Most people who contract respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) experience mild, cold-like symptoms, but for infants and the elderly the common respiratory virus can be much more serious.

“It can be a really severe illness, especially for babies under 3 months. It’s a tough virus and the littler you are, the littler your airways are. It doesn’t take a whole lot of mucous and infection for that to cause significant issues,” said Dr. Suzanne Mendez, pediatrician with St. Charles Health System, who treats infants hospitalized with RSV every year.

Last winter, Dr. Mendez and her colleagues on the Pediatric unit at St. Charles Bend noticed something unusual: they weren’t treating very many infants with RSV. St. Charles pediatrician Dr. Rebecca Jennings evaluated the data and verified that this was more than just a feeling: very few infants were hospitalized for RSV from November 2023 to March 2024. In fact, it was the lowest RSV season since tracking started in 2018, outside of the winter of 2020 at the height of the pandemic.

While the number of RSV cases fluctuates every year, Dr. Mendez and her colleagues believe there was another factor that likely helped contributed to the decline in cases: newly available vaccines and antibodies for RSV that protected infants. In 2023, two new methods to shield infants from RSV became available: pregnant patients could get an RSV vaccine, which would give immunity to their babies when born; and monoclonal antibodies were available to give to newborns directly to protect them from contracting RSV. Both are reported to have high efficacy for preventing RSV in infants.

“I believe these vaccines are working and helping to protect our vulnerable population of infants,” said Dr. Mendez. “And anecdotally for this past year, none of the babies with RSV on the Pediatric Unit were born to mothers who received the vaccine, so it appears to be very effective at preventing hospitalization.” 

Dr. Sarah Hellmann, an OBGYN with St. Charles Center for Women’s Health, explains that about half of the pregnant patients she saw last year opted to receive the RSV vaccine and she’s hopeful that will increase this year as the vaccine and process become more widely known.

The CDC recommends a single dose of RSV vaccine for pregnant people from week 32 through week 36 of pregnancy for the prevention of RSV disease.

“You can certainly help protect babies with this vaccine,” said Dr. Hellmann, who shared that the RSV vaccine decreased the risk of severe cases of RSV in infants by 81% for the first 90 days of life.

RSV is one of several vaccinations recommended for pregnant patients to help boost immunity in newborns, including TDAP, COVID and flu.

“These vaccines are safe and decrease risks for babies,” said Dr. Hellmann.        

RSV vaccines are available now for pregnant patients at St. Charles Center for Women’s Health. Contact 541-526-6635 for details.

Have you ever wondered if you are at high risk for developing breast cancer? A new free event Sept. 12 at St. Charles Cancer Center in Bend aims to help women answer that question. St. Charles’ High-Risk Breast Clinic will host a free screening aimed at helping up to 150 women identify whether they may have an elevated lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. 

This drop-in event is open to women aged 25-55 who believe they may be at high risk of developing breast cancer or would like to learn their risk. Each screening will take approximately 5-10 minutes. Patients should be prepared to provide personal and family medical history, although individuals with unknown family history can still be screened. 

“Our hope with this clinic is to bring awareness and understanding to women about their breast cancer risk," said Jessica Keegan, cancer screening coordinator for the High-Risk Breast Clinic. “It’s important for women to know their risk and the resources available to increase surveillance and reduce that risk. Knowing your risk empowers women to make the right health care choices for themselves.” 

As part of the screening, caregivers will use National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines to calculate each patient's lifetime risk of developing breast cancer (no physical exams will take place). Individuals with a determined risk level greater than 20% may qualify for earlier and more frequent screenings and may benefit from further evaluation by the High-Risk Breast Clinic. Patients will also be assessed to determine if they met criteria for hereditary cancer risk testing. 

The clinic will take place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and is a drop-in event; tickets or registration are not required to attend. Those unable to attend the event can contact the High-Risk Breast Clinic at 541-706-6729 to schedule an appointment or contact their primary physician for a referral.  

Screening is recommended for individuals with one or more of the following risk factors: 

• Having a mother, sister or daughter diagnosed with breast cancer, particularly before menopause. 
• Two or more close relatives - such as aunts, grandmothers or cousins - diagnosed with breast cancer, especially at a young age. 
• Diagnosis of ovarian cancer in multiple family members. 
• A combination of breast and ovarian cancer occurring on the same side of the family. 
• Breast cancer diagnosed in a male relative.
• A personal history of ovarian cancer. 
• History of breast biopsy showing atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in-situ (LCIS). 
• Carrying a gene mutation such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. 

More information can be found by calling 541-706-6729 or visiting our event webpage.  

