Jun 03, 2013 — Last month, North Country Public Radio launched an ongoing series where we're talking in-depth with some of the region's health care leaders.

This is a time of huge transition for the industry -- and huge pressure on rural hospitals, nursing homes, home-health programs and ambulance squads.

That's meant some big changes, including a decision last year by CVPH Hospital and the Elizabethtown Community Hospital to join an umbrella company headed by Fletcher Allen Hospital in Burlington, Vermont.

Stephens Mundy is CEO of CVPH and serves as executive vice president for Northern New York for the new organization called Fletcher Allen Partners. He sat down last week with Brian Mann.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Feb 05, 2013 — Recently on NPR's Morning Edition, we've heard stories about health-conscious office workers standing at work, at special elevated work stations. In America, we tend to spend more than half of our waking hours sitting down. On an average day this will probably consist of driving, working at a desk, and then relaxing in front of the TV.

A Potsdam organization - St. Lawrence Health Initiative - has been using standing desks for all 13 employees for more than a year. Executive Director Ruth Fishbeck says she'd also like to experiment with treadmill desks. Todd Moe stopped by recently to talk with Fishbeck about the health benefits of standing at work - weight loss, more energy and better concentration. And, she says, it doesn't mean standing all day.  Go to full article

Oct 26, 2012 — Republican Wendy Long says she thinks abortion should be illegal in the US, even in cases when the pregnancy results from rape.

Long is running for the US Senate against Democratic incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand, who is pro-choice.

Abortion and rape have become major issues on the campaign trail, as more Republican Senate candidates have embraced the idea that women who are victims of sexual violence should be denied access to abortions.

The latest Siena Research Institute poll, released Friday morning, shows Long winning support from just 24 percent of voters in New York. Gillibrand is winning 67 percent of the vote.  Go to full article

Queensbury, NY, Sep 26, 2012 — Tuesday night's congressional debate in Queensbury ranged over a wide range of topics, but the issue that ignited the candidates and the crowd was health care. Republican Matt Doheny argued for repealing the Affordable Care Act and warned that the Democratic reform measure was "anti-constitutional."

That sparked a fierce reaction from Democrat Bill Owens, Green Party Candidate Donald Hassig and from the audience at Queensbury High School.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Aug 14, 2012 — Half a decade after the Great Recession began, many local governments around the US and here in the North Country are still hurting. Core services and programs are being scaled back, cut or privatized. Last month alone, another 9,000 public sector workers were laid off nationwide.

While the private sector economy is creaking back to life, government experts say they sources of revenue that fund local programs haven't revived. As Brian Mann reports, that's sparked a new debate over what government should look like--not at the Federal level, but at the grassroots.  Go to full article

Aug 01, 2012 — Dozens of swimmers will gather in Hannawa Falls for the Third Annual "Swim a Mile for Hospice" event on Saturday. It's a non-competitive mile long swim to benefit the work hospice does in the St. Lawrence Valley. Last summer, swimmers young and old took to the water at Postwood Park Beach.

Todd Moe caught up with members of Team Cobb--a father-daughter swim team, Ted and Tedra Cobb-- before a practice swim in the pool at St. Lawrence University. Tedra's mother was a hospice patient a few years ago, and Tedra will be back in the water on Saturday.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jun 29, 2012 — New York's politicians and major health care providers are applauding the Supreme Court's decision to uphold President Obama's health care law. Meanwhile, an Albany Law School expert says Chief Justice John Roberts may have been concerned about his legacy, and that was a factor in his decision. Karen DeWitt has more.  Go to full article

Lake Placid, NY, Jun 05, 2012 — A new plan unveiled yestoday in the Adirondacks would eliminate 60 nursing home beds in Lake Placid, most of which are used by low-income elderly residents who rely on Medicaid. The proposal would also mean the closure of the village hospital that's been in operation since the 1950s.

Adirondack Health, based in Saranac Lake, says most hospital services will still be provided on an expanded medical campus near the Uihlein nursing home. The company also hopes to develop a new network of apartments and social services that could mean fewer elderly residents needing nursing home care.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Apr 18, 2012 — Pro-choice advocates promoting the women's reproductive health act say they are counting on Governor Andrew Cuomo to help the bill become law this year. In Albany, Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Apr 13, 2012 — Governor Cuomo has issued an executive order to create a state health care exchange after the legislature failed to do so. The exchange is required by the new federal health care law. In Albany, Karen DeWitt has details.  Go to full article