BEND, OR -- The Oregon Health Authority recently called out St. Charles Health System as possibly the most strained hospital systems in the state. Dr. Katie Richards, Medical Director for the Bend Emergency Department, sees it every day. "This summer is the busiest summer we’ve ever seen," she tells KBND News, "COVID doesn’t help. But it’s definitely a combination of just increased population, I think there’s some pent-up demand for recreating and recreating in the area - not just with tourists but with locals, as well."

She admits staffing shortages compound the issue. But Dr. Richards says, "It’s not just St. Charles staffing - it’s our community partners, as well. I don’t know if you’ve tried to get a same-day doctor visit or even to get through to your doctor’s office for advice? It can be very challenging to get through because they are short on front staff, they’re short on medical assistants. I sometimes feel like we’re the canary in the coal mine for the community; and so, if everyone is just a bit short staffed, people have nowhere else to go so they come to the ER."

And, she says Emergency Room overcrowding is made worse because of slow-downs in other departments. "Once we decide to admit someone, it can take hours to days to move them to a hospital bed." She adds, "That can be hospital staffing is an issue, but also there aren’t enough rehab and skilled nursing beds in Bend, right now." That means patients who are ready to be discharged from other parts of the hospital but aren’t quite able to be cared for at home remain at the hospital longer because they have nowhere else to go. Dr. Richards says that leads to patients who need to be admitted staying in the ER for treatment.

KBND News asked what conditions the ER is treating the most, "I don’t think there’s one thing, I think it’s population growth, it’s summer trauma, it’s delayed care and it’s still COVID." Dr. Richards asks that people do not seek routine care in the ER, to leave space for those with true emergencies.