The Center Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Care & Research and St. Charles Health System, both based in Bend, Ore., have signed a letter of intent to expand their relationship to counteract decreased access to orthopedic, neurosurgical, physical medicine and rehabilitation medicine in the area, NBC affiliate KTVZ reported July 17.
"The number of orthopedic surgeons in Central Oregon has decreased dramatically in the past 18 months, making access to necessary care a significant burden for patients and their families," the orthopedic center said in a news release shared with KTVZ.
While the Center has tried to fill gaps on its own, it is having difficulty recruiting and retaining staff.
The Center and St. Charles intend to seek an emergency exemption from the Oregon Health Authority's Health Care Market Oversight review process in an attempt to quickly stabilize care for the community, the report said.
The Center currently employs 27 physicians, 27 advanced practice providers and approximately 200 support staff across three clinic locations and multiple outreach clinics. Currently, it can take up to six months to schedule an initial orthopedic evaluation with a total joint replacement surgeon and another six months to schedule surgery at the Center.
St. Charles Bend is a level 2 trauma center and is dependent on having a network of orthopedic and neurosurgeons available to provide on-call coverage for trauma surgeries when needed.
"Physicians from the Center have been active members of the St. Charles medical staff for decades," Christopher Healy, DO, a surgeon at the Center, told the news outlet. "St. Charles is the right partner as they are the leader in healthcare in our area and will help provide stability to musculoskeletal care in the region."
The Center and St. Charles Health System said they intend to put together a transition plan to quickly provide the best access to care for patients in the region, the report said.