FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 19, 2019

MADRAS, Ore. – St. Charles Family Care Madras is opening a tiny library next week with the hope it will play a big role in inspiring children to read.

In partnership with Little Free Library—a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring a love of reading, building community and sparking creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world—the clinic is presenting the library to the community in a ribbon cutting ceremony near the main entrance of the St. Charles Madras hospital on July 24 at 10 a.m.

“We’re really trying to help children of all ages and backgrounds have access to age-appropriate books,” said Marcus Thompson, a community health educator at St. Charles Family Care Madras. “We thought building a Little Free Library and installing it right outside the clinic would be a fun and easy way to help our community connect and increase early literacy in our youth.”

Research shows that children growing up in homes without books are on average three years behind children in homes with lots of books, even when controlled for other key factors. Little Free Libraries, like the one opening at St. Charles Madras, play an essential role in providing access to books in areas where books may be scarce.

Funded by a St. Charles Foundation mini-grant, the Little Free Library will help augment efforts already underway to promote reading among children, including the Reach Out and Read program at St. Charles Family Care Madras. The library will be stocked from books donated by that program as well as from caregivers, community members and the Foundation.

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, Sisters and La Pine. St. Charles is a private, not-for-profit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 4,200 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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2019

SISTERS, Ore. – Starting Aug. 1, St. Charles Center for Women’s Health will see patients at the St. Charles Family Care clinic in Sisters.

Every Wednesday, a provider from the Center for Women’s Health office will be at the clinic to provide obstetric care, well-women exams, contraceptive management, menopause treatment and other services. The Center for Women’s Health has board-certified physicians, women’s health nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives who collaboratively work together to meet patients’ needs.

Offering the Wednesday appointments at the clinic is part of St. Charles’ effort to make obstetric and gynecologic services more accessible to women of all ages in Sisters, Black Butte, Camp Sherman and throughout the region.

“Women may suffer from problems such as pelvic pain, irregular bleeding and bladder incontinence, but delay seeing a provider because they either feel this is ‘normal’ or they encounter barriers to accessing care,” said Tricia Clay, manager of clinic operations at St. Charles Center for Women’s Health. “As women age, it’s important they see a provider yearly for preventive exams and screenings, and to address concerns they have as they get older and approach menopause.”

Women seen in Sisters who need care beyond what can be provided at the clinic will be referred to the Center for Women’s Health in Redmond to see a board-certified OB-GYN. Any surgical procedures needed can be performed at St. Charles Redmond.

“We are so excited to expand our services to another location, making it more convenient for women to get access to the care they need,” said Dr. Beth Murrill, a board-certified OB-GYN. “We’re very much looking forward to connecting with and supporting the Sisters 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, Prineville, Redmond, Sisters and La Pine. St. Charles is a private, not-for-profit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 4,200 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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2019

BEND, Ore. – St. Charles recognizes nurses at its four hospitals with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses ®

St. Charles Health System nurses Loni Verzuh, Cindy Norgaard, Heather Crnich and Maria Gattey have been honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses ®, recognizing the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day. 

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

The nurses—which 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. 

"Our nurses are exceptional and deserve to be formally recognized for their dedication, spirit and the quality of care they provide in the community," said St. Charles Health System’s Chief Nursing Officer Pam Steinke. "We are excited to celebrate all the stories of compassionate care we hear every day."

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, Madras, Prineville, Redmond, Sisters and La Pine. St. Charles is a private, not-for-profit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 4,200 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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2019

REDMOND, Ore. – St. Charles Health System leaders have identified July 13 as the official closing date for the St. Charles Redmond Family Birthing Center.

“Our new OB hospitalist program will be up and running in Bend in early June and we feel confident we’ll have the necessary services in place to care for moms and babies in Bend and Madras by July 13,” said Iman Simmons, chief operating officer for St. Charles. “The team has worked hard on transition plans to ensure the closure is smooth for patients and families.”

C-sections will be scheduled in Redmond through July 10 and laboring moms will be admitted and evaluated up until 12:01 a.m. on July 12 – to ensure enough time for recovery post-delivery.

St. Charles leaders made the difficult decision last fall to close the Redmond FBC after a task force of experts spent nearly a year evaluating options for birthing services throughout the region. The Redmond FBC has 12 beds and an average of 1.5 births per day. Last year, 49 newborns were transferred from Redmond to Bend because they needed a higher level of care. This decision will reduce the need for risky neonatal transports.

