Rochester Regional Health - St. Lawrence Region

02/24/2026

Teamwork that goes far beyond the court! 👏

The Potsdam High School Section X Volleyball Team served up some kindness by donating thoughtful care packages to our Center for Cancer Care at Canton-Potsdam Hospital. These gifts, funded through their breast cancer awareness t‑shirt sales, will bring comfort to patients during treatment. We’re sending a heartfelt shoutout to Jasmine, Nora, Becca, Charlotte, Lucy, Shayne, Mazzy, and Coach Sidney Outman for their generosity and compassion.

Moments like these remind us how fortunate we are to be part of such a caring and connected community. Thank you, Potsdam Volleyball, for your support! 🏐🩵

02/19/2026

Empowering recovery, one step at a time. 🌟

We're honored to have received the 2025 Health Equity Innovation Award from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. This award is helping fund our innovative "Living in Balance" pilot project, empowering Certified Peer Recovery Advocates to guide others on their journey to sustainable recovery.

Together, we're making strides towards a healthier, more equitable community. 🩵

02/16/2026

What you don't notice... can matter most.🫁 🩺

When Fred Hartford went in for a routine lung screening, he felt completely fine. But that simple check‑up caught Stage 1 lung cancer, early enough to treat while it was still small and contained. With the help of the Ion robotic‑assisted bronchoscopy system, our team was able to reach a tiny, hard‑to‑access lung nodule with pinpoint precision.

At Canton‑Potsdam Hospital, Pulmonologist Rishi Kumar, MD, was influential in introducing this advanced robotic technology to the St. Lawrence Region. With coordinated care between CPH and Rochester General Hospital, Fred received answers quickly and the treatment he needed at just the right time.

Fred’s story is a powerful reminder: don’t put off that screening.

If your provider recommends one, take that step. It could save your life, just like it did for Fred. 🩵

🔗 Read Fred’s full story at the link below.

02/13/2026

Spreading love across the North Country! 💌

This Valentine's Day, our patients will receive an extra dose of care thanks to handmade cards from local students.

A big thank you to our local elementary schools, Lawrence Avenue, Bantry, and Gouverneur, for their heartfelt effort in bringing joy to our community. 🩵

02/10/2026

Big thanks to St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union for their incredible $10,000 donation and ongoing support for our community! We’re so grateful for partners who help make compassionate, quality care possible for our patients and families. 🩵

St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union proudly presented a $10,000 donation to the St. Lawrence Health Foundation as part of our $50,000, five-year pledge, including sponsorship of the Visitor Lounge to support the care and comfort of patients, families, and our greater community.

St. Lawrence FCU remains deeply committed to strengthening the communities we serve, recognizing that access to compassionate, high-quality healthcare is essential to the well-being of our members and neighbors.

Pictured from left to right: St. Lawrence Health President Donna McGregor; St. Lawrence FCU Board Director John (Dick) Durkin; St. Lawrence FCU President & CEO Amber Taylor; St. Lawrence FCU VP of Operations Michelle Carkner; St. Lawrence FCU VP of Lending Ashlee Crosby; and St. Lawrence FCU Vice Chairman of the Board Dale Coats.

02/02/2026

Rochester Regional Health’s St. Lawrence Region is temporarily relocating laboratory and medical imaging registration within the EJ Noble Building at 80 East Main Street, Canton.

🔹 Registration will move from the main floor to the lower level, accessible through the rear entrance.
🔹 When entering the parking lot, take the first right and follow the drive around the right side of the building to the lower level parking and entrance.
🔹 Team members and clear signage will be on-site to guide patients and visitors.

This temporary move supports ongoing facility upgrades. We’ll share updates as they become available.

Thank you for your patience as we work to improve your care experience.

01/30/2026

A transformative grant is helping to ensure more patients will have access to infusion therapy, right here in the North Country. 🩺🩵

Thanks to the support of the St. Lawrence County Cancer Fund, our Center for Cancer Care at Canton-Potsdam Hospital is expanding oncology infusion services. That means more access and a better overall experience for patients and families across the region.

