St. Charles is increasing access for gastroenterology services in Central Oregon, thanks to a new partnership with WovenX Health, a virtual GI provider. 
 
Since the service began at the end of April, more than 200 patients have received care through it. Jonnie Becker, administrative director for the surgical division, explains that WovenX Health has provided tremendous relief for the gastroenterology department, which is routinely booked for months out. 
 
Patients must be referred to use the service. When they call to schedule an appointment with the GI department, patients may be offered on-demand appointments through WovenX Health, based on health-related criteria. Rather than waiting months, patients can connect virtually with a GI provider on the same day. Becker says it is also reducing patients seeking emergency care, as 15% of the patients using WovenX Health report they would have sought care in an Emergency Department if not for the on-demand visit availability. 
 
Becker says the process is seamless for St. Charles patients, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. WovenX Health virtual providers are credentialed with St. Charles and are able to order supporting labs, imaging and procedures.  

Becker expects WovenX Health providers to see about 40 patients a week, which will also free up St. Charles providers to focus on procedures that cannot be done virtually, like scopes. 
 
“I am so pleased we have been able to expand our department with the collaboration with WovenX. This partnership has enabled us to increase capacity and offer GI services to many more patients,” said Becker. 

Advanced imaging for accurate diagnosis

Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) is a cutting-edge diagnostic procedure that combines endoscopy and ultrasound technology to obtain detailed images of the digestive tract and surrounding organs. This minimally invasive technique provides high-resolution images, enabling healthcare providers to diagnose and assess various gastrointestinal (GI) conditions with precision.

What is Endoscopic Ultrasound?

EUS involves the use of a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope, which is equipped with a high-frequency ultrasound probe at its tip. The endoscope is carefully guided through the mouth or rectum to reach the area of interest. The ultrasound waves create detailed images of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and nearby lymph nodes, allowing for enhanced evaluation of abnormalities.

Why is EUS Performed?

EUS is recommended for various diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, including:

• Evaluating digestive diseases – Helps detect conditions such as tumors and pancreas cysts.
• Assessing pancreatic conditions – Provides detailed imaging of the pancreas to diagnose cysts, tumors, or pancreatitis.
• Staging cancers – Determines the size, depth, and spread of gastrointestinal and lung cancers for better treatment planning.
• Guiding biopsies (Fine-Needle Aspiration - FNA) – Enables precise tissue sampling for accurate diagnosis.
• Detecting gallbladder and bile duct diseases – Assists in identifying gallstones, blockages, and other biliary conditions.

What to Expect During an EUS Procedure

EUS is typically performed as an outpatient procedure under sedation. During the examination:

1. A specialist gently inserts the endoscope through the mouth (for upper GI imaging) or rectum (for lower GI imaging).
2. The ultrasound probe captures real-time images of the targeted areas.
3. If necessary, a biopsy or fluid sample may be taken using fine-needle aspiration or fine-needle biopsy.
4. The procedure usually lasts 30-60 minutes, and patients can return home the same day after a brief recovery period.

Benefits of Endoscopic Ultrasound

• Minimally invasive with high accuracy
• Provides detailed imaging beyond standard endoscopy or ultrasound
• Allows for real-time tissue sampling
• Aids in early detection and better treatment planning

Schedule Your EUS Consultation

If your doctor has recommended an Endoscopic Ultrasound, our experienced specialists are here to guide you through the process. Contact us today to learn more or schedule an appointment.

St. Charles' new Gastroenterology practice is growing, both in size and scope — pun intended.

August saw the arrival of a new provider, Dr. Courtney Walker, who brings to the health system expertise in advanced therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), a service that both expands the array of and reduces the invasiveness of treatments available to local patients.

Walker is the first provider in Central Oregon to offer EUS, which means local residents who could benefit from the procedure now have the option to get the care they need without driving to Portland or beyond.

“For patients, it should be much nicer to be able to stay here and get this procedure rather than having to cross over the mountains in the winter, for example,” she said. “Also, our hope is that referring providers will be able to get their patients in quicker rather than having to coordinate through Portland, especially when time is of the essence.”

Simply put, EUS is a procedure that uses an ultrasound mounted on an endoscope to examine and treat the gastrointestinal tract and nearby organs. Similar to an upper endoscopy, providers can go down into the intestinal tract, press the ultrasound up against the lining of the stomach or the small intestine and look through to the other side for abnormalities.

The big benefit for patients is that EUS is minimally invasive compared to other methods of examining areas deep within the abdominal cavity, including surgery or interventional radiology, Walker said.

“When you have to go through all these organs and intestines with a giant needle to try to reach something that’s maybe a centimeter or two in size, it’s a challenge,” she said. “With EUS, we’re already inside and the lymph node is just right next door, so we can easily sample tissue. It’s painless, for the most part. We get the biopsy and (the patient) is home an hour later.”

There are also a number of therapeutic possibilities with EUS. During the procedure, providers can administer injections to treat chronic pancreatitis or malignant pain related to pancreatic cancer; collect liver biopsies to learn more about abnormal liver function; determine the stage and spread of diseases like esophageal and rectal cancer and more.

Walker joins St. Charles’ new team of Gastroenterology providers, who see patients in Bend and Redmond for a variety of digestive and biliary organ conditions, including GERD, Barrett’s esophagus, swallowing issues, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, eosinophilic esophagitis, celiac disease and more.

The addition of EUS to the department’s list of specialized services is a win-win for both St. Charles and the community, Walker said.

“There are quite a few people out there who are going to benefit from this. I’m doing maybe three to five per week and that’s just a couple months in,” she said. “Our hope is that as more people know it’s available here, it will continue to grow and we’ll be able to help a lot of people across Central Oregon.”

Learn more about St. Charles Gastroenterology on our website.