North Star Health Alliance

04/21/2026

It's Health Information Professionals Week, April 20–24, and we're shining a spotlight on the outstanding Medical Records teams at Carthage Area Hospital and Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center/Campus.

Health Information professionals play a crucial role in keeping our healthcare system running smoothly. They protect patient data, ensure accuracy, and make sure information is available when it matters most. Their work strengthens the care we deliver across the North Star Health Alliance community.

We're grateful for the expertise, precision, and dedication these teams bring to every patient encounter. Thank you for everything you do.

04/21/2026

Please note: The Carthage Area Hospital Walk-In Clinic will be closing early at 5 p.m. this evening.

If your child needs care, North Star Pediatrics Pediatric Urgent Care in Watertown is open until 8 p.m. for patients from newborn through 18 years of age. No appointment is required.

📍 1571 Washington Street, Suite 107, Watertown
📞 315.788.2211

Thank you for your understanding.

04/21/2026

Join Us for the 48th Annual Edward I. Moses– St. Lawrence County Cancer Fund Walk/Run for Life!

The Richard E. Winter Cancer Center invites you to join our community and us on Sunday, April 26th, for a day of hope, support, and local impact.

Participate at St. Lawrence University in Canton or the Potsdam Elks Club.
🕘 Registration: 9:00 AM
🚶‍♀️ Walk/Run: 10:00 AM

Since 1979, the Edward I. Moses Walk/Run for Life has helped lead the fight against cancer right here in St. Lawrence County. Thanks to generous local business sponsors, participants receive prizes, goodie bags, and t‑shirts—and every dollar raised stays local to support cancer education, prevention, early detection, and diagnostic programs.

Learn more or register at walkrunforlife.com.

💙 Can't participate? You can still support the cause:
• PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1355523
• Venmo:

We appreciate every step, share, and donation that helps strengthen cancer care in our community.

04/20/2026

The Richard E. Winter Cancer Center was honored to receive a special visit from North Country Science and Technology (NCSTEP) students today.

Led by Leigh-Anne RedFern and Mary Stickney, the students delivered handmade pipe‑cleaner flower arrangements to share encouragement with our patients and caregivers. Their thoughtful gesture brought warmth and positivity to our Center.

Mother Nature may be trying to hold on to the winter outside, but thanks to the students at North Country Science and Technology (NCSTEP), spring has sprung at the CTC!! 💐

Leigh-Anne RedFern and her colleague Mary Stickney stopped by today with a couple of students, to spread some cheer and deliver handmade pipe cleaner flower arrangements for patients and caregivers!

04/20/2026

Ready to swap the retail rush for clinical impact? 🏥💊
We're hiring a Part-Time Pharmacist at Carthage Area Hospital!

If you're a retail pharmacist looking to pivot into a clinical setting, or a hospital pharmacist seeking a better balance, this is for you.

The Highlights:
✅ Schedule: 3 Days/Week | 10-Hour Day Shifts
✅ Balance: NO Weekends
✅ Focus: High-acuity, Drips, & Rehab/Swing Bed therapies
✅ Growth: Potential to develop into a Full-Time role
✅ Pay: $64.07 – $84.89/hour

Why Join Us?
Leave the stress behind and work in a small, supportive environment where you can focus on medication reconciliation, meaningful patient care, and being an integral part of the clinical team.

Transitioning from Retail?
We will train the right candidate on IV Laminar Flow Hoods and clinical protocols. Your experience matters, and we are ready to help you grow!

📍 Location: Carthage Area Hospital | Carthage, NY
https://pm.healthcaresource.com/cs/claxtonhepburn/ #/job/7402
ID: Req # 7446

Carthage Area Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applications from minorities, females, individuals with disabilities, and veterans.

04/20/2026

Celebrating Laboratory Professionals Week 2026! 🌟🔬
April 19-25, 2026

Behind every diagnosis is a team of dedicated professionals working together across the many branches of the medical laboratory. From phlebotomy, blood bank, hematology, chemistry, bacteriology, pathology, and more.

At North Star Health Alliance, we honor the exceptional lab teams at Carthage Area Hospital and Claxton-Hepburn Medical Campus who bring accuracy, collaboration, and purpose to every test and every patient.

Your teamwork transforms complex science into life-changing answers. We appreciate you today and every day!

04/17/2026

Junior Scrubs Club continued yesterday for Harrisville Central School second graders, in partnership with Carthage Area Hospital and the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization.

For day two, students spent time with Blair Bulluck, RN, Director of the Emergency Department at Carthage Area Hospital, who shared more about the important role the ED plays in caring for the community. Students learned about the different reasons people may come to the Emergency Department and how the team works to help patients of all ages.

During the session, students explored tools used in patient care, including blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, and thermometers. They also put their skills to the test during a Stop the Bleed activity, where they proudly showed just how much pressure they could apply.

Day two gave students a hands-on glimpse into the fast-paced world of emergency care.

