By redefining healthcare in our region and emphasizing the importance of local access, we are poised to create a brighter, healthier future for all.”

Richard Duvall, President & Chief Executive Officer North Star Health Alliance

2024 was a landmark year for North Star Health Alliance (NSHA), laying the groundwork for even greater achievements in 2025.

Leading this progress is the North Star Health Alliance (NSHA), a partnership that unites Carthage Area Hospital (CAH), Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center (CHMC), the Claxton-Hepburn Medical Campus (Claxton Campus), North Country Orthopaedic Group (NCOG), and Meadowbrook Terrace Assisted Living Facility.Together, we are dedicated to providing quality, patient-centered healthcare throughout the North Country to ensure residents receive the care they need close to home.

By redefining healthcare in our region and emphasizing the importance of local access, we are poised to create a brighter, healthier future for all.

Rich Duvall, President & Chief Executive Officer, North Star Health Alliance

Organizational Changes
In October 2024, Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center (CHMC) became a dedicated standalone mental health hospital, while its acute care programs shifted to the newly established Claxton-Hepburn Medical Campus (Claxton Campus).Patients will continue to receive quality care in a familiar setting, supported by the North Star Health Alliance’s (NSHA) commitment to keeping vital healthcare services local.

This transition plan is now in its final stages, pending designation as a Critical Access Hospital.
These changes represent an important evolution for our healthcare system, with your care remaining unchanged and provided by our dedicated team.

Completing this plan will help preserve essential services, support local jobs, and strengthen our ability to serve the community effectively, ensuring you continue receiving the healthcare you trust for years to come.

New Services and Accreditations
At the start of 2024, the North Country Orthopaedic Group (NCOG) established the NCOG Wound Care Center in Watertown, led by Maryellen Blevins, PA-C, MPAS, DMSc.

This new center expands our essential wound care services alongside the Rev. Thomas T. Patterson Wound Healing Center in Ogdensburg (the region’s only hyperbaric oxygen therapy accredited by the Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society).

Dr. Adam Jarrett joined the Patterson Wound Care team, further strengthening our services. Together, these centers ensure that patients across the North Country have access to comprehensive wound care.

2024 also marked the reaccreditation of the Richard E. Winter (REW) Cancer Center by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) and the American College of Radiology, earning a three-year Center of Excellence designation—the only facility in the region to achieve this distinction.

This accomplishment reaffirms our unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional cancer care.
Central to this commitment is our multidisciplinary approach, achieved through close collaboration with the REW Cancer Center providers and Dr. Ali Gharagozloo from the Claxton Campus Radiology Department.

Additionally, we are excited to welcome back Dr. Alka Srivastava, who brings medical oncology and hematology expertise. Her dedication further strengthens our promise to provide outstanding cancer care for patients across the North Country.

We welcomed board-certified nephrologist Dr. Timi Akins to serve patients at Carthage Area Hospital (CAH) and Claxton Campus, extending the Dr. Ravinder N. Agarwal Renal Center’s advanced services to Jefferson and Lewis Counties.

Additionally, Low-Dose Lung Cancer Screenings — led by board-certified pulmonologist Dr. Francis Lee and powered by AI technology — have been expanded to CAH, facilitating earlier detection and improving patient outcomes.

Recognizing the broader needs of our community, the NSHA has introduced an Addiction and Recovery Program at both CAH and Claxton Campus, offering critical support and treatment for individuals seeking assistance on their recovery journey.

Most recently, in January, the NSHA expanded pediatric care in the region by opening the North Star Pediatrics (NSP) clinic in Watertown.

The clinic’s devoted providers, Dr. Josiree Ochotorena, Dr. Fernando Ongkingco III, Dr. Sandra Timerman, and Joyce Ndungu, DNP, FNP-C, offer personalized pediatric care that families can rely on.

In addition to expanding our service offerings, we welcomed several new providers to our healthcare family, each bringing specialized expertise to enhance patient care.

Elizabeth Verno, FNP-C, has joined the Diabetes, Osteoporosis, and Endocrine Center, where she specializes in endocrinology.

At the Canton Health Center, Kaileigh Bonno, FNP-C, will provide comprehensive family medicine services.

Our Claxton Campus Orthopedics department is now strengthened by the addition of Meagan Cooper, FNP-C, and Dr. Bartlomiej Szczech, MD, enhancing our orthopedic care capabilities.

Additionally, Dr. Emily Szczech, DO, has joined the General Surgery team at Claxton Campus, bringing her expertise to further support our surgical services.

Grant Funding
As part of our ongoing efforts to provide the highest level of patient-centered care across the tri-county region, members of the NSHA were awarded significant grant funding to expand specialized services.

A $5 million grant from the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) will fund the expansion of the Elizabeth May Duvall Children & Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit — the region’s sole inpatient center dedicated to the mental well-being of children and adolescents.

Additionally, a $6 million grant from OMH will enable Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center to establish a Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP), creating the region's only dedicated psychiatric emergency department and easing the burden on standard emergency rooms.

Claxton Campus was awarded a federal grant to establish an innovative Operations Centers at CAH and Claxton Campus.

These centers will collect, process, and analyze real-time data, enabling our teams to make swift, informed decisions that ensure timely and effective patient care.

With the implementation of advanced bed management systems, NSHA aims to reduce emergency department wait times and the time patients spend waiting for a hospital bed.

The Operations Center will now serve as the NSHA dispatch center for our ambulance and emergency services. Together, these initiatives will ultimately provide our community with faster access to vital treatments and services.

Additionally, CAH and CHMC received a combined $1 million grant to incorporate Healthy Steps providers into the pediatrics clinics across the NSHA health system.

Healthy Steps is designed to offer comprehensive preventive care and early intervention services for children, promoting their overall health and well-being.

This program provides families access to essential resources and support, ensuring that young patients receive timely care to foster healthy development and promptly address emerging health concerns.

Looking Ahead: A Year of Growth, Innovation, and Continued Excellence
As we look to 2025 and beyond, the communities of the North Country can trust in the unwavering commitment of all our member organizations within the North Star Health Alliance.

Carthage Area Hospital, Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, Claxton-Hepburn Medical Campus, the North Country Orthopaedic Group, and Meadowbrook Terrace Assisted Living are committed to defending healthcare in our region.

Whether it’s a swift visit to the emergency room, the convenience of our walk-in clinics or mobile units, specialized treatment at our cancer and wound care centers, or supportive living at Meadowbrook Terrace, our pledge remains steadfast.

We are excited about the many advancements and expansions planned for the year ahead.

From the introduction of new healthcare programs and the integration of cutting-edge technologies to the continued growth of our specialized services, members of the NSHA are poised to enhance the quality of life for our community through comprehensive, patient-centered healthcare.

We want to express our profound gratitude to our dedicated team—including our employees, medical staff, foundation members, auxiliary teams, hospital foundation, and board of directors.

Your unwavering commitment, along with the strong support from our community, is the driving force behind our ability to provide exceptional patient-centered healthcare services right here in your hometown.

Together, we look forward to a year of growth, innovation, and continued excellence, reinforcing our role as your trusted neighborhood healthcare system.