May 23, 2001 — Women's groups are trying to revive the Women's Healthcare Act with an ad campaign. The bill was scrapped earlier this year after the Catholic Church objected to a provision that would require paying for birth control coverage. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

May 22, 2001 — Anti-smoking groups are pushing for bills that would further restrict smoking in restaurants and workplaces. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

May 17, 2001 — To date, 19 million people have died of AIDS worldwide, and another 34 million are infected with HIV, the virus that causes the disease. Like all research projects funding is essential to its progress. So to help raise money, bicyclists from across the nation, including St. Lawrence University, will take part in this summer's Montana AIDS Vaccine Ride. Jody Tosti spoke with students preparing for the 575-mile trek over the continental divide.  Go to full article

May 10, 2001 — This is Nurses Week, a time when health care workers are recognized for their professional skills and dedication. But a national shortage of nurses and other professionals has put the week of recognition on the back-burner and galvanized some New York nurses to organize a petition-signing campaign. They want better working conditions at hospitals throughout the state. A group of vans with members from the New York State Nurses Association is touring the state this week seeking support for a change in health care laws. Three North Country health care facilities were on the list of stops. Jody Tosti reports.  Go to full article

May 01, 2001 — A television and radio ad campaign has been launched to draw attention to the shortage of healthcare workers in New York. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Mar 21, 2001 — The controversy over the use and abuse of Ritalin has created a national debate among doctors, parents and teachers. The drug is a stimulant and used in the treatment of ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. But with the number of kids taking a prescribed stimulant doubling since 1995, parents as well as health professionals are questioning the growing practice of using medications to regulate behavior. Jody Tosti reports.  Go to full article

Mar 19, 2001 — After giving the state over a year to deliver, St. Lawrence County lawmakers are preparing to renew their request for more detailed data on cancer rates in the county. Early statistics show North Country counties have some of the highest rates of cancer in the state. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Mar 19, 2001 — A prominent Saranac Lake surgeon has resigned from the Adirondack Medical Center after performing knee surgery on the wrong leg. As Brian Mann reports, the AMC is implementing new safety rules to prevent similar mistakes.  Go to full article

Feb 14, 2001 — The development of more successful AIDS drugs means people with the disease are living longer, healthier lives. The downside is that the population of AIDS and HIV patients is increasing as well. A health clinic network in the Adirondacks is working to help people in rural areas find better treatment. Brian Mann reports.  Go to full article

Jan 17, 2001 — A small device similar in size to a pacemaker is being called a breakthrough in epilepsy treatment. It has proven to be an extremely successful treatment for epilepsy patients who do not respond to medication. The device sends mild electrical stimulation to the brain to diminish or completely stop seizures. Canton-Potsdam Hospital in Potsdam is the first hospital in North Country to offer the vagus nerve stimulation or VNS to its epilepsy patients in the Syracuse to Burlington region. The small device is implanted in the chest. A wire, connected to the generator, is tunneled under the skin and coils at the end to wrap around the vagus nerve in the neck. The device delivers preprogrammed electrical pulses to the vagus nerve 24 hours a day. Todd Moe spoke with Dr. Lucas Koberda, a neurologist on staff at Canton-Potsdam Hospital, who's offering this new therapy option to patients. Koberda says the device, referred to as a "pacemaker for the brain" provides new hope for a higher quality of life for patients with uncontrollable epilepsy.  Go to full article