News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 36
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... Full story
Family and friends of Sisters resident Kristy Cosden are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with Kristy’s ALS. Kristy received a Power 3 wheelchair May 22, which she was able to drive downtown Sisters and back home, providing a new freedom and level of comfort as she now has to spend most of her day in a wheelchair. But now Kristy is in need of a vehicle that she can drive the wheelchair into and lock into place without requiring her to transfer to another seat — and s... Full story
Oregon health officials are concerned about a sharp increase in cases of pertussis — known as whooping cough — across nine counties and are encouraging people to get vaccinated against the disease. As of May 29, 178 pertussis cases have been reported to Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division. That’s a 770 percent increase from the 20 cases reported by that date in 2023. However, the 2024 numbers are roughly in line with those seen during similar time frames in the immediate pre-pandemic years, including 2019, w... Full story
A national nonprofit organization released a new program on Tuesday, May 7, to help families navigate the hazards of fentanyl and prevent deaths of young people as Oregon continues to battle the lethal drug epidemic. Song for Charlie, a nonprofit focused on raising awareness about fake fentanyl pills, launched The New Drug Talk Oregon, an educational web-based platform with free information about the risks of fentanyl and the dangers of self-medication and experimentation. The program also gives families guidance on how to... Full story
Knowing what to do in an emergency can be a matter of life or death. Yet most of us don't have the training to act swiftly and correctly in an emergency. Northwest Precision Emergency Medical Training is changing that, offering courses that range from basic babysitter safety protocols to cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to intensive wilderness first aid training. Sisters' first responders are highly competent, and their response times are very good - but this is still a... Full story
Joe Uhan's physical therapy practice is about much more than alleviating pain and discomfort. It's about restoring people to the active life they love. "People come to me not just because they have pain, but because they want to do stuff," he told The Nugget. "And that stuff can be running a marathon, or it can be playing with your grandkids." Chronic pain and debility due to injury or wear and tear can be discouraging, and Uhan thrives on helping people overcome what seems... Full story
In the past two weeks, Deschutes County Public Health has identified seven cases of pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough in the community. All cases have been investigated by Public Health Communicable Disease staff and close contacts have been notified. In 2023, a total of six cases of pertussis were reported in Deschutes County. Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory disease that is transmitted from person to person through droplets from a cough or sneeze. Newborn babies, who are too... Full story
Residents living in and around the Sisters area can learn about their risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and other chronic, serious conditions with affordable screenings by Life Line Screening. Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Station community hall will host this community event on May 9. The site is located at 301 S. Elm St. in Sisters. Screenings can check for: level of plaque buildup in your arteries, related to risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke and overall vascular health; HDL and LDL cholesterol... Full story
Sisters will take on the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s disease in a conference in May. A McGinty Conference — usually hosted in much larger communities — will be held at Sisters Community Church on Monday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The events, including the principal one in Portland, are Oregon’s leading research and education events highlighting Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and honors Dr. Dean McGinty, a Portland geriatrician, an early advocate... Full story
Head lice are fairly common among school-aged children. Notifying parents of a small outbreak in multiple grades of Sisters School District, nurses called head lice “pesty nuisances.” Sisters Elementary School (SES) nurse Jennifer Morris told The Nugget, “We’ve had off and on cases.” The recent letter or communication that went out to parents occurred “on request of a handful of parents that reached out to me over the last month.” Morris said, “We were hoping spring break wo... Full story
Fred Woodworth is a jovial man who's quick to smile and even faster to help someone in need of his expertise. Known as the go-to general contractor/handyman in Sisters Country, he's built, repaired, and upgraded homes in Black Butte Ranch and across the region. He was often found under a sink, on a roof, or beneath a home doing what he knows best. Then he got a diagnosis that changed everything. Woodworth ended up needing open heart surgery that included a double bypass and... Full story
Deschutes County Health Services last week confirmed a case of human plague in a local resident. The individual was likely infected by their pet cat. “All close contacts of the resident and their pet have been contacted and provided medication to prevent illness,” said Dr. Richard Fawcett, Deschutes County Health officer. Symptoms of plague usually begin in humans two to eight days after exposure. These symptoms may include a sudden onset of fever, nausea, weakness, chills, muscle aches, and/or visibly swollen lymph nod... Full story
