The following story originally appeared as a “Progress 2016” story in North Country This Week.

OGDENSBURG -- As health care rapidly changes, hospitals strive to keep up with the pace. Hospitals provide critical health services and they also play a vital role as economic engines for their communities. North County hospitals are finding ways to improve efficiencies in the delivery of care through collaboration and working more closely with providers. While the process is complicated, the ultimate goal is more patient-focused care delivered in a cost-effective manner.

Last year marked Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center’s 130th year of providing care in Ogdensburg. We are the cornerstone of our community. Not only do we provide high-quality care and strive to keep our community healthy, but we are also among its largest private employers. Our hospital’s jobs and spending make a tremendous impact on the financial health of our community and the entire state.

Claxton-Hepburn provides enormous benefits that drive growth in the health and medical fields as well as in many other business and industry sectors. Nearly $14 million tax dollars are generated through hospital business activities. Our hospital’s payroll of over $74 million serves as an important economic stimulus, creating and supporting jobs throughout the local and state economies. Dollars earned by our employees are spent locally, which helps the economy in Ogdensburg and communities throughout the region.

We take our role in the community seriously. In 2015, Claxton-Hepburn participated in nearly 50 community events, including health fairs, educational programs, community celebrations, and corporate presentations. The largest event was the inaugural St. Lawrence River Dragon Boat Challenge, held in August at Waddington Beach, which drew 16 teams and over 900 spectators. The second annual Dragon Boat Challenge will be held July 16 and teams can register now at www.slrdragonboat.com. We plan to participate in even more events this year and a full schedule can be found on our website at www.claxtonhepburn.org.

After a year of exploratory talks, Claxton-Hepburn entered a formal affiliation with River Hospital, forming the North Star Health Alliance in October. This affiliation was formed with three outcomes in mind.

First, the affiliation is designed to protect and enhance each organization’s respective charitable mission.

Second, through the affiliation, the two hospitals will improve the quality of services and health care at each institution.

And third, the North Star Health Alliance allows Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center and River Hospital to increase efficiencies and lower costs.

The North Star Health Alliance will serve as a passive parent to River Hospital, Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, and their sister organizations while ensuring operational independence. Under the terms of the affiliation, each hospital will retain its name, board, leadership structure and staffing levels and remain responsible for its own bottom line.

Claxton-Hepburn also launched a bold, new marketing campaign: “Tomorrow is Worth Defending.” Words like brawler, snoop, loudmouth, renegade, warrior, are not words you would typically use to describe patients and hospital employees. These surprising, descriptive words are a stark contrast to the subject and campaign images presented. The goal is to jar consumers to look at health care and Claxton-Hepburn in a new light. The descriptors help people begin to value Claxton-Hepburn less as a common commodity and more as tough, resilient defenders of their future. Part of the campaign is a new employee recognition program, “Claxton Defenders,” shows that these are good characteristics in employees to ensure the best care is provided to patients.

Expanding patient access to primary and specialty care is a focus for Claxton-Hepburn this year. In 2015, Claxton-Hepburn welcomed Dr. Ross Dickstein and nurse practitioner Christine Couperus-Mashewske to the busy pain medicine practice of Dr. Juan-Diego Harris. Dr. Srinivas Ketharaju joined the obstetrics and gynecology department. He, along with Dr. Peggy Bastien and nurse practitioner Martha Cole, are welcoming new patients. Claxton-Hepburn also welcomed gastroenterologist Dr. Sebastian Mazzotta and family practice physician Dr. Christopher Comeau to the active staff.

As part of collaborations with Massena Memorial Hospital, a satellite clinic office for the Dr. Ravinder N. Agarwal Renal Center opened there for nephrology patients. Dr. Manasvi Jaitly sees patients in the Bushnell Medical Office Building, 17 Hospital Drive, Suite 3, Massena.

Claxton-Hepburn will continue to aggressively recruit providers to expand patient access and grow hospital services. In early 2016, new physicians in cardiology, radiation oncology, and obstetrics/gynecology will join the medical staff. In February, Madrid Health Center will open in its new location at 2263 State Highway 310 in Madrid. The center will be open Monday through Friday.

Also in February, the Richard E. Winter Cancer Center will open satellite offices in Massena and Alexandria Bay for new medical oncology patients. Dr. Himani Singh will see patients at offices in Massena Memorial Hospital and River Hospital.

To keep in step with the changing healthcare landscape, Claxton-Hepburn will continue to work with area hospitals in the North Country Initiative as well as seek opportunities to work collaboratively with other organizations to improve healthcare in the North Country.