St. Charles announces agreement with PacificSource that will benefit patients and providers

St. Charles Health System announced today that it has reached an agreement with PacificSource that promotes excellence in cancer care, reduces administrative burdens and keeps St. Charles hospitals and clinics in-network for PacificSource Medicare Advantage plans in Central Oregon through 2024. The agreement includes PacificSource’s Oregon Health Plan and commercial insurance plans. 

“We are excited to bring this agreement to our community and believe it addresses many of our concerns,” said Dr. Mark Hallett, chief clinical officer for St. Charles. “We are grateful to PacificSource for working with us to identify creative solutions that we believe will benefit patients and health care providers throughout the region.”

In particular, the teams agreed to focus on reducing administrative burdens for patients and health care workers, initially prioritizing the following innovative ideas: 

• Beginning in 2024, St. Charles Cancer Center patients will be able to receive care prescribed by their physicians without prior authorization from PacificSource. This change recognizes St. Charles Cancer Center’s stellar record providing care within National Cancer Care Network guidelines. 
• PacificSource and St. Charles will work together to ensure patients are able to be discharged from the hospital when they no longer need hospital-level care. 

“We are all committed to ensuring Central Oregonians retain access to high quality health care and this agreement is a step in the right direction,” said Matt Swafford, chief financial officer for St. Charles. “This is just the beginning of an ongoing conversation with all of our health insurance partners and we hope the innovative solutions we are piloting with PacificSource will serve as a model for future discussions.” 

Both organizations will monitor these new initiatives throughout the coming year to ensure they are achieving the desired outcomes of reducing stress on patients and families and increasing speed and access to appropriate levels of care, while also reducing the administrative burden on health care providers. 

St. Charles will continue to evaluate participation in Medicare Advantage Plans going forward and has not yet reached an agreement with Humana, HealthNet and WellCare Medicare Advantage plans for 2024. For more information on the traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage options available in the Central Oregon region, seniors are encouraged to contact their health insurance provider, the Central Oregon Council on Aging at 541-678-5483 or the Oregon Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) at 800-722-4134 option 2. 

Open enrollment for Medicare begins Oct. 15.

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, nonprofit 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.

St. Charles is pleased to welcome Dr. Jeremy Kenison as a new Family Medicine physician at the Sisters Family Care Clinic.

Born and raised in New Hampshire, Kenison attended Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Colorado and then went on to serve for 10 years as an active duty physician in the U.S. Navy, most recently in Washington. Now a civilian, he is excited to be serving the Sisters community and to start building relationships with patients of all ages.

“I’m looking forward to engaging with my patients, from newborns to retirees, and building that physician-patient bond while providing them with a broad spectrum of care,” Kenison said. “I want to understand who they are and their concerns, and what they need from me so I can better advise and help them understand their health and their health journey.”

Dr. Kenison is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, which typically take a more holistic, whole-person approach to health care and emphasize improving wellness through education and prevention. Kenison believes in providing his patients with an informed and clear understanding of medicine, and empowering them to understand and take charge of their well-being.

Osteopathic forms of treatment and diagnosis can also involve manual medicine, called osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT), of which Kenison is a big proponent.

“OMT is often focused on musculoskeletal and chronic pain issues, but it can also help out in other areas like your lymphatic and pulmonary systems. There’s a lot of opportunity for where hands-on manipulation can augment what the body is naturally doing to heal, with very minimal side effects.”

Hiring a new provider is one of the ways that St. Charles is demonstrating its commitment to serving the Sisters community. The health system also reopened the Sisters lab this summer, eliminating the need to commute to Bend or Redmond for lab services, a move that has already garnered gratitude from patients and caregivers.

Kenison is looking forward to being a part of that long-term commitment and becoming a health resource patients can look to in times of need. 

“Sisters is a smaller practice but that’s exactly what I’m excited for and what I came from in Washington. Growing the clinic and finding how we can be of service and how we can best support that community is something I’m definitely excited for.”

When not working, he and his family are looking forward to exploring Central Oregon and spending as much time outdoors as possible.

This is a joint press release from Mosaic Community Health, St. Charles Health System and Deschutes County: 

Sisters, Oregon, Sept. 13, 2023 – The Sisters School-Based Health Center, located adjacent to Sisters High School, will soon expand its operations from two days a week to four days a week, thanks to a partnership between Mosaic Community Health, St. Charles Health System and Deschutes County. On Oct. 18, Mosaic will assume operations of the health center, which is currently operated by St. Charles Health System, in a building owned by Deschutes County. 