Community members are invited to take part in the 25th annual Heaven Can Wait 5K fundraiser to support breast cancer in Central Oregon. Registration is open now for the event set Sunday, Oct. 6 at 10 a.m. at Redmond High School. Over the years, this family-friendly walk/run has raised hundreds of thousands for Sara’s Project, which helps provide vital support services to people in Central Oregon with breast cancer.

“Heaven Can Wait is a time to show love and support for the breast cancer community in Central Oregon, including patients, survivors, family members and caregivers,” said Jenny O’Bryan, Executive Director for St. Charles Foundation. “This year will be particularly special, as we celebrate the 25^th anniversary of Heaven Can Wait.”

O’Bryan says organizers have a lot of fun extras in store and want to raise the bar for support.

“In honor of our 25th year, we hope to raise an additional $25K for patient support programs that help provide free wigs, post-surgical bras, transportation, education of early detection and massage therapies for those in need,” said O’Bryan.  

This year’s event will kick off at Redmond High School’s football stadium and will wind through Dry Canyon. Dogs are not permitted at the event.

Individuals can sign up online at HeavenCanWait.org. Individuals can also sign up to volunteer to support the event.

St. Charles Health System announced today recipients of a variety of Community Benefit grants, awarding more than $106,000 to 16 local organizations in Central Oregon. The grants were awarded to provide basic needs, to support local diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, to sponsor local events and as part of St. Charles’ Priority Grant to increase a sense of belonging and reduce loneliness and isolation.

Local nonprofit Friends of the Children Central Oregon will utilize the priority grant funding from St. Charles to start a brand-new cooking class series designed to teach youth and families essential culinary skills and health eating habits while strengthening community connections.

“We are incredibly grateful to St. Charles Health System for their generous grant funding. With this support, we can offer hands-on cooking lessons, guided by professional chefs, that not only teach practical skills but also inspire confidence and independence in our participants. Together, we are building a brighter future for Central Oregon's youth, one meal at a time,” said Chloe Manke, development director for Friends of the Children Central Oregon.

Organizations receiving funding to reduce isolation and increase belonging include:

• BEAT Children’s Theatre received funding to offer theater programs for students with developmental disabilities.

• Better Together Central Oregon will use funding to support the organization’s LatinX Family and Youth Family Councils.

• City Club of Central Oregon will use funding to expand engagement opportunities.

• Friends of the Children Central Oregon received funding to start a new cooking class series to encourage healthy eating and connection for youth from under-resourced families.

• Namaspa Foundation received funding to support their program “Empowerment, One Breath at a Time.”

• Newberry Regional Partnership will use funding to begin a large-scale community engagement effort in southern Deschutes County.  

• The Peaceful Presence Project received funding to support a program that connects and supports family members serving as caregivers for seriously ill loved ones.

The Center Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Care & Research and St. Charles Health System have signed a letter of intent to explore expanding their relationship to preserve and strengthen access to orthopedic, neurosurgical, physical medicine and rehabilitation medicine in the Central Oregon region.   

Central Oregon is experiencing a rapid reduction in access to care across many different types of medicine. As costs to provide care are increasing while reimbursements for services remain flat to declining, many independent providers have left the market and smaller specialty groups have closed their doors. The number of orthopedic surgeons in Central Oregon has decreased dramatically in the past 18 months making access to necessary care a significant burden for patients and their families.

Although it has tried to fill current care gaps on its own, The Center is facing similar operating headwinds as other independent specialty practices that are making it difficult to retain and recruit providers and staff. A transaction of this nature will be subject to review by the Oregon Health Authority under its Health Care Market Oversight program. However, given the urgency of the current situation and the threat to patients, The Center and St. Charles intend to seek an emergency exemption from the Health Care Market Oversight review process in the hopes of expediting the integration plans and the parties’ ability to more immediately stabilize care in the community. 

“The physicians, advanced practice providers and staff of The Center are committed to providing exemplary and efficient care to our beloved Central Oregon community,” said Dr. Christopher Healy, an orthopedic surgeon and president of The Center’s board. “With the ever-mounting challenges facing independent physician practices, a partnership with St. Charles will allow us to better meet the needs of our growing community. St. Charles also shares a mission of providing exceptional care to our region, so aligning with their organization is a natural path forward to delivering orthopedic, neurosurgical and physical medicine care.”

The Center operates three clinic locations in Bend and one in Redmond, with outreach clinics in Sisters, Prineville, Madras, La Pine, Burns, and John Day, enabling patients to receive expert care close to home. The Center employs 27 physicians, 27 advanced practice providers, and approximately 200 support staff.

