Apoya la visión, la misión y los valores de la organización en todos los aspectos.

Apoya los Principios de la Práctica de Mejoramiento de Valor (VIP-Lean) de mejoramiento continuo con energía y entusiasmo, funcionando como un campeón del cambio.

Proporciona y mantiene un entorno seguro para los trabajadores, los pacientes y las visitas.

Realiza todas las actividades con los más altos estándares de profesionalismo y confidencialidad. Cumple con todas las leyes, los reglamentos, las políticas y los procedimientos que correspondan, apoyando los esfuerzos de integridad corporativa de la organización actuando de manera ética y apropiada, informando de las infracciones conocidas o sospechosas de las reglas aplicables y cooperando plenamente con todas las

investigaciones y los procedimientos de la organización.

Ofrece un servicio de atención al cliente y/o atención al paciente de una manera que promueve la buena voluntad, es oportuno(a), eficiente y preciso(a).

Puede realizar tareas adicionales de complejidad similar dentro de la organización, según se requiera o se le asigne.

EDUCACIÓN

Requerido: N/A

Preferido: Diploma de Escuela Secundaria o GED de preferencia (se considerará la educación y la experiencia equivalentes)

LICENCIA / CERTIFICACIÓN / REGISTRO

Requerido: N/A

Preferido: N/A

EXPERIENCIA

Requerida: Un mínimo de 2 meses de experiencia en servicio al cliente.

Preferido: N/A

EQUIPO DE PROTECCIÓN PERSONAL

Debe poder usar el Equipo apropiado de Protección Personal (PPE, por sus siglas en inglés) requerido para realizar el trabajo de manera segura. Dicho equipo le será proporcionado.

INFORMACIÓN ADICIONAL SOBRE EL PUESTO: N/A

REQUISITOS FÍSICOS:

Continuamente (75% o más): Estar de pie y caminar, levantar/llevar/empujar o jalar de 1 a 10 libras, agarrar/apretar.

Con frecuencia (50%): Sentado(a), doblado(a), inclinado(a) / arrodillado(a) / en cuclillas, subir escaleras, levantar / cargar / empujar o jalar de 11 a 25 libras.

Ocasionalmente (25%): Subir una escalera / taburete, alcanzar por encima de la cabeza, levantar / cargar / empujar o jalar de 25 a 50 libras, operar un vehículo motorizado, usar una voz clara y perceptible y la capacidad de escuchar un nivel de habla normal.

Rara vez (10%): Funcionamiento del teclado.

Nunca (0%): Capacidad de escuchar el nivel de habla con susurro. Exposición a Factores Elementales

Ocasionalmente (25%): Calor, frío, zona húmeda/resbaladiza, ruido, polvo, vibración, solución química, superficie irregular.

Categoría de Exposición a Patógenos Transmitidos por la Sangre (BBP, por sus siglas en inglés)

Riesgo de Exposición a BBP.

Horario Semanal de Horas: 40

Tipo de Trabajador: Regular

Turno Normal: Segundo Turno

¿Es un puesto exento? No

Trabajo Familiar:

ASISTENTE:

Días de la Semana Programados:

Según lo Programado (puede incluir fines de semana y feriados)

Hora de Inicio y término del turno:

Según lo Programado

¡Aplica hoy!