News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 46
Medicare Open Enrollment is underway. The Council on Aging of Central Oregon’s free Medicare counseling services are ready to assist. The Open Enrollment period, running from October 15 to December 7, is the critical time each year when Medicare beneficiaries can review and make changes to their health and prescription drug coverage for the upcoming year. This year brings important changes for Medicare Advantage plan holders in Central Oregon. Starting January 1, 2025, Moda and Regence will no longer offer Medicare A... Full story
Respiratory illnesses like influenza, COVID-19, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are known to spread more rapidly during fall and winter months, so Deschutes County Public Health (DCHS) is advising residents to take precautions to stay healthy and protect others in the community. “One of the most effective methods to prevent the transmission and severe outcomes of these contagious diseases is to make sure your vaccinations are up to date,” said Dr. Richard Fawcett, Deschutes County Health Officer. “Washing your hands fre... Full story
Residents living in and around Sisters can learn about their risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and other chronic, serious conditions with affordable screenings by Life Line Screening. Sister-Camp Sherman Fire Station Community Hall will host this community event on October 2. 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 levels;... Full story
Walking into Tim and Jane Killefer's home feels like putting on a comfy robe before settling in to have a nice long chat, with Kenzie the black Lab at your feet. It doesn't feel like a place where death and dying are prominent features of each day. Tim and Jane have always considered themselves athletes, moving from Salem to Sisters in 2019 to partake of all the outdoor recreation opportunities, now that they were both retired from teaching middle school. Jane describes her... Full story
In celebration of Welcoming Week 2024, three local organizations are bringing back the popular Health and Wellness Fair Sunday, September 22, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. at Ponderosa Park in Bend. Mosaic Community Health, Volunteers in Medicine, and Deschutes County Health Services are co-hosting the second annual outdoor event to welcome immigrant, refugee, Latino, and other community members and provide easy access to useful information for improving health and well-being. “We aim to improve the health and wellness of community mem... Full story
Oregon is one of the hottest states in the country and it’s not the weather. COVID-19 has made a comeback of sorts, particularly in the western states. Since late April COVID-19 has seen a surge in Oregon, mostly from omicron variants, according to Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and immunization at the Oregon Health Authority. People testing positive for COVID climbed from a rate of 3.1 percent in April to over 18 percent during the last week o... Full story
The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) announced that Trevor Frideres DMD, FAGD, principal of Sisters Dental, received the prestigious Fellowship Award during the AGD’s convocation ceremony. The celebration recognizes AGD member’s commitment to excellence in dental education. During the event at the AGD’s scientific session on Saturday, July 20, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dr. Frideres accepted this award along with 264 general dentists receiving this award. The Fellowship Award is presented to dentists looking to provi... Full story
For the last four years, the popular Sisters Ride Share and Transportation (STARS) program has been meeting the needs of residents who aren't able to provide their own transportation to non-emergency medical appointments in Sisters, Bend, and Redmond. In 2018, the need for that service was identified in a community study, and STARS, powered by volunteers, was created as a grassroots initiative to fill the need. Age Friendly Sisters Country (AFSC), a newly formed 501(c)(3)... Full story
It seems that nearly everybody in Sisters Country knows somebody first- or second-hand who has had delays in getting medical care. Most often, the anecdotes go, it’s a patient waiting for a joint repair or replacement. The shortage of orthopedic surgeons is at near crisis levels, nationally and locally. The largest provider of such services is The Center in Bend, well-known to folks in Sisters. In a letter to patients, The Center said: “Thank you for entrusting your care to The Center. Our community is facing an une... Full story
Oregon Health & Science researchers say they have a promising new approach to developing a universal influenza vaccine — potentially within five years. Such a vaccine — a “one and done” dose — would provide a person with lifetime immunity against a rapidly evolving influenza virus and help safeguard against a pandemic like the recent one that also caused a respiratory illness. Flu strains have triggered six major epidemics in the past century and a half, with the worst in 1918 when millions of people died worldwide... Full story
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