Central Oregonian

Prineville, Madras hospices are now St. Charles Hospice

The two facilities will combine programs and operate under the name of St. Charles Home Health and St. Charles Hospice

Ramona McCallister

January 07, 2013

Amid the changes at Pioneer Memorial Hospital, Pioneer Memorial Hospice is now operating under the name of St. Charles Home Health and St. Charles Hospice.

In addition, Mountain View Home Health and hospice services in Madras will also be operating under the same name. Media and Strategic Communications Coordinator for St. Charles, Lisa Goodman, said on Friday that the change will include the consolidation of administrative offices and help streamline workflow, as well as promote collaboration between the two facilities. The change went into effect Jan. 1, 2013.

“The combined programs will offer comprehensive, coordinated home health and hospice care to residents in Crook and Jefferson counties,” said Goodman.

Mary Shockey, who is the director of St. Charles Hospice for both counties, said that the location, services, and staff will basically be the same as Pioneer Memorial Hospice in Prineville and Mountain View Home Health and Hospice services.

“All we basically did was change the name, because with the acquisition of Madras, it is going to be named St. Charles Hospice,” said Shockey. “To have two hospices under one health system with different names — we felt it was time to be able to align with another hospice within the system. With doing that, we felt that having them under the same name was advantageous.”

She added that with the two hospices under the same health system, they are able to share some duties and some relief for each other, “So that’s a good thing,” commented Shockey.

The two facilities have plans to consolidate some of their functions that are already duplicated, which will provide efficiencies. The two hospices will share the same computer system for electronic medical records. They will also be under the same medication system.

“The big thing that is happening right now is sharing staff,” emphasized Shockey.

In the past, Pioneer Memorial Hospice had a half-time chaplain. Madras and Prineville will share a full-time chaplain, with Prineville getting that position for three-quarter time.

“In Madras, they were using a volunteer chaplain, who has another job. This will give them the benefit of having a chaplain,” she said. “It actually is increasing some of the services to Madras, but it is also helping us increase our services by being able to share a person.”

The two facilities will also be sharing registered nurses, aids, and some supervisory staff.

Shockey also stressed that the fundraising dollars that are raised in Crook County will stay in Crook County. Volunteer coordinator for St. Charles Hospice in Prineville Kay Kludt said that St. Charles Hospice provides services to Wheeler, Jefferson, and Crook counties. Any money that is raised in Crook County stays in Crook County.

Kludt went on to say that St. Charles Hospice in Prineville (formerly Pioneer Memorial Hospice) is the oldest hospice in Central Oregon. The local organization has been active for many years in raising funds from various fundraisers, including the annual hospice and Christmas tree auction, as well as the “Light Up a Life” ornament fundraiser. The money raised from the auction secures their massage therapists for their patients, and provides money for patients who do not have health insurance. She said that the ornaments for the other fundraiser for next year will say “St. Charles Hospice.”

Michael Knower, medical director for St. Charles Hospice in Prineville, said that he is looking forward to having a larger census to draw from, with Madras being part of the organization. He indicated that it gives a cross-cultural dimension. Knower was the medical director for Pioneer Memorial Hospice for more than 20 years.

Knower started a resident program for interns in 2004, and he will have three students between January and May in the hospice residency (geriatric) program. He is trying to figure out how to best incorporate the Madras Hospice to add another dimension to the experience of the residents.

“I am also doing some revamping of the curriculum to make it even more challenging,” he said.

Goodman said the goal at St. Charles Hospice is to focus on improving quality of life and addressing the medical, psychological, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient, their family, and significant others.

“Hospice respects patient’s wishes to die a natural death in a familiar environment with comfort (pain free), peace, and dignity,” she said.

St. Charles Home Health

Main Line: 541-706-7796

Intake/Referral: 541-706-2744

Fax: 541-706-4996

St. Charles Hospice:

Main Line: 541-447-2510

(toll free: 541-420-8673)

Intake/Referral: 541-323-2575

Fax: 541-447-2514