OGDENSBURG \u2013 More than 100 employees at North Star Health Alliance are without work after the organization announced sweeping layoffs Monday.<\/p>\n
Multiple employees were escorted out of Claxton-Hepburn Medical Campus throughout the day.\u00a0 Some had been employed at the hospital for decades.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s something hospital administrators and state officials failed to avoid, despite claims on both sides in recent months that they were working toward a solution that would\u00a0 allow stalled state funding to flow again.<\/p>\n
North Star also operates Carthage Area Hospital.<\/p>\n
\u00a0At about 4 p.m. a town hall meeting was held for employees who remained.\u00a0 They were told that 120 jobs would be cut by Wednesday. They were also told that union and hourly employees would receive paychecks, but it was unclear if funds would be available to cover salaried employees.<\/p>\n
Those in attendance told North Country This Week that questions were not permitted at the meeting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Administrators said the cuts were not made lightly, but would allow the hospital to continue operations despite the continued stalled funding from the Department of Health.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese decisions are incredibly difficult, and we recognize the impact they have on our staff and the communities we serve,\u201d Richard Duvall, President and CEO of North Star Health Alliance, said. \u201cOur focus is to support affected team members while realigning resources to support consistent care delivery across the system.\u201d<\/p>\n
Major cuts<\/strong><\/p>\n Those who lost their jobs include employees who had worked at the hospital for decades, as well as several doctors and providers who have served the community for generations. Although several of former employees spoke with North Country This Week, none were ready to go on record as they were still reeling from the news.<\/p>\n The cuts were organizationwide and included employees at both the Carthage and Ogdensburg hospitals. However, the exact number of employees affected and how services will be impacted remained unclear. Duvall said the cuts were split roughly 50-50 between the two locations, but additional details were limited.<\/p>\n \u201cWe understand patients may have questions about how these reductions impact care delivery and health care services,\u201d a prepared statement from the organization said. \u201cWhile reductions span multiple departments, our focus remains on ensuring patients can access the care they need. During this time, we are committed to supporting impacted employees and our patients.\u201d<\/p>\n News of problems circulated Friday afternoon, when\u00a0 employees who requested anonymity out of concern they could lose their jobs reported that Claxton-Hepburn Medical Campus was unable to purchase supplies and had been cut off by various vendors.<\/p>\n In response to questions about potential clinic closures, Duvall said North Star is evaluating service lines and clinic offerings across the system to better streamline operations and support long-term sustainability.<\/p>\n \u00a0“Any changes that involve discontinuing or closing a service must follow required State review and approval processes. If any such changes occur, affected patients will be notified directly and supported with referrals as needed, access to medical records, and care transition planning,” he said.<\/p>\n Duvall said employees who lost their jobs remain eligible for COBRA insurance coverage, but no additional severances outside of contractual obligations were provided.<\/p>\n