East Cascade Women’s Clinic has opened their second clinic, located at 865 SW Veterans Way in Redmond. The clinic prides itself on offering quality, compassionate care for women of all ages. This location opened January 4, and is now taking appointments. In addition to providing individualized services such as high- and low-risk pregnancy care, annual wellness visits, contraception, fertility and obstetrics and gynecology concerns, providers at the new clinic will care for conditions such as pelvic pain, sexual health, m... Full story
Deschutes County Health Services has identified a recent increase in overdose fatalities, and is urging those who use substances and their families and friends to take additional precautions. Four overdose fatalities within a six-day period appear to be linked to the use of fentanyl and in combination with other substances. Recognizing and responding to an overdose can save a life. Here are some signs and symptoms: • Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils.” • Falling asleep or losing consciousness. • Slow, weak, or no breathing... Full story
"Everyone has been or will be a caregiver at some point in their lives, and everyone will be a care recipient at some point in their lives." Dr. Richard Schulz knows this: He has devoted his career to studying the effects of disabling late-life illnesses on patients and their families and to exploring strategies for mitigating the adverse health effects of caregiving. He will share his insights on Tuesday, January 23, at 7 p.m. at the next lecture in the Frontiers in Science... Full story
With the new year, Oregon health officials are asking people to resolve in 2024 to get vaccinated against respiratory viruses that are on the rise in the state. Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., health officer, and state epidemiologist at OHA, says vaccination remains the best way for Oregonians to protect themselves against COVID-19, influenza (flu), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) — and it’s not too late to get any of the vaccines. “While some resolutions require making healthy changes for the rest of your life, we’re... Full story
Does your dog really need a coat just because it's winter? Sisters routinely gets overnight lows in the single digits and commonly sees temps in the teens much of November through March. With the change in the seasons, out come the canine jackets, some quite stylish and color coordinated to match the dog's coat. But are they necessary? It depends, say the experts. It has little to do with the temperature and much to do with your dog's coat. The AKC (American Kennel Club) has... Full story
Volunteers from Sisters recently returned from one of many trips to Honduras with the nonprofit Heart for Hope. Dr. John Spomer, now a Central Oregon resident, helps orchestrate the trips in collaboration with Cadena de Amor in Honduras. Before Heart for Hope partnered with Cadena de Amor (Chain of Love), the Honduran non-profit worked with Medical Teams International of Portland, Oregon, to provide dental care for grade school children. Ten years ago, Medical Teams Internatio... Full story
For Joe Schneider, dogs have always brought companionship, calm, and renewal. Many times during his 30 years as a police officer, the welcoming wags and paws of his four-legged family members helped him shake off the day's work. Schneider began working at Black Butte Ranch (BBR) in 2020 after 20 years as a City of Bend police officer. When Schneider started bringing his black-and-white Newfoundland, Yukon Jack, to work with him at BBR, people began coming by to see the giant... Full story
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, the regional health care provider said in a notice to its patients and caregivers in August. However, the news is now coming as a surprise to many. St. Charles continues to accept original (or traditional) Medicare, which is funded and operated by the... Full story
Sisters has reached a milestone in access to health care as Mosaic Community Health assumed operations of the Sisters School-Based Health Center (SBHC) last month. On November 9, from 4 to 6 p.m., Mosaic Community Health will host an open house at the clinic, located at 535 North Reed Street (adjacent to Sisters High School). Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the facility and meet with staff. The center is expanding operations from two days a week to four days a week, thanks to a partnership between Mosaic Community... Full story
It’s flu season and Oregonians, healthier on average than the U.S. as a whole, usually shrug it off as a fact of life. However the season is more complicated when factoring in RSV and COVID, which often look and act like flu. The flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are all highly contagious respiratory infections caused by viruses: The flu by influenza virus, COVID-19 by SARS-CoV-2 virus, and RSV by respiratory syncytial virus. It is possible for a person t... Full story
It's hard to miss the large, colorful banner adorning St. Charles Family Care Clinic on N. Arrowleaf Trail in the Outlaw Station shopping center. Neon-yellow all-capital letters on a fluorescent-red background say "now open." The clinic has been open for years of course. The reference is to the outpatient laboratory that until September 1 had been irregularly staffed. No longer. You can get lab work Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by order of your health provider.... Full story
The Sisters School-Based Health Center (SBHC), 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 October 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 o... Full story
The Oregon Center for Nursing (OCN) recently granted $50,000 to Partners In Care to support development of a program aimed at increasing wellness for hospice and home health nurses. The Care for the Caregivers program starting at Partners In Care is aimed at increasing the well-being of hospice and home health nurses, reducing burnout, and ultimately improving patient outcomes. This system-level environmental intervention addresses the high levels of stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue experienced by nurses by offering a... Full story
