Members of the New York State Nurses Association rallied outside Carthage Area Hospital as bankruptcy proceedings continue for the parent organization, North Star Health Alliance. North Star owns Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, Carthage Area Hospital, and Meadowbrook Terrace assisted living facilities. The health group filed for voluntary bankruptcy on February 11, claiming total liabilities in excess of $100 million. The sites remain open as North Star proceeds through the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process.
Regional Health Crisis Concerns
The nurses union warned that disinvestment and hospital consolidation over decades have “eroded access to care across the region, leaving patients in the lurch.” If the hospitals close, thousands of patients served would need to travel hours for emergency, maternal, and specialized care. In the face of historic disinvestment and recent federal cuts to healthcare funding, nurses have been demanding that policymakers and hospitals take action to protect care, particularly in services like pediatric, trauma, maternal, and mental healthcare, where cuts have been most dramatic.
State Support and Uncertainty
North Star’s interim chief executive officer, Andrew Manzer, stated that the Department of Health, which has contributed $170 million to keep the organization afloat, was expected to provide an unspecified additional amount to cover payroll obligations and “ensure continuity of care during the restructuring process.” Jessica Thornton, a registered nurse at Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg, emphasized that all New Yorkers deserve access to safe, quality patient care close to home. If the hospitals close, the impact would be significant, placing extra pressure on surrounding hospitals and healthcare centers.
Workforce and Continuity Concerns
Bonnie Jacobs, a registered nurse at Carthage Area Hospital nearing the end of her five-decade career, expressed concern about the hospital’s future and the stress it creates. Healthcare workers are calling on the state Department of Health to understand that the north country cannot lose more beds. Nurses stressed that this situation represents a matter of health and safety, with one nurse calling it “a matter of health, it’s a safety risk” that requires state intervention rather than reliance on the organization to fix itself.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.nny360.com/communitynews/healthmatters/nurses-rally-in-carthage-as-hospital-bankruptcy-proceedings-continue/article_a653efe3-e9c5-54da-8b5c-256cae9c3de9.html