“We are thrilled to be able to provide additional access to pediatric patients in Sisters by offering expanded hours for the health center,” said Tamarra Harris, pediatrics manager for Mosaic. “In addition to a pediatric-trained medical provider, we also plan to have a full-time behavioral health consultant on site. We want to thank our community partners, St. Charles and Deschutes County, for supporting this transition, which will benefit our community.” 

Under Mosaic, which operates six additional SBHCs throughout Central Oregon, the health center will provide a pediatric-trained medical provider, a full-time behavioral health consultant, a community health worker, plus clinical pharmacy, Oregon Health Plan enrollment and nutritionist support. Deschutes County Behavioral Health staff will also be located on site.

“We believe this transition will benefit the Sisters community and shows the exceptional partnership the medical community has in Central Oregon,” said Emily Salmon, vice president for whole person care and community health at St. Charles. “Ultimately, our goal is to provide the best access possible to medical care in our community and, in this case, that means transitioning the clinic to Mosaic, which has access to federal funding to expand services.”

Since 2015, the Sisters SBHC, located at 535 N. Reed St. in Sisters, has been providing convenient access to quality healthcare for local pediatric patients—one of the primary goals of SBHCs, according to the Oregon Health Authority. Other goals for SBHCs include:

• Providing patient-centered care for all students, regardless of insurance status
• Reducing costs related to unnecessary hospital stays and use of emergency rooms
• Improving education outcomes—because healthy kids learn better
• Saving parents time by reducing hours of missed work to transport children to appointments

Utilizing unique public-private partnerships, SBHCs have been operating in the state of Oregon since 1986. There are currently 85 certified SBHCs across Oregon. Mosaic and their school district and county health partners currently operate six of those in Central Oregon, including at Bend High, Mountain View High, Madras High, Redmond High, Lynch Elementary and Crook Kids in Prineville. La Pine Community Health Center operates one SBHC in La Pine.

“School-Based Health Centers provide a great service within Deschutes County, helping eliminate barriers for our youngest residents to receive health care. Together, Mosaic and St. Charles are helping to create a healthier Central Oregon and we applaud our continued partnerships,” said Holly Harris, Deschutes County behavioral health director. 

In addition to medical and behavioral health care, providers at Mosaic SBHCs emphasize prevention, early intervention, risk reduction and the development of healthy habits with their young patients. Mosaic SBHCs are open to anyone from birth through age 18; patients do not need to be a student at the school where the SBHC is located. 

“We appreciate St. Charles, Deschutes County Health Services and all of our local partners for working together with us to improve the health of everyone in Central Oregon,” said Elaine Knobbs-Seasholtz, Mosaic director of strategy and development. 

St. Charles Health System is now accepting applications for grants aimed at reducing loneliness and increasing welcoming and belonging in Central Oregon. Community-based and nonprofit organizations, education systems and tribal entities that serve youth, older adults and/or vulnerable populations are now eligible to apply for St. Charles’ newest grant priority: Celebrate, Together; Celebrando Juntos. 

For the next three years, St. Charles will direct thousands in grant funding to community organizations to target loneliness and isolation, aimed specifically at organizations that are creating opportunities for communities to connect in person, with a focus on older adults and youth.

“We are increasingly seeing that loneliness and depression are root causes of a number of health problems and societal problems, and the pandemic has only exacerbated that issue,” said Molly Wells Darling, administrative director of Behavioral Health Services for St. Charles. “If we can help people feel less lonely by connecting with others and becoming part of a community, we know that Central Oregon will be healthier place.”

Carlos Salcedo, community partnerships manager for St. Charles, says that the goal is for these grants to address loneliness by providing a wide variety of activities that match the diverse interests of Central Oregonians. 

“We heard in our assessment interviews that community members are craving opportunities to come together, meet new people and rebuild their social networks coming out of COVID. Our hope is that each community will choose where to focus their time and energy around this issue. Maybe one will focus on creating innovative programming for middle school youth while another might focus on creating community walking groups,” said Salcedo. 

