BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center will receive $18.7 million in state funding to expand and modernize healthcare offerings in St. Lawrence County. 

"These investments demonstrate a clear commitment from New York State to ensuring the long-term stability of rural healthcare in the North Country," Richard Duvall, President and CEO of NSHA said.. "We are deeply grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul, the New York State Department of Health, and the New York State Office of Mental Health for their partnership and support. Their dedication makes it possible for us to expand access to critical services, modernize our facilities, and strengthen the health and well-being of the communities we serve.”

This major investment represents a significant step forward in advancing CHMC’s strategic plan and strengthening critical healthcare services for the North Country.

The Transformation IV funding will drive a series of major modernization and service expansion projects including  the expansion of mental health services, with increased inpatient behavioral health bed capacity and the creation of a Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) to provide immediate, specialized crisis care and reduce strain on emergency departments. 

The grant funding will also streamline hospital operations by modernizing and consolidating clinical services, relocating maternity services, acute and critical care, and lab services onto a single floor, and moving surgical services from three floors to two. 

Officials say the changes will improve efficiency, enhance patient flow, and create the necessary space to expand the children’s mental health unit and establish the CPEP. 

The investment also enhances critical equipment including the purchase of a Linear Accelerator for the Richard E. Winter Cancer Treatment Center. Officials say  the technology enables physicians to deliver highly precise radiation therapy that targets tumors more effectively while minimizing harm to surrounding healthy tissue, giving cancer patients in the region access to treatment close to home and reducing the need for extensive travel. 

“The Richard E. Winter Cancer Treatment Center is the only dually accredited cancer center serving the North Country, a distinction earned through accreditation from both the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Radiology. Driving Strategic Improvements for the North Country,” a release from the hospital said.

This recent round of grant funding builds on prior investments from the State of New York awarded in the spring of 2024. CHMC was awarded $5 million to expand the Elizabeth May Duvall Children & Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit, the region’s only acute inpatient mental health facility dedicated to treating children and adolescents, ages 5 to 17. 

This expansion will add 10 new beds to meet the growing demand for children’s mental health services in the North Country. 

Additionally, CHMC received a $6 million grant to establish the region’s only Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP), which will create space where individuals experiencing a mental health crisis can receive immediate, specialized care.

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