BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG — City officials say they are limited in their ability to assist North Star Health Alliance and its employees in Ogdensburg, but remain committed to supporting efforts to preserve healthcare services in the community.

Councilor Storm Cilley raised the issue during Monday’s City Council meeting, saying residents have asked what the city is doing to help the healthcare system that operates Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center and Carthage Area Hospital.

Cilley said he has told residents that while the city supports efforts to maintain healthcare services locally, it does not have the financial ability to provide direct assistance.

“I've just told them that there's not a lot we can do other than to verbally and formally express our support for it,” Cilley said. “We're not in the condition to provide any funding.”

North Star Health Alliance has been working through financial challenges while pursuing a long-term solution that includes finding a healthcare partner. The organization received state support as part of those efforts, including $15 million in grant funding from the New York State Department of Health and a $45 million loan through the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York.

Cilley said many of the concerns brought to him appear to be related to physician departures.

“I haven't seen a lot on the news,” Cilley said. “I know talking to Scott Gray, there is a plan at the state level and every once in a while I see something on the news related to that.”

The healthcare system has also recently experienced the departure of several physicians, including a prominent ear, nose and throat specialist, which has raised concerns among some patients and community members.

Although NSHA did not provide notice publicly, internally they circulated a message saying Rochester Region Health’s ENT practice in Potsdam and Samaritan Health’s ENT practice in Watertown are accepting new patients and that it is working with both organizations to help ensure patients’ care needs are addressed.

He said some clinics have been taken over by other healthcare providers, which he believes could help reduce some of the challenges facing the healthcare system.

“At least two, maybe three very popular physicians are no longer there and their patients are quite upset that they got like two days' notice of their appointment,” Cilley said.

According to employees, North Star Health Alliance officials recently said they do not anticipate large-scale layoffs beyond the more than 200 positions eliminated over the past several months. 

However, the organization continues to review operations as part of its restructuring process, with decisions being evaluated to help ensure the long-term sustainability of services.

The hospital has not publicly shared a list of clinics that are operating or that have been sold. Most recently it shared plans to close North Country Orthopedic.

Employees have shared concerns that additional services in the hospital could also be on the chopping block, but no such indications have been shared by NSHA officials, who have been mum on updates. They were expected to select a partner to begin a longtime transition this month.

Cilley said the city’s ability to influence the situation remains limited, particularly as NSHA moves through Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

“Other than the verbal support of specialist staff positions and hopefully maintaining as much level of service as they can, quite honestly, with Chapter 11, the courts — the trustees within the court — have a lot of control in how things will shake out going forward,” Cilley said.

Councilor Dan Skamperle said the city should seek additional information about the situation.

“We should do a little digging, I guess, trying to get some answers,” Skamperle said.

Cilley said the city will continue supporting efforts by hospital leadership to work with state officials and maintain healthcare access in the community.

Mayor Michael Tooley said he’s hopeful the hospital continues to move in the right direction.

“Quite honestly, you know, with chapter 11, the courts,  the trustees… have a lot of control on how things will shake out going forward. I’m trusting that the administration with the hospital will continue to be prudent, especially in working with the state to keep whatever financial assistance they can provide flowing until they can reach such a point as the hospital can right size itself.

The meeting took place just one day before the announcement that the hospital is seeking permission to end labor and delivery services in Ogdensburg.