Organizations that are interested in expanding current group programming or piloting new projects that would allow their target populations to engage in a way that is most meaningful to them are encouraged to apply. 

Applications are due Sept. 30, 2023. To learn more about the grant requirements and application process, visit our webpage. 

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, nonprofit 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.

Seniors encouraged to choose traditional Medicare during open enrollment

Citing concerns related to patient care, access and affordability, St. Charles Health System is evaluating its participation in all Medicare Advantage plans, including those from Humana, PacificSource, HealthNet and WellCare.  

St. Charles continues to accept original (or traditional) Medicare, which is funded and operated by the federal government. Medicare Advantage plans are funded by the government but run by private insurance companies. 

Dr. Steve Gordon, President and CEO of St. Charles, explains that great thought went into the decision to reevaluate Medicare Advantage participation, and it was done only after years of concerns piled up not just at St. Charles, but at health systems throughout the country. “The reality of Medicare Advantage in Central Oregon is that it just hasn’t lived up to the promise. A program intended to promote seamless and higher quality care has instead become a fragmented patchwork of administrative delays, denials, and frustrations. The sicker you are, the more hurdles you and your care teams face. Our insurance partners need to do better, especially when nurses, physicians and other caregivers are reporting high levels of burnout and job dissatisfaction.”

St. Charles is not alone in expressing concerns about Medicare Advantage plans. According to the American Hospital Association, the AHA “is increasingly concerned about certain (Medicare Advantage) plan policies that restrict or delay patient access to care, which also add cost and burden to the health care system.” Additionally, some Medicare Advantage plans are under Congressional investigation for delays and denials in coverage. 

“We are seeing different outcomes for patients based on the type of insurance they have; with those on Medicare Advantage experiencing higher rates of denials and longer hospital stays, meanwhile our providers must jump through hoops in order to get the care their patients need approved,” said Matt Swafford, chief financial officer for St. Charles. “We recognize changing insurance options may create a temporary burden for Central Oregonians who are currently on a Medicare Advantage plan, but we ultimately believe it is the right move for patients and for our health system to be sustainable into the future to encourage patients to move away from Medicare Advantage plans as they currently exist. We want to share this notification with seniors in Central Oregon so they have enough time during open enrollment this fall to sign up for traditional Medicare.” 

Next steps

St. Charles Health System is evaluating its Medicare Advantage contracts with PacificSource, Humana, HealthNet and WellCare this fall and winter.  

Should St. Charles no longer be considered “in-network” with these Medicare Advantage plans, patients who are currently on these plans may need to choose another insurance plan to avoid changes in insurance coverage or payment responsibilities. 

“We strongly encourage anyone currently on a Medicare Advantage plan living in Central Oregon to review their health insurance coverage during open enrollment this fall and consider making a change to traditional Medicare,” said Dr. Mark Hallett, chief clinical officer for St. Charles. “When a patient is on traditional Medicare, physicians determine a patient’s care and what is medically necessary. When a patient is on a Medicare Advantage plan, the insurer determines what is medically necessary. Medicare Advantage plans provide great benefits for people who are healthy, but we are concerned patients may not understand the barriers to care they could experience on an MA plan if they are seriously ill or require hospitalization.” 

Central Oregonians who wish to explore insurance options, can contact: 

• Oregon Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) at 800-722-4134, option 2, 
• 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227), 
• Council on Aging of Central Oregon at 541-678-5483,
• or an insurance broker of your choosing.

St. Charles Foundation is pleased to announce the arrival of its new Executive Director, Jennifer O’Bryan. She brings to the Foundation more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, including donor relations, strategic planning and event execution.

O’Bryan is an Oregon native who has spent the past two decades working in the nonprofit sector, first with the Portland Rose Festival Association, and then as Senior Vice President of Revenue and Development at the Children’s Cancer Association in Portland. 

“For the past few years, my family has been fortunate enough to live in Bend, where we get to enjoy the incredible way of life that Central Oregon has to offer,” O’Bryan said. “I am excited and humbled to now play a part in promoting health and wellbeing in this beautiful region.”

O’Bryan earned her business degree from Western Oregon University in Monmouth. She said she is deeply inspired by what the Foundation has been able to accomplish through its generous donors.

