Our goal is to enhance your healing and recovery. You will be informed about your role in the recovery process and how you can help us create an environment that promotes healing. We provide patient-focused care for the whole person.

Patient-Focused Care

Patient-focused care means you are the center of our care. We encourage you to be an active participant in your care. Research shows that when you are actively involved in your care, you recover more quickly. Please ask questions, and let us know your goals for your hospital stay. We want to know how we can best meet your needs. We will do our best to make you as comfortable as possible.

Life Skills

Many illnesses are related in some way to our lifestyles. During your stay here, we will provide you information on how to reduce health risks. Ask your nurse or doctor if you want more information concerning making healthy life choices.

Caring for the Whole Person

When you are ill, injured or having surgery, every aspect of your life is affected. Your family support, thoughts and feelings are important in how you heal. We encourage you to express your feelings and concerns. Your doctors and nurses are available to help you. Chaplains, social workers and volunteers are also available. If you are interested in any of these services, please contact your nurse.

Speak Up!

  • Speak up if you have questions or concerns, and if you don’t understand, ask again. It’s your body and you have a right to know.
  • Pay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you’re getting the right treatments and medications from the right health care professionals. Don’t assume anything.
  • Educate yourself about your diagnosis, the medical tests you are undergoing and your treatment plan.
  • Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.
  • Know what medications you take and why you take them. Medication errors are the most common health care mistakes.
  • Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the health care team.

Pain Management

Good pain control is part of the healing mission at St. Charles Health System. The single most reliable indicator of the existence and intensity of pain is what you report to your care provider. Our goal is to have your pain managed adequately and assessed on an individual basis. We hope that you will tell us when you are in pain so that we can respond appropriately. Please feel free to ask us any questions about pain management, medications and alternative therapies. A “0 –10” pain scale will be used to assess and measure your pain. Along with pain medication, additional interventions are available to manage your pain and help with relaxation.

The relaxation response:

The human body possesses a powerful mechanism that can counteract the harmful effects of stress. This mechanism is called the relaxation response.

  • Imagery and visualization
    Imagery or visualization enables us to use our imagination in a positive way through daydreaming about how we would like things to be.
  • Music therapy
    Relaxation music and videos of nature scenes are provided on Channel 2 at St. Charles Bend and St. Charles Redmond, on Channel 2-2 at St. Charles Prineville and on Channel 10 at St. Charles Madras.
  • Intentional breathing
    Our breath is our most powerful tool in combating the cumulative effects of stress on our minds and bodies. It can work quickly to help us tap into our body’s own relaxation response.
  • Progressive muscle relaxation
    This can be useful for releasing muscle tension and achieving deeper relaxation.