“St. Charles and The Center are both local organizations that are committed to providing the best possible care for Central Oregonians,” said Dr. Steve Gordon, president and CEO of St. Charles. “St. Charles has the ability to step in and help shore up these services for our patients and community, which is not only the right thing to do it’s critical to ensuring continued access to a wide variety of services throughout the region.”

Without immediate financial support, Healy said The Center leadership team is concerned more providers will leave the region worsening the long delays patients are experiencing for care. It can take up to six months to schedule an initial orthopedic evaluation with a total joint replacement surgeon and another six months to schedule surgery.

“Physicians from The Center have been active members of the St. Charles medical staff for decades,” Healy said. “St. Charles is the right partner as they are the leader in health care in our area and will help provide stability to musculoskeletal care in the region.” 

In addition, St. Charles Bend’s designation as a Level II Trauma Center is dependent on having a robust group of orthopedic and neurosurgeons available to provide on-call coverage for trauma surgeries when needed, Gordon said. More than 2,000 patients are treated annually for acute and often life-threatening trauma at St. Charles, especially in the summer months when regional recreational activities increase.

“Six of the orthopedists at The Center regularly share daily trauma service shifts, three more provide occasional shifts and all of The Center physicians provide night and weekend assistance,” Gordon said. “The loss of these physicians could result in an ‘orthopedic desert’ in Central Oregon and the loss of Level II trauma services for tens of thousands of square miles east of the I-5 corridor. We can’t let that happen.”

The Center and St. Charles will put together a transition plan and have a shared goal of completing the transaction as swiftly as possible without any disruptions to patient care. The Center currently provides care to all residents of Central and Eastern Oregon, including rural counties and individuals who may face barriers to care. In the past year, The Center has provided:

• At least 1,000 visits by patients from each of seven Oregon rural counties (Deschutes, Crook, Klamath, Jefferson, Grant, Lake and Harney) and more than 100 visits from patients from Wheeler and Wasco counties

• More than 45,000 visits by seniors, including more than 8,000 by patients over age 80

• More than 6,000 pediatric visits (age <18)

• More than 19,000 visits provided in Redmond, thus preventing patients from having to drive 20 miles further south to Bend for care

• More than 450 visits provided to residents of Warm Springs

• More than 12,500 visits to Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) members

St. Charles Health System recently recognized several nurses for their extraordinary service and abilities. Four nurses received the DAISY Awards for Extraordinary Nurses, a national award that recognizes the outstanding, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day; and, new this year, three nurse leaders received DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Leaders.

The nurses earning DAISY awards are:

• Krista Munns, a Medical Services nurse in Redmond, was recognized by a family for her care and compassion, sharing that “she was hugely supportive during a very difficult time.”
• Katie Pink, an Emergency Department nurse in Bend, was recognized for her “fervent application of clinical knowledge honed with her compassion and patience.”
• Janna Raber-Stevens, a Medical Services nurse in Prineville, was honored by a patient specifically for her ability to find a creative way to help them get some sleep, saying her efforts “made a huge difference in my outlook and attitude.”
• Riley Schafer, a Wound Ostomy nurse in Madras, was recognized by a patient for her tremendous care helping with a slow-healing wound, saying “Nurse Riley stood above the rest with her care, attitude and compassion.”

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.

St. Charles' inaugural winners of The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Leaders are:

• Ryan Huebscher, assistant nurse manager, Emergency Department, Bend, was honored for his “empathy, gentleness and strength.”
• Kelli Jo Hammack, nurse manager, Inpatient Services, Madras, was recognized for caring, approachable style and her tremendous clinical knowledge.
• Bethany Klier, nurse manager, Wound Ostomy, Madras, was recognized for being intelligent, strong, loving and fearless.

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Leaders gives staff members a way to express gratitude for the compassionate environment fostered by nurse leaders. They are recognized for creating an environment where attributes of trust, compassion, mutual respect, continued professional development and ethical behavior are modeled and supported. They promote and enhance the image of nursing within the organization, community and the profession. DAISY nurse leaders are accessible, available and advocate for their teams, encouraging compassionate, skillful, patient-centered care.

About the DAISY Awards:

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.

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.

OHSU-St. Charles Three Sisters Rural Track Program trains family medicine physicians, aims to improve health care access in rural Oregon

PORTLAND, Oregon -- Three newly minted physicians are the first trainees of the Three Sisters Rural Track Program, or RTP, a three-year family medicine residency program that is Central Oregon’s first graduate medical education program.