“St. Charles continues to focus on ensuring access to safe, high quality care throughout the entire region we serve while maintaining the long-term viability of the health system well into the future,” said Aaron Adams, president of St. Charles Bend and Redmond. “While we are consolidating birthing services, we remain committed to the Redmond community. Currently, we are expanding cancer and women’s services in Redmond and will conduct our first robotic surgeries in Redmond this week. We anticipate additional investments in the community in the future.”

In addition to the new OB hospitalist program, St. Charles is also building its certified nurse midwifery group and is offering outpatient midwifery appointments for patients at clinics throughout Central Oregon.

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, Sisters and La Pine. St. Charles is a private, not-for-profit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 4,200 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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2019

St. Charles Bend recognized for its commitment to quality stroke care

BEND, Ore. – St. Charles Bend has received an award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association recognizing its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

The hospital earned the Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period.

These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

Additionally, St. Charles Bend received the Target: Stroke^SM Honor Roll award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke.

“We are pleased to recognize St. Charles Bend for its commitment to stroke care,” said Dr. Lee H. Schwamm, national chairperson of the Quality Oversight Committee and executive vice chair of neurology, director of acute stroke services, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “Research has shown that hospitals adhering to clinical measures through the Get With The Guidelines quality improvement initiative can often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates.”

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

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, Sisters and La Pine. St. Charles is a private, not-for-profit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 4,200 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.

About Get With The Guidelines®
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with tools and resources to increase adherence to the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 6 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2019

BEND, Ore. – Central Oregon health care providers and public health departments are working together to raise awareness of safe sleep practices in response to troubling data that suggest the number of infants dying while sleeping is on the rise.

Between 2012 and 2017, 14 Deschutes County children died by suffocation or strangulation while sleeping, according to statistics provided by the state of Oregon. Five of those deaths occurred in 2016 alone, compared to one death in 2012.

The Deschutes County Child Fatality Review—a team of multidisciplinary community agencies that convene twice a year to identify trends and possible interventions—was motivated by the concerning rise in sleep-related infant deaths to create awareness of the problem.

Spearheaded by KIDS Center and St. Charles Health System, a collaborative effort has begun to more proactively share information about safe sleep practices on social media channels and in clinics through the end of June. Summit Medical Group Oregon, Central Oregon Pediatric Associates (COPA), Mosaic Medical and public health departments in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties are also participating.

Dr. Nancy Heavilin, a pediatrician and KIDS Center’s medical director, said the number of infant deaths is a sobering reminder of the importance of safe sleep practices.

“In reviewing the data, it became clear our community needs to talk more about how to safely prepare a baby for sleep,” she said. “With proper education, fatal circumstances can be prevented.”

The leading cause of death for infants 1 month to 1 year old is Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), which includes sleep-related deaths and SIDS, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Dr. Logan Clausen, chief medical officer at COPA, said more than 95 percent of SIDS cases are associated with one or more risk factors. The most common risk factors for babies are sleeping on a soft surface, sleeping on their stomach and exposure to parental smoking. Premature babies and low birth weight babies are also at higher risk, as are those who sleep in the same bed as their parents.

“The safest way for babies to sleep is on their back on a firm mattress without any crib bumpers, stuffed animals, thick blankets or pillows in the sleeping area,” Clausen said. “Exposure to any second-hand smoke should also be limited.”

The best way to prevent SUID is to:

1. Put babies to sleep on their back. When they’re too young to turn themselves over, this is the safest way to sleep.
2. Put them to sleep in the same room as their caretaker, but in their own space.
3. Use a firm, flat mattress.
4. Keep the sleep surface clutter-free (skip the bumpers, blankets, pillows and toys.)

Dr. Brooks Booker, a pediatrician at Summit Medical Group Oregon, added, “Be sure to schedule and go to all well-child visits. Your baby will receive important immunizations at these doctor visits. Recent evidence suggests that immunizations may have a protective effect against SIDS.”

For more information about how to help babies sleep safely, visit HealthyChildren.org/SafeSleep. 

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, Sisters and La Pine. St. Charles is a private, not-for-profit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 4,200 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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2019

Heaven Can Wait 5K celebrates 20 years of life in Central Oregon
Annual race aims to raise $100,000 this year for cancer awareness and support

BEND, Ore. — Heaven Can Wait, a 5K walk/run that brings the Central Oregon community together in a celebration of life, will be held Sunday, June 2, at 9 a.m. in Drake Park.
The event celebrates 20 years this summer and has become one of the area’s largest outdoor athletic events, raising approximately $100,000 annually for St. Charles Cancer Center. Funds raised support Sara’s Project, which provides education, early detection and support services to ease the challenges of breast cancer for people in Central and Eastern Oregon.

Charlene Levesque, a Bend resident, breast cancer survivor and runner, founded the event and recalled hearing the name “Heaven Can Wait” at a Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in which she participated shortly after her diagnosis in 1999.

