Summit Health Bend Oregon - A Trusted Local Healthcare Provider

For over six decades, Summit Health has provided high-quality compassionate healthcare for communities across Central Oregon. Based in Bend, this independent non-profit system includes primary care clinics, specialty clinics, urgent care centers, surgery facilities, and the region’s only hospital, St. Charles Bend. With a mission to deliver exceptional care close to home, Summit Health has become the provider of choice for thousands of local families.

Summit Health Bend Oregon Building
Summit Health Bend Oregon


A Leader with Deep Community Roots

Founded in 1955 by physicians from the Bend area, Summit Health has grown over the years into one of Central Oregon’s largest and most comprehensive healthcare systems. They now operate:

  • 8 primary care clinics
  • 27 specialty clinics
  • 2 urgent care centers
  • Outpatient surgery facilities
  • St. Charles Bend hospital with 264 beds

In total, Summit Health has over 300 providers across 50 medical specialties, offering a full spectrum of care from wellness and prevention to treatment of complex conditions. While the system has expanded significantly, Summit remains a locally governed non-profit dedicated to meeting the health needs of the communities it serves.

National Recognition for Quality Care

Summit Health is consistently recognized both regionally and nationally for outstanding care quality, patient satisfaction, and workplace excellence. Recent accolades include:

  • Top 100 Hospitals in the Nation - St. Charles Bend (Healthgrades)
  • Patient Safety Excellence Award (Healthgrades)
  • America’s 100 Best for Orthopedic Surgery (Healthgrades)
  • America’s 50 Best Hospitals (Healthgrades)
  • Women’s Choice Award for Best Patient Experience (Press Ganey)
  • Magnet Recognition for Nursing Excellence (ANCC)
  • Guardian of Excellence Award (Press Ganey)

This external validation demonstrates Summit Health’s commitment to following clinical best practices and putting patients first. Facilities like St. Charles Bend set the standard for exceptional hospital care.

Comprehensive Services Offered

From preventive primary care to specialized treatments, Summit Health provides a wide range of services including:

Primary Care: Family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, geriatrics, walk-in care

Specialty Care: Cancer care, cardiology, dermatology, neurology, orthopedics, OB/GYN, surgical specialties

Ancillary Services: Imaging, laboratory, pharmacy, rehabilitation, wellness programs

Hospital Care: Emergency care, inpatient treatment, surgical services, intensive care, obstetrics

This breadth of services means Central Oregon residents can access most healthcare needs through Summit Health alone. Electronic medical record integration also enables smooth coordination amongst providers.

Holistic Focus on Wellness

True to its physician-led roots, Summit Health places strong emphasis on preventive care and lifestyle wellness. In addition to standard medical services, offerings include:

  • Health education classes
  • Nutrition counseling
  • Athletic trainers
  • Chronic disease management programs
  • Massage therapy
  • Acupuncture
  • Tobacco cessation programs
  • Diabetes wellness initiatives

Summit Health takes a holistic approach, encouraging patients to actively maintain their health. This focus on overall wellbeing distinguishes Summit Health from other providers.

Caring for the Region

Headquartered in Bend, Summit Health operates clinics in Redmond, Prineville, Madras, and La Pine. The Summit Medical Group currently provides care for over 85,000 Central Oregon residents, with more than 115,000 visits annually. Their regional presence facilitates deep connections to the communities served.

Why Choose Summit Health?

There are many reasons Summit Health stands out as a leading healthcare provider:

  • Local and independent – Their non-profit status means all revenue is reinvested into serving the region.
  • Award-winning care – External recognition demonstrates adherence to clinical best practices.
  • Breadth of services – Comprehensive offerings spanning the continuum from primary to specialty to hospital care.
  • Care coordination – Electronic record integration enables streamlined communication between providers.
  • Prevention focused – Emphasis goes beyond just treating illness to sustaining wellness.
  • Experienced providers – Physicians and nurses deliver compassionate care grounded in decades of combined expertise.

For personalized medical, surgical, and wellness services, Summit Health is recognized as a trusted healthcare leader for Central Oregon.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


Who is the CEO of Summit Health?

  • Dr. Jeff Absalon is the current President and CEO of Summit Health based in Central Oregon.

Is Summit Medical Group only in NJ?

  • No, there are Summit Medical Group locations in both New Jersey and Oregon. However, the Summit Medical Group based in NJ and the Summit Health system in Oregon are separate organizations.

What does do mean for a doctor?

  • DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. DOs are fully licensed physicians who practice in all specialties of medicine. The key difference from MDs is DOs receive additional training in the musculoskeletal system and practice osteopathic manipulative treatment.

How many CityMD locations are there?

  • As of 2022, CityMD has over 200 urgent care clinic locations across New York, New Jersey, and Washington state.

What county is Summit NJ in?

  • Summit, New Jersey is located in Union County.

What is the largest medical center USA?

  • The Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas is considered the largest medical complex in the world based on number of beds and number of physicians, hospitals, and research facilities consolidated in one area.

What is the largest medical center in the country?

  • The largest medical center in the United States is the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. It spans nearly 1,400 acres and contains over 60 medicine-related institutions including 21 hospitals.

Does CityMD give stitches?

  • Yes, CityMD urgent care locations can provide stitches for minor cuts that require them. More complex lacerations may be referred to the ER.

Do doctors remove stitches?

  • Yes, doctors typically remove stitches once a wound has adequately healed, often within 7-14 days. This is commonly done by a doctor or nurse either in the office or at an urgent care clinic.

Can you wait 24 hours to get stitches?

  • It's generally recommended not to wait more than 6-12 hours to get stitches. The longer you wait past that timeframe, the higher the risk of infection and poorer healing outcomes.

Do medical stitches hurt?

  • There is some pain and discomfort associated with getting stitches, especially the initial numbing injection. But once the area is numb, the stitching process itself should not be very painful.