04/17/2026

North Star Health Alliance is proud to announce that the Rev. Thomas T. Patterson Wound Healing Center has been awarded the 2025 Healogics® Center of Distinction Award.

This recognition reflects twelve consecutive months of exceptional clinical outcomes, including a patient satisfaction rate above 92 percent.

As part of the Healogics® network of nearly 600 Wound Care Centers®, our Center provides advanced, specialized care for patients with diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, infections, and other chronic wounds. Our team uses evidence-based treatments and advanced wound care modalities that help accelerate healing and improve the quality of life for the patients we serve.

Healogics® has been the national leader in advanced wound care for more than 30 years. Guided by its mission to FIND. TREAT. HEAL.™ partners with hospitals and health systems across the country to deliver specialized care for patients with chronic wounds. Its work is supported by the world's largest wound care outcomes database and the Wound Science Initiative, which continues to advance research and set new standards in healing.

Jamieka Stull, System Director of Wound Services at North Star Health Alliance, shared: "This recognition marks our eighth consecutive year as a Healogics Center of Distinction and reflects our team's unwavering commitment to excellence in advanced wound care."

We extend our gratitude to our dedicated physicians and clinicians, and patients who trust us with their care. Your support helps us continue delivering exceptional wound-healing services to our community.

04/16/2026

Know a nurse or staff member who truly makes/made a difference? We invite you to help us recognize the compassion, dedication, and excellence demonstrated across our organization by nominating them for a DAISY 🌼 or BEE 🐝 Award.

The DAISY Award was established in 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who passed away at age 33 from complications of an autoimmune disease. During his eight-week hospitalization, Patrick's family was deeply moved by the extraordinary compassion and skilled care provided by his nurses. To honor his memory and express their gratitude, they created the DAISY Foundation to celebrate nurses who provide exceptional, compassionate care.

The DAISY Award honors licensed nursing professionals, including registered nurses, nursing faculty, and nursing students. Anyone who has witnessed extraordinary nursing care may submit a nomination, including patients, families, colleagues, physicians, and other staff members.

The BEE Award celebrates and honors the exceptional skills and compassion demonstrated by our non-nursing staff every day. BEE stands for Being Excellent Every Day and acknowledges the strength behind teamwork, because a DAISY cannot thrive without a BEE, and a BEE cannot thrive without a DAISY.

North Star Health Alliance is proud to be a DAISY and BEE Award partner, recognizing our nurses and non-nursing staff with this special honor.

Your nomination helps highlight the remarkable work happening every day. You can submit your nomination for either Award using the link below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe76QgnZRQ0lMM5y46X6kxqkS9huhkJmtl38WQKoinScWuPWA/viewform

Thank you for helping us recognize excellence and compassion across NSHA!

04/15/2026

Excellence in emergency care deserves recognition, and Carthage Area Hospital's (CAH) Emergency Department has earned it!

Carthage Area Hospital's Emergency Department was recently recognized as a 4-Star Emergency Department for Overall Quality of Care by Professional Research Consultants, Inc. (PRC), a healthcare experience improvement company serving more than 2,800 healthcare organizations nationwide.

This honor reflects the team's ongoing commitment to compassionate, high-quality care for the patients and families who count on them. Congratulations to the CAH Emergency Department on this outstanding achievement.

04/15/2026

April is Occupational Therapy Month

This month, North Star Health Alliance is proud to recognize the occupational therapists and certified occupational therapy assistants who make a difference every day at Carthage Area Hospital and Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center and Claxton Campus.

This year’s theme, "Enriching LIVES through meaningful engagement," reflects the heart of occupational therapy. OTs and COTAs help people build, regain, and maintain the skills needed for everyday life, from bathing, dressing, and eating to returning to work, school, hobbies, and the routines that matter most.

Occupational therapy can support patients through:
• Activities of daily living
• Adaptive equipment recommendations
• Caregiver and family training
• Daily routine planning
• Return to work, school, and leisure activities
• Memory, concentration, and executive functioning strategies
• Falls prevention, home safety, and accessibility

Across all ages and stages of life, OT teams help patients work toward greater independence, confidence, safety, and function.

Thank you to our OTs and COTAs for the care, encouragement, and expertise you bring to patients and families every day. Your work truly helps enrich lives through meaningful engagement.

04/14/2026

Junior Scrubs Club is underway for Harrisville Central School second graders.

Hosted by Carthage Area Hospital in partnership with the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization, the program began today with a fun, hands-on introduction to healthcare. Sessions will continue Tuesday through Thursday, wrapping up with a tour of Carthage Area Hospital on May 1.

For their first day, students got "scrubbed up" and learned about the importance of hand hygiene. Using Glo Germ spray and black lights, they were able to see just how far germs can spread when someone sneezes into their hands. They also played Medical Bingo, where they learned about common hospital supplies and equipment.

Day one set the stage for a great few weeks of learning, discovery, and hands-on fun!