“It was the name of a winning team and it really struck a deep chord with me,” she said. “I thought, ‘Yes! I have a lot more living to do. Heaven can wait.’ So many of our race’s runners have since told me they feel the same way.”

Hosted by St. Charles Foundation and a dedicated team of volunteers, Heaven Can Wait is held at Drake Park the first Sunday in June, which is National Cancer Survivor’s Day.

“Funds raised at this event provide vital support services to people in our community who are battling breast cancer,” said St. Charles Community Engagement Officer Kelly Michel. “Heaven Can Wait 5K has become a way for the community to honor and remember those affected by cancer.”

To participate or volunteer in the 5K walk/run, register at HeavenCanWait.org. For questions related to the event, contact Michelle Solley at 541-706-2693 or [email protected].

About St. Charles Foundation
As the philanthropic arm of St. Charles Health System, the Foundation works to support and improve health care in Central and Eastern Oregon. Private donations raised by the Foundation allow St. Charles to build new medical facilities, purchase state-of-the-art medical equipment, keep pace with the latest technological advances and deliver exceptional patient care in a healing environment. The Foundation does more than just raise money for bricks and mortar. The organization also raises money to support many programs that benefit low-income and uninsured patients.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2019

BEND, Ore. – After two years of construction, St. Charles Bend’s new patient tower is nearly complete. The building will open May 19, building the bridge to the next century of care for Central Oregon.

The public is invited to St. Charles’ Sneak Peek Celebration and Discovery Tour of the tower on Wednesday, May 8, from 4 to 6 p.m. Tours will promptly begin at 4:30 p.m. On event day, follow Loop Road and look for signs for parking.

The largest construction project since the St. Charles Cancer Center, the three-level tower is located on the north end of the Bend campus and houses a 24-bed Intensive Care Unit, a 28-bed Progressive Care Unit and shell space for future development.

“So much thought went into the design of the tower,” said Iman Simmons, St. Charles’ chief operating officer. “We asked our caregivers and patients to envision a modern, functional and healing space. The result is a truly innovative addition to our hospital that is going to improve the care we provide to the community.”

Responding to growing capacity issues at the hospital, St. Charles Health System’s Board of Directors approved the $66 million project in July 2016. NBBJ Architects and Skanska designed and constructed the building, as well a 500-stall parking lot and second water line to the hospital.

“This project represents a significant investment in the future,” said Board Chairman Dan Schuette. “It is a commitment by St. Charles to provide the high level of care our growing communities have come to expect.”

For more information about the Sneak Peek or the tower project, visit http://www.stcharleshealthcare.org/Our-Locations/Bend/New-Bend-Tower-Project.

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, Sisters and La Pine. St. Charles is a private, not-for-profit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 4,200 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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2019

BEND, Ore. – St. Charles Health System is pleased to announce it is providing $82,500 in safety net grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Central Oregon.

Schools, food pantries, homeless shelters and health and wellness programs for underserved children are among the 13 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 safety net grants were awarded to:

• Mountain Star Relief Nursery, which received $10,000 for its well-child initiative;
• Family Access Network (FAN), which received $10,000 for FAN advocate services;
• Bethlehem Inn, which received $10,000 for its Restoring Hope project;
• Kemple Memorial Children’s Dental Clinic, which received $7,500 to provide a dental clinic and a school-based screen and seal program;
• The Giving Plate, which received $7,500 for its monthly food box program and Kid’s Korner;
• Boys & Girls Club of Bend, which received $7,500 for its Family Plus Wraparound Youth and Family programs

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.

“St. Charles is very proud to be able to provide support these organizations, all of which provide a great service,” said Carlos Salcedo, St. Charles’ manager of community partnerships. “The 13 organizations we’re funding this year are truly meeting the needs of our community.”

To learn more about St. Charles’ community benefit program, visit StCharlesHealthCare.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, Madras, Prineville, Redmond, Sisters and La Pine. St. Charles is a private, not-for-profit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 4,200 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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2019

BEND, Ore. – Curious about midwifery?

We invite you to take a leisurely stroll along the Deschutes River with a St. Charles Bend midwife. While you get your daily dose of exercise and vitamin D, she’ll explain what makes midwifery services unique and how low-intervention births can be accomplished in a hospital setting.

Starting April 11, our informative new series, “Walk with a Midwife,” will take place the second Thursday of every month—rain or shine—from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. at Farewell Bend Park in Bend. We encourage participants to bring water, a snack and lots of good questions!

We hope to see you there.

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, Sisters and La Pine. St. Charles is a private, not-for-profit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 4,200 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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