Oregon Health & Science University and St. Charles Health System jointly established Three Sisters RTP to help grow Central Oregon’s health care workforce and meet the unique health needs of rural Oregonians. Organizers hope many of the new program’s participants will continue to live and work in Central Oregon after they complete their residency.

The trio of residents began their advanced medical training at OHSU this month. Next summer, the residents will head to St. Charles Madras — a 25-bed critical access hospital located about 50 miles north of Bend — for two more years of training.

“We are excited to welcome the first residents of the Three Sisters Rural Track Program, and eager to help them provide thoughtful, comprehensive health care for the people of Central Oregon,” said Three Sisters Rural Track Program Director Jinnell Lewis, M.D., who is also a family medicine physician with St. Charles. “Once at St. Charles, the residents will immediately help fill a need in the region, providing care for an estimated 900 patients a year.”

The program creates a pathway for specially trained physicians to dramatically improve health care access in Central Oregon, where many towns have a shortage of providers. Research has shown that about 55% of physicians stay within a 100-mile radius of their residency site. This means, within 10 years, Three Sisters RTP is estimated to produce 23 physicians who would reside in Central Oregon and provide care for 20,000 to 40,000 patients in the region.

“It’s hard to overstate the powerful positive impact this program can have,” Lewis said.

Lewis moved to Central Oregon about a decade ago, after she completed another OHSU residency program that is focused on rural health: the Cascades East Family Medicine Residency in Klamath Falls. Three Sisters RTP is partly modeled after Cascades East’s more than three decades of success.

Residency programs provide additional training for physicians who recently completed medical school. Three Sisters RTP focuses on family medicine, a primary care medical specialty that involves caring for the whole family, ranging from children to pregnant people to seniors. Family medicine physicians offer broad care, and help patients both manage existing health conditions and prevent others. In rural areas where there are fewer physicians, primary care providers play a particularly important role in keeping their communities healthy. In addition to primary care, Three Sisters RTP residents will also train in family birthing, emergency medicine, behavioral health and hospital medicine.

One of the new Three Sisters RTP residents, Callie Krewson, D.O., was born at St. Charles Bend and graduated from Bend’s Mountain View High School in 2008. Krewson said she is excited to be part of the program’s inaugural class and would like to stay in Central Oregon after her residency.

“I look forward to returning to the places that I know and love,” Krewson said. “I want to give back to the community that raised me.”

During the residents’ first year in Portland, they will work and learn at OHSU hospitals and various outpatient clinics, as well as at the VA Portland Health Care System. And when the residents move to Madras for the final two years of their training, they will care for patients at the St. Charles Family Care Clinic in Madras and Mosaic Community Health’s Madras Health Center. They will also have learning opportunities at the Indian Health Services’ Warm Springs Health and Wellness Center.

OHSU is the host institution for Three Sisters RTP, and St. Charles is its primary training site. The program’s launch was made possible by a $750,000 grant from the U.S Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources & Service Administration, and a $1 million Healthy Oregon Workforce Training Opportunity grant. Donations to St. Charles Foundation will support ongoing training and recruitment efforts, technology upgrades and additional needs as the residency program grows.

The program’s launch is part of larger efforts to expand residency programs statewide. OHSU recently achieved the milestone of having more than 100 accredited residency and fellowship programs.

Meet the residents

Name: Callie Krewson, D.O.

• Age: 33

• Hometown: Bend, Oregon

• Family: Husband, two dogs

• Medical school: Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, Yakima, Washington

• Looking forward to: Returning to and working in Central Oregon, including working at the Indian Health Services clinic on the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation.

• Miscellaneous: She has helped lead rafting trips on the Deschutes River with her husband, who is a river guide.

Name: Ben Khalil, M.D.

• Age: 34

• Hometown: Richland, Washington

• Family: Wife, two cats

• Medical school: Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon

• Looking forward to: Combining love of outdoors with passion for providing comprehensive health care.

• Miscellaneous: While he enjoys trying new things, his favorite dessert will always be ice cream.

Name: Christopher Sutton, D.O.

• Age: 32

• Hometown: Warren, Pennsylvania

• Family: Girlfriend, one dog, one cat

• Medical school: University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine, San Antonio, Texas

• Looking forward to: Working closely with patients in a rural setting like home, and enjoying Central Oregon’s outdoor recreation opportunities.

• Miscellaneous: Previously worked in the oil, gas and natural resources industries.

Community members are invited to join cancer survivors, local leaders, patients and caregivers from St. Charles to celebrate the groundbreaking for the new Cancer Center in Redmond on Wednesday, June 26 at 10 a.m.