“It is my belief that access to high-quality health care is one of the most critical components of a community’s infrastructure,” O’Bryan said. “I am confident that through collaborative partnerships and strengthening community connections, we can continue to bring innovation, clinical excellence and world-class health care to Central Oregon.”

Over the past several years, the Foundation has provided funding for much-needed advancements for the region, including leading-edge equipment, scholarship programs, grants, patient services and multiple capital projects like the Bend patient tower, which houses St. Charles’ 24-bed Intensive Care Unit and 28-bed Progressive Care Unit.

“St. Charles Foundation is critical to the long-term success of St. Charles Health System and the stability of access to health care services throughout Central Oregon,” said Jim Lussier, St. Charles Foundation board chair. “We are thrilled to have Jenny join our team and lead the Foundation into the future.”   

O’Bryan is an ideal person to lead the Foundation as Central Oregon continues to grow, said Dr. Steve Gordon, President and CEO of St. Charles.

“We are so fortunate to have someone with Jenny’s experience and expertise overseeing the Foundation’s important work,” Gordon said. “Jenny has already hit the ground running and I’m excited to partner with and support her in becoming a key figure and a familiar face in the community for St. Charles.  Please join me in welcoming her to her new role.”

For more information about St. Charles Foundation, please visit stcharlesfoundation.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.

Early bird registration closes July 31 for 24th annual walk/run 5K in Redmond

It’s time to dust off your pink tutus and superhero capes and get ready for the 24^th annual Heaven Can Wait event. Registration is now open for the popular breast cancer fundraiser and 5K, set to take place in Redmond on Sunday, Oct 1. The family-friendly walk/run raises money for Sara’s Project, which helps provide vital support services to people in Central Oregon with breast cancer.

“The theme for this year is Superheroes because we want to highlight the strength, fortitude and inspiration that we see in our breast cancer community. From the survivors to the family members to the providers, Heaven Can Wait is about camaraderie and coming together as a community,” said Jenny O’Bryan, Executive Director for St. Charles Foundation. “It’s also a fun event, with attendees donning costumes and face paint and generally having a great time, laughing and celebrating together.” 

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.

Early bird registration is $30 and ends July 31. Registration through Sept. 26 is $35 and through Oct. 1 is $40. Individuals can sign up online at HeavenCanWait.org or in-person at Redmond’s First Friday art walks (at Harcourts The Garner Group Real Estate). Individuals can also sign up to volunteer to support the event.

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, La Pine and Sisters. St. Charles is a private, nonprofit 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.

Three years ago, St. Charles Health System was experiencing a persistent shortage of Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), with just 30 to 40 percent of positions regularly filled. 

“We couldn’t hire them fast enough to fill the need. We were always short CNAs,” said Donna Harrison, operations coordinator for St. Charles.  

Now, thanks to an innovative partnership between St. Charles Health System and Central Oregon Community College (COCC), that staffing shortage has closed significantly. Since March 2020, 165 CNAs have gone through the fast-paced immersive program and 10 new trainees just began a new cohort of the successful program. 

Under the creative workforce solution, individuals who join the CNA training program are paid and receive benefits while undergoing their intensive 6-week training course. COCC instructors provide the instruction and facilitate the testing and the participants receive hands-on training at St. Charles Bend. 

“Our goal with this program is to eliminate as many barriers as possible,” said Harrison. That meant condensing and intensifying the training and making the students employees beginning on the first day. 

“COCC is proud to be a reliable, successful, and long-term workforce training partner to St. Charles,” said Laurie Chesley, president of COCC. “Health care staffing shortages require responsive solutions, and together our two institutions have developed a sustainable, replicable approach.”  

“With our nationally certified curriculums, established clinical partnerships, and experienced local faculty, COCC was able to quickly deploy an accelerated, on-site cohort model specifically for St. Charles,” adds Julie Downing, instructional dean overseeing Allied Health programs at COCC.

Encouraged by the success of this model, in April 2022 St. Charles also started a similar training program for medical assistants (with a goal to graduate 24 medical assistants annually). St. Charles is also in the beginning stages of developing a program for pharmacy technicians in partnership with COCC. 

Vital role

In his role as nurse manager on the progressive care unit, Don Jacobs sees the positive impact CNAs have on patient care every day. “They are doing the things that help patients feel better, like brushing hair, brushing teeth, taking a shower, helping patients get up and walk. The work our CNAs do is what helps our patients heal.”  

