BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG -- More than 1,600 healthcare workers, community members and patients are calling on state officials to save the North Star Health Alliance and Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center amid an ongoing crisis with the healthcare provider. 

In a letter circulated to media outlets, 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East wrote that the services offered by the health system are vital lifelines for the North Country, not optional services. 

The letter was delivered to state officials yesterday, Feb. 2. 

"We strongly urge an immediate resolution by any means necessary to maintain services and restore community trust, even if that includes the appointment of a local receiver to stabilize operations," they wrote. 

The letter comes after more than 120 employees were laid off system wide and reports of payroll issues persisting for several weeks now. 

Union reps say the layoffs and closures of rural clinics have caused a loss of income and care access across the region, impacting working families and vulnerable patients. 

"If something is not done urgently, our communities will continue to lose services that determine life or death, including dialysis and cancer treatment," they wrote. 

Officials say the survival of facilities is essential for the community's well-being. 

"CAH and CHMC are safe havens in an area that has long faced economic hardship. Our hospitals are among the last anchors of stability in our region. Closure would trigger countless consequences for public health and economic security in the North Country," they wrote. 

Union representatives say the closure of facilities would cause irreversible harm to the North Country. 

"The future of our region depends on immediate intervention to keep CAH and CHMC open and fully operational. As frontline healthcare workers and patients, we stand ready to work with state and local leaders to ensure these vital institutions survive and continue serving our communities for generations to come," they wrote. 

Attached with the letter was a document containing 1,607 signatures in support of the union. 

“Carthage and Claxton-Hepburn are not optional services for our communities — they are lifelines. Our members and neighbors are calling on the state to step in now, before irreversible harm is done. We are asking for immediate action to keep these hospitals open and fully operational, including appointing a local receiver if that is what it takes to stabilize care and restore trust," 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East said. 

Following mass layoffs and the resignation of CEO Rich Duvall, salaried employees were informed they could see pay delays again. 

"We are continuing to manage a fluid financial situation. Consistent with prior pay periods, we are prioritizing union and non-union hourly employees, followed by salaried staff,” North Star Officials said in a prepared statement.

“At this time, payroll for hourly staff is secured, and we are working diligently to secure the remaining balance for salaried employees. We have notified all staff internally and will continue to provide updates as the situation evolves into next week. “

Officials say they are continuing to work with the Department of Health, but gave no indication as to what might happen next.

The hospital is likely headed to receivership but what exactly that means is unclear at this time. 

North Star Health Alliance maintains that they are sharing what little information is available.

“We also remain in close communication with the Department of Health (DOH) and will continue to work with the DOH as we navigate these evolving circumstances,” North Star said in a prepared statement. “We appreciate your patience as we worked to provide the most updated information. We remain committed to transparency and will continue to provide updates as our situation evolves.”

Silence from state officials suggest the hospital is likely voluntarily heading to receivership but no official statements have been provided by the hospital or Department of Health. 

Receivership could come in various forms, but essentially it entails another organization or group coming in to help “right the ship.”

The hospital could be taken over by another organization or “right-sized” by a temporary team, as has happened at local healthcare facilities in the past. It is also possible that receivership could involve a permanent takeover by another organization and complete rebranding.

Attempts to obtain a timeline for when or if receivership would occur, or whether it would be temporary or permanent, voluntary or involuntary, went unanswered by the Department of Health. Requests for information regarding when an update might be expected also went unanswered.

In St. Lawrence County, Rochester Regional Health is the largest healthcare provider. Other providers include Citizen Advocates and Community Health Center of the North Country.

In Jefferson County, River Hospital and Samaritan Medical Center both provide healthcare.

With no communication from the state, however, it is possible officials could look to providers in Onondaga or Erie County as well. At this time, all options amount to speculation.