OGDENSBURG - North Star Alliance officials say the transition to splitting Ogdensburg’s hospital into two separate entities has been a difficult process, but is nearing completion and will allow for growth and stability in the years to come.

For generations, Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center and Carthage Area Hospital, the founding members of the North Star Health Alliance (NSHA), have served as cornerstones of healthcare for the rural communities of St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Lewis Counties.

 Since August 2022, they have partnered with the New York State Department of Health (DOH) on a stabilization plan that preserves rural healthcare in the North Country and lays the groundwork for a sustainable future. 

Ogdensburg there are now two separately licensed hospitals operating side by side under one roof - a first in New York State. 

Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center (CHMC) now serves as a 40-bed inpatient psychiatric hospital, the first stand-alone, not-for-profit facility of its kind in the state, with dedicated units tailored to children, adolescents, and adults. 

Adjacent to it, the Claxton-Hepburn Medical Campus (Claxton Campus) - a 25-bed acute care hospital managed by Carthage Area Hospital (CAH) - has completed the final steps for Critical Access Hospital status. 

Although both share the address at 214 King Street, Claxton Medical Campus (Suite A) and CHMC (Suite B), maintain independent entrances and clinical spaces, ensuring rigorous regulatory compliance, patient safety, and efficient use of existing infrastructure and resources. 

The plan to split the hospital was mutli-faceted. 

In a prepared statement officials  said it means that everything from emergency treatment and outpatient clinics to specialized inpatient psychiatric services remain available close to home. 

By separating behavioral health and acute medical services, the two-hospital model not only maintains these vital offerings but also protects the livelihoods of hundreds of local healthcare professionals - honoring their years of dedication and preserving their pensions. Financial stability flows from sharing back-office services and leadership across both campuses, reducing dependence on unpredictable subsidies, a press release from NSHA says.

 At the same time, this shared framework lays the groundwork for a thoughtful expansion of services between Ogdensburg and Carthage. 

The state’s Public Health and Health Planning Council voted unanimously to approve the dual-hospital plan in 2024.

 Claxton Campus successfully completed its critical access survey on June 12. 

Building on that momentum, CHMC, CAH, and Claxton Campus were recently invited to apply for funding through Governor Hochul’s visionary Safety Net Transformation Program (SNTP). SNTP provides both capital and operating resources—along with regulatory flexibility—to safety-net hospitals in vulnerable communities, encouraging collaboration to improve access, equity, quality, and health outcomes while shoring up financial stability during major transitions, the news release says.

“At a time when many funding sources are being scaled back, the governor’s office is recognizing the urgent need to preserve access to care in rural New York communities,” the release says.

At the Richard E. Winter Cancer Center—the area’s only dual-accredited cancer facility—patients benefit from advanced treatments such as Trilogy™ precision radiation therapy, as well as a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach in conjunction with the Breast Health Center. 

NSHA officials said it’s been a long difficult road, but the region will be better off with the changes.

“ By weathering the storm alongside us, you have shown that you understand what’s truly at stake: preserving accessible, high-quality healthcare for the North Country. To our employees—your loyalty and hard work are the backbone of this organization. Your perseverance through this past year of transformation has laid the foundation for a stronger, more stable future.,” the release said.

“These changes have not been easy, but your dedication has kept us moving forward. Because of you, we’re not just preserving healthcare in the North Country—we’re building a resilient future rooted in service, access, and care.  This is not a story of cuts or closures - it is a story of communities, hospitals, and state leaders working together, committed to reimagine care for Northern New York for this and the next generations. While many hospitals in our region are opting to cut vital healthcare services, we are choosing a different path. “

“By keeping care local, safeguarding jobs and pensions, and strengthening collaborative partnerships, the North Star Health Alliance, governor’s office and the DOH are paving the path for a stronger, more resilient future in the North Country.,” the release says.

“We remain resolute, because the health and future of our communities are worth protecting.”