BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG — A former Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center nurse is warning city officials elimination of obstetrics services could have a negative impact on surgical services.

Jennifer Shaver addressed the Ogdensburg City Council Aug. 10 sharing concerns that if the child delivery services are terminated at the hospital, surgical procedures could follow.

At present, both elective and emergency surgeries are being scheduled and completed at the hospital, but OBGYN services and surgeries are intertwined.

Shaver said she previously raised concerns about the future of the hospital’s obstetrics department during a January council meeting.  

Since then, North Star Health Alliance announced plans to seek the Department of Health’s approval to end the service. 

A public hearing on the matter drew more than 300 people to Ogdensburg Free Academy in July where dozens of speakers called on the state to shoot down the proposal.

Public comment ended Aug. 5 and no updates have been provided since.

For its part, North Star officials say the proposed cuts are necessary in order to bring stability to the health care facility as it navigates bankruptcy proceedings.

Shaver said she and a small group of former hospital employees, who call themselves “the elders,” have continued advocating for Claxton-Hepburn.

She said the group has a combined 120 years of service at the hospital, but did not share the identities of her partners during the public address.

She said the group has met several times with North Star Health System officials, including the board president and CEO and that while North Star Health Alliance has shared plans to eliminate birthing services, close clinics and end nuclear medicine, she believes a separate plan would impact non-elective surgeries.

North Country This Week has not been able to independently verify that concern, but did reach out to North Star for comment on the matter.

According to Shaver, multiple nurses were laid off and working hours for surgical staff were modified.

Shaver said eliminating non-elective surgeries could have consequences for patients who need urgent treatment. She pointed to urgent C-sections as one example, saying they can require immediate surgical intervention and do not take place in the emergency room.

She also said patients with conditions such as appendicitis could face transfers to other hospitals if non-elective surgery is no longer available at Claxton.

“Your 14-year-old with appendicitis at four in the afternoon is going to be transferred to another hospital,” Shaver said.

Shaver said that elective procedures such as routine surgeries, colonoscopies and eye procedures could require patients to return for additional surgical care if complications arise.

Shaver offered to provide information to council members about critical access hospitals and gave appreciation to residents who attended a recent public hearing concerning Claxton-Hepburn, saying the turnout demonstrated strong community support for the hospital.

“I encourage you to continue,” she said. “It’s been hard enough for somebody that worked there to continue to be heard and seen.”