Introducing the St. Charles Cancer Institute

St. Charles Cancer Care is transitioning to a new name that better reflects the quality and breadth of services provided.

Today, I'd like to introduce the St. Charles Cancer Institute.

To be clear, the buildings (or physical spaces) where we treat patients will continue to be called St. Charles Cancer Centers. The St. Charles Cancer Institute is an umbrella name that encompasses the care provided within our multiple sites, along with our academic and research initiatives, multi-specialty collaboration, patient navigation, integrative therapies, genetics program, screening services, support services and so much more.

So, what does it mean to be a cancer institute?

First of all, it's a designation our team has been working toward for many years. Dr. Linyee Chang, St. Charles Cancer Institute's medical director, has spent decades recruiting and building a team of physicians and providers trained at some of the top cancer programs in the nation. That effort led us to the highly specialized team we have today, with oncologists who are laser-focused on a variety of cancers, including breast, gastrointestinal, malignant hematology (lymphoma, multiple myeloma), genitourinary, gynecologic, head and neck. This kind of specialization in particular cancers is the foundation of our ability to deliver institute-level care.

And, for more than 20 years, our team has meticulously followed National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines to ensure patients receive the agreed upon, best standard of care. Thanks to their track record, we launched an innovative pilot program with one health insurer in 2024 that gives most patients instant authorization for their cancer treatment to begin.

Most recently, the cancer team has added new capabilities in terms of academic and research programs that elevate all the services provided within the Cancer Institute umbrella. Through a new AI-powered tool, patients can be screened and matched against an ever-expanding number of clinical trials happening nationwide. Knowing if your particular type of cancer can be treated through the latest and most innovative clinical trial programs - but still managed right here in Central Oregon - is an incredible benefit to our patients.

At St. Charles, our commitment is to deliver cancer care at the highest level, with the Cancer Institute overseeing all aspects of cancer care in our region, from standardization of seamless delivery to assurance of the highest quality of care achievable.

You'll hear more about all the above in the coming months, but in the meantime, we are celebrating the good work that our cancer teams do every day, including the incredible effort that has gone into building the new St. Charles Cancer Center in Redmond. This beautiful facility will open next month and will have the capacity to serve up to 300 patients each day. For those patients dealing with a cancer diagnosis and treatment who live in our northern region, I hope that knowing you can receive care even a little bit closer to home will provide peace and healing.

I'd love to invite all of you to check out the new space at our grand opening at 4 p.m. April 16. This community celebration will give us a moment to not only reflect on the years of planning that went into the facility, but also to celebrate the impact it will have on patients, their families and our community in the decades ahead.

Sincerely,
Steve