For a future where every patient feels supported on their journey, We're Here for It. 🌟

{L-R: Director of Oncology, Jerry Sheppard; St. Lawrence County Cancer Fund Representative, Dr. Robert Saidel; and St. Lawrence Health Foundation Director, Samantha Coffey}

01/27/2026

You don't need to climb a mountain or spend hours outside to get frostbite. 🥶

Frostbite is possible as soon as temps dip below freezing - and faster than you might think.

Watch for signs like:
❗ Red skin with numbness or tingling
❗ Skin turning pale, grayish, or waxy
❗ Skin feeling hard or “wooden”
❗ Blistering after you warm up

What to do if you think it’s frostbite:
✅ Get indoors and warm up slowly
✅ Remove wet clothing, swap into dry layers
✅ Warm the area with body heat or lukewarm water
✅ Do not rub or massage the skin
✅ Skip hot water, heating pads, and fires, burns are easy to miss when you’re numb

Cover all exposed skin when you go outside, even for a quick run to the store. Gloves, a hat, and something over your face go a long way.

⚠️ If symptoms don’t improve after warming, or you see blistering or have severe pain, seek medical care as soon as possible.

For more information on frostbite, hypothermia, and how to tell the difference, see link in comments below. 🔗

01/23/2026

As single-digit temperatures head our way, remember that hypothermia doesn’t look the same in everyone. 🥶❄️

⚠️ Warning signs can show up differently in adults, older children, and especially in infants and very young children. Little ones are at a higher risk for hypothermia and may not show obvious signs right away, which makes close monitoring even more important.

If you think you or someone else may have hypothermia, get to a warm place right away. Head indoors, remove damp clothing, wrap up in blankets, and get medical care as soon as possible.

One of the best ways to stay safe is to dress for the weather. Wear layers, cover exposed skin, and make sure infants and children are bundled up before heading outside.

To learn more about recognizing and treating hypothermia, visit the link in the comments below. 🩵

01/20/2026

Meet our Q3 standouts! 👏

• Gina Bain, MH IT Systems Deployment & Implementation Coordinator
• Jacob Hollis, GH Registered Respiratory Therapist
• Lexi Kennedy, CPH Emergency Department RN
• Christine Pomainville, MH Med/Surg Nursing Assistant
• Jason Randall, CPH Nutrition Services Catering Associate
• Damien Razis, Clinical Network Urgent Care Coordinator RN
• Jennie Young, GH Emergency Department LPN

These ‘Team Members of the Quarter’ were chosen from hundreds of nominations from patients and colleagues filled with stories of kindness, dedication, and going the extra mile.

Congrats to Gina, Jacob, Lexi, Christine, Jason, Damien, and Jennie for going above and beyond for our community. We see you and appreciate you.

01/16/2026

A hockey tradition turned into patient care. 🏒🧸

Collected during Clarkson University’s annual Teddy Bear Toss at a December men's hockey game, these stuffed animals were donated by the Clarkson University Physician Assistant Program to bring comfort to pediatric patients at Canton-Potsdam Hospital.

We’re so grateful to the Clarkson PA students for showing up for our patients with care and compassion. 🩵

01/13/2026

North Country care, global impact. 🩺🌎

Congratulations to Dr. Eyal Kedar for his work as the lead author of a newly published COVID-19 research paper in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, highlighting the role our rural hospitals played in one of the world’s most important COVID-19 clinical trials.

Under the leadership of Dr. Kedar and Dr. Daniel Soule, our St. Lawrence Region became the only true rural hospital system in the international ACTIV-1 trial, enrolling 50 patients and ranking among the top sites.

We’re proud of our St. Lawrence Region team for showing what’s possible when small communities step up in big ways. 🩵

🔗 You can learn more about the study at the link below.