Message From Lewis County Health System CEO Gerald R. Cayer, MPH

Dear Friends,

Looking back over the last year, I'm humbled by what the health system team has accomplished for our patients, residents, and the communities we serve.

The new Surgical Pavilion's ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration in November was a significant milestone for the larger community. The state-of-the-art facility doubles the health system's surgical capacity, offers enhanced privacy, and includes advanced technology in one convenient location. It is a testament to our commitment to provide specialty surgical care not only today but in the future. The final phase of modernizing the Medical-Surgical and Critical Care Units was completed in the summer of 2024, further enhancing our ability to provide compassionate care and services.  Additionally, at the Surgical Pavilion ribbon cutting, I had the privilege of announcing the reopening of the Maternity service.

These achievements are possible because of the hard work, innovation, and dedication of over 550 Lewis County Health System employees. Our system's strength lies in our collective teamwork, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to ensuring local access to services and technology appropriate for a small rural health system.

An attestation of our focus on quality, the hospital and lab had impressive accreditation surveys with The Joint Commission (a national accreditation body for quality and safety). The American Heart Association also recognized the hospital with a 'Get with the Guidelines - Rural Stroke Silver' award for efforts to optimize stroke care and eliminate rural healthcare outcome disparities. These accomplishments build on the foundation of the hospital's long-standing commitment to provide safe, quality health care.

Looking ahead, we are fully prepared to meet the changing healthcare needs of our community. We will continue to focus on recruitment of physicians, nurses, CNAs, and staff and invest in technology and facilities to ensure we can meet the needs of our community. The goal is to make Lewis County a healthier place to live.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to the entire LCHS team, Board of Managers, Board of Legislators, volunteers, donors, and the community for their unwavering support and collaboration throughout the capital project. With this transformational project complete, I am confident that it will help us continue to provide quality care today, tomorrow, and for future generations.