“We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone for our new Cancer Center, which shows our commitment to providing world class care to cancer patients throughout the region,” said Dr. Steve Gordon, President and CEO for St. Charles. “This new facility will have a tremendous positive impact on our community, as it will expand access and services to Redmond and surrounding communities, serving 300 or more cancer patients every day.”

In addition to the groundbreaking ceremony, attendees will be able to walk the footprint of the new 53,000-square-foot building and learn about the services provided, including radiation oncology, chemotherapy infusion, surgical oncology, expanded support services and much more. Those in attendance will also have the opportunity to contribute to an art display that will be part of the new center.

St. Charles board member and longtime Redmond resident Jon Bullock says that this cancer center is a positive development not just for cancer patients and their families, but for Redmond overall.

“We have the chance to be a special place in the world, where families can get the compassionate care they need at the most difficult time of their life. Our community can be there to take care of them,” said Bullock. “This could be a catalyst to positively impact the culture of Redmond forever. I’m so excited about it and look forward to kicking off the celebration together.”

Light refreshments will be provided.

Attendees should be aware that this is an active construction area and should wear closed toed shoes and dress accordingly.

More about the new Cancer Center in Redmond

The new two-story facility will be approximately nine times the size of the current Cancer Center in Redmond. It will include 36 exam rooms. The facility will include a 5,000 square-foot chemotherapy infusion room with 24 infusion chairs. It will also include world class technology including a high-dose brachytherapy suite (brachytherapy delivers localized cancer treatment through internal radiation) and a True Beam Linear Accelerator (which uses photon or electron beams to target and treat cancerous tumors). Visit our Cancer Care pages to see updates and view renderings.

St. Charles’ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit will host a reunion for current and former patients and their families with current and former caregivers on Sunday, June 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. at St. Charles Bend. This free family-friendly event will include interactive games, refreshments, crafts, a bouncy house, a photobooth, face painting and a visit from Airlink helicopters.

“We want this to be a time of celebration and connection for our NICU patients and their families. Our caregivers love to see how the infants we helped care for have grown, healed and thrived in the months and years since they were in the NICU. It’s also a ton of fun,” said Brooke Jensen, director of women and children’s services for St. Charles Health System.

Attendees are encouraged to wear a favorite superhero costume.

“We see these patients and their families as our superheroes, as they have shown so much strength and bring so much joy,” said Jensen.

The reunion will be held in Conference Rooms A-D at St. Charles Bend (enter through the main lobby.) Those planning to attend are encouraged to RSVP at stcharleshealthcare.org/nicureunion

When surgeons remove cancerous tissue during breast cancer surgery, they want to ensure they have removed all the cancer. Surgeons want to see clean margins, which means no cancer cells can be found at the edge of the tissue, suggesting that all the cancer has been removed.

Thanks to two new specially designed machines funded by St. Charles Foundation, checking for margins now takes mere seconds and reduces the time patients need to be under anesthesia during breast cancer surgery by 30 minutes or more. Redmond received its first Trident machine this winter and Bend received a replacement for a Trident machine at the end of its life.

Scott Nelson, director of Imaging services for St. Charles, explains that the change is huge, especially for patients undergoing surgery in Redmond. Previously, once the surgeon removed the tissue, another caregiver would take the tissue in a biohazard bag out of the operating room and run it across the parking lot to Central Oregon Radiology Associates, who would scan it for margins. This process took 30 to 40 minutes – all while the patient remained under anesthesia.

“Now, the Trident can be wheeled into the operating room and the surgeon can see within seconds whether they have all the margins or not. It’s easy to use and it’s a big win for doctors and for patients,” said Nelson.

The Trident machines are designed specifically for breast tissue. They do not emit any radiation and are easy to use, according to Nelson. The funding for the $110,000 machines came specifically from Sara’s Project, a special fund within the Foundation dedicated to breast cancer.

Breast cancer patients benefit because they will spend less time in surgery. Additionally, the time saved allows more surgeries to take place in the operating rooms, which is a benefit to patients and doctors across the region.

“This will have a huge impact on people’s lives,” said Nelson.

Jenny O’Bryan, executive director of the Foundation, said, “Our donors are committed to ensuring St. Charles caregivers have the best technology on hand to support our cancer patients. We are grateful to all the community members who have supported Sara’s Project over the years, as that fund continues to provide support and resources for breast cancer treatment.”

Sara’s Project was created in 1992 to honor Sara Fisher, a local teacher, counselor, volunteer and advocate for women’s health and breast cancer research and treatment. Learn more about the background and efforts of Sara’s Project on the Foundation’s website.