Partnership brings pediatric specialists to C.O.

With nearly 40,000 children in Central Oregon, there is a significant need for specialized pediatric care in our community. Central Oregon Pediatric Associates recently partnered with Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel in Portland to expand the number of experienced pediatric specialists coming to Bend on a regular basis.

“We’re delighted to increase the number of pediatric specialists coming regularly to Bend. It’s so important for children with challenging medical needs to have easier access to experienced specialists right here at home.”, says Dr. Caroline Gutmann”, pediatrician and medical director for COPA.

Ten pediatric specialists from Randall Children’s Hospital are now providing expert specialty care to children of all ages at COPA’s East Bend location on a regular schedule beginning May 2014. This is a significant increase in specialists traveling from children’s hospitals in Portland, bringing the total to fifteen who regularly see children in Bend.

“Randall Children’s Hospital is looking forward to enhancing and expanding children’s access to specialized care. Keeping children at home and in their communities is important so families do not have to travel to Portland for quality specialty care,” says Sharon Su, M.D., FAAP, medical director of pediatric nephrology at Randall Children’s Hospital.

Pediatric specialists from Randall Children’s Hospital scheduling visits to COPA include:

Cardiology (heart)

Endocrinology (hormone disorders)

Eating disorders

Gastroenterology (digestive system disorders)

General surgery

Nephrology (kidney disorders)

Pulmonology (lung disorders)

Rheumatology (joint, soft tissue and auto immune disorders)

Urology

Other specialties available at COPA include developmental pediatrics and neurology. Local pediatricians in Central Oregon may refer patients to specialists based on patients’ medical needs. To schedule an appointment with any of these pediatric specialists, parents and guardians should contact the physicians’ offices in Portland. COPA is not scheduling patients for these providers. Contact information for these specialists is available on the COPA website at www.copakids.com/specialists/

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Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel is one of Oregon’s largest providers of pediatric inpatient and trauma services and is part of Legacy Health’s six hospital system. Randall Children’s Hospital opened its new nine-story, 165-bed home in Portland in February 2012. With a medical staff of more than 600 physicians, including pediatric medical and surgical specialists, sub-specialists, hospitalists and community pediatricians the hospital receives over 100,000 patient visits per year.

Central Oregon Pediatric Associates (COPA) is the region’s premier provider of health care for children since 1975. COPA offers 19 medical providers with two locations in Bend and one in Redmond. COPA is open weekday evenings until 8 pm plus weekends and holidays. A free pediatric nurse advice line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. COPA is Oregon’s largest pediatric practice outside the Portland metro area. More information is available at copakids.com