May 07, 2013 — E.J. Noble Hospital in Gouverneur has had a tough year. Last fall, the State Department of Health forced it to close down, after finding numerous safety violations in the hospital lab.

Most of the problems have been corrected. The hospital has new management and a new board of directors. Now it needs the patients to return.  Go to full article

Lake Placid, NY, Mar 11, 2013 — There was another sign this week of the growing financial crunch faced by many hospitals in the North Country. Adirondack Health is looking at moving, shutting down or cutting the hours of the emergency room at its Lake Placid hospital.  Go to full article

Gouverneur, NY, Oct 22, 2012 — Throughout the United States, hospitals are going through a period of change. Faced with increasing costs, decreasing reimbursements, and new regulations, many are merging or consolidating with other hospitals.

That hasn't happened so far in the North Country: in St. Lawrence and Jefferson Counties alone, there are ten independent hospitals. But many are struggling financially. Some experts say the North Country's health care system needs to start changing--and hospitals in our region are looking for ways to make a healthy future.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Apr 08, 2011 — A large group of nurses gathered in front of one of the region's largest health care facilities this week to call for fair wages and benefits.

The nurses' union at the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake says it wants a contract similar to those at other area hospitals, like the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh and the Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone.

But hospital officials counter that they've been negotiating in good faith, and that their contract proposal is, in fact, fair.

Chris Morris has our report.  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Dec 15, 2010 — Over the next month, we'll hear a lot about earmarks, also known as "pork." They're the district-specific pet projects of members of Congress. The new Republican-led House has vowed to ban earmarks, or at least strictly curtail them.

We've all heard about the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere." But for every one of those earmarks, there are many others that are filling a need in a community.

Fort Drum near Watertown is the only Army base in the country without its own hospital. Soldiers and their families rely on doctors and clinics in Jefferson, Lewis, and southern St. Lawrence counties. A $400,000 earmark funds an organization thats building health care assets for soldiers and civilians alike. avid Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Feb 17, 2010 — A new study released this morning aims to rank New York's counties by the health of their residents. The report, compiled by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, also looks at local factors like air quality and the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables that can help people get healthier. The study gives high marks to some North Country counties - including Essex, Hamilton and Warren. But Franklin and St. Lawrence Counties don't fare so well. Brian Mann has our story.  Go to full article

Jun 27, 2008 — The doctor shortage in the Adirondacks has become so acute that Adirondack Medical Center it may not be able to keep its emergency room in Lake Placid open every night this summer. Volunteer ambulance services that serve rural northwestern Essex County may be asked to reroute patients to hospitals in Saranac Lake, Elizabethtown or Plattsburgh. Jacob Resneck reports.  Go to full article

Nov 02, 2007 — Hudson Headwaters Health Network announced this week that four major private insurers have agreed to boost reimbursement rates for basic medical care. Dr. John Rugge is CEO of Hudson Headwaters, which operates clinics throughout the southern and eastern Adirondacks, as well as the Champlain Valley. He says his organization is still struggling to end a shortage of primary care doctors. Rugge also told Brian Mann that this settlement with insurance companies won't help other hospitals and clinics in the region, but could serve as first step toward broader reform.  Go to full article

May 10, 2007 — Legislative leaders say they want to revisit the Berger Commission report that recommended that many hospitals around the state be closed or merged. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Mar 19, 2007 — Governor Spitzer appeared in New York City with hospital administrators and a health care workers union that are supporting him in his budget plans. Another health care workers union opposes the governor's plans and has been running TV ads against him. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article