Jacobs said when the unit wasn’t fully staffed with CNAs, those tasks often fell to nurses, which meant nurses were able to take care of fewer patients, which in turn led to fewer patients being able to be served. 

“This program has been a huge success and the CNAs coming out of it are well trained and able to jump in and contribute right away,” said Jacobs. 

Serving as a CNA can be an entry point to other health care careers, with many going on to become nurses, pharmacists and so on. But for some, being a CNA is a calling. That’s true for Naomi Steele, a CNA in the Bend hospital who discovered her passion for caring for people while taking care of a loved one. The experience inspired her to switch careers and she started the CNA training program six months ago.  

“This has been in my bones my whole life," she said. "Once I learned that the CNA role spent the most time at the bedside, that’s when I knew that’s where I wanted to be.” 

Steele says the program was an ideal fit for her: “They not only pay for the program, but they pay you to be in the program. All of it checked all the boxes,” 

Individuals who are interested in applying to be part of the next CNA cohort can apply now to fill one of 20 seats. The next cohort will begin in October and applications close Aug. 20. 

Learn more about the CNA program. 

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, La Pine and Sisters. St. Charles is a private, nonprofit 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.

St. Charles awards $100K to Central Oregon nonprofits
Grants are part of St. Charles Health System’s community benefit program

Schools, food pantries, houseless service providers and health and wellness programs for first responders are among 16 nonprofits in the region that were recently awarded community benefit grants totaling $102,500 from St. Charles Health System. These local nonprofits are helping meet the critical needs of individuals and families, providing services that are working to prevent or end homelessness, break the cycle of food insecurity and advance inclusion, diversity, equity and acceptance work across Central Oregon.

Organizations receiving the largest grants during the first funding cycle include:

• Family Access Network (FAN), which received $10,000 for FAN advocate services;
• The Giving Plate, which received $10,000 for its hunger relief program;
• MountainView Community Development, which received $10,000 to increase the safety of their safe parking program
• Redmond Fire and Rescue, which received $9,000 to implement a mental health peer support program for their first responders
• 509-J Online School, which received $7,500 for its weekend food program

“I’d like to thank St. Charles for their generous support of our members. I think the award aligns the mission of St. Charles and Redmond Fire and Rescue very well, and so I really appreciate the award and collaboration from St. Charles,” said Redmond Fire and Rescue Chief Pat Dale.

As a nonprofit organization, St. Charles is dedicated to giving back to the Central Oregon community in many ways, including through community benefit grants. 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.

“All of these organizations provide a great service and St. Charles is very proud to be able to provide support,” said Carlos Salcedo, St. Charles’ manager of community partnerships. “The 16 organizations we’re funding this cycle are truly meeting the needs of our community.”

To learn more about St. Charles’ community benefit program or apply for our next grant cycle, visit our Community Benefits page.

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, La Pine and Sisters. St. Charles is a private, nonprofit 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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Joint press release from St. Charles Health System and Oregon Nurses Association

BEND – Nurses at St. Charles Bend voted overwhelmingly to ratify and approve a 3.5-year contract with St. Charles Health System, according to results from the Oregon Nurses Association shared today. The vote secures a contract for the nearly 1,000 nurses through June 2026 at the Bend hospital.

“Today is a positive step forward, for St. Charles nurses and for the health system as a whole. We believe this contract will go far to secure the goal we share with our nurses – to recruit and retain more qualified RNs, which has been increasingly challenging during a nationwide nursing shortage,” said Iman Simmons, Chief Operations Officer for St. Charles Health System. “We are optimistic about the future of the health system and for our ability to move forward in partnership with the Bend ONA.”

“Nurses from St. Charles are so grateful to this community for their support,” said Erin Harrington, RN. “We love this community and are 100% committed to providing our neighbors and friends the world class health care they deserve. The nurses have voted and shown their strong support for this contract – a contract that moves us forward toward better recruitment and retention and improved working conditions.”

According to the ONA, the new contract makes nurses at St. Charles the highest paid in the state. Details of the contract include:

• July 2023: $5 per hour increase (this is in addition to a $5 per hour increase given in March of 2023)
• July 2024: 4% increase
• July 2025: 4% increase
• January 2026: 4% increase

The contract also includes adjustments to shift differentials.

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, La Pine 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.