GOUVERNEUR — E.J. Noble Hospital is continuing to work with the state Department of Health to make sure the hospital continues operation.

An announcement about the hospital’s progress is expected shortly, board Chairman Timothy J. Monroe said.

“We’re moving forward,” he said. “We’re going to be here.”

Dr. Monroe, a veterinarian, declined more specifics, and a state Health Department spokesman did not return a call for comment.

The Department of Health shut down the hospital’s lab Sept. 28 because of deficiencies. The closure forced the shutdown of many of the hospital’s functions, including its emergency room and most surgeries.

The Health Department allowed the hospital laboratory, with supervision from Samaritan Medical Center, Watertown, to partially reopen in October, but the blood bank has remained closed.

Samaritan spokeswoman Krista A. Kittle was unavailable Friday to comment on whether an additional partnership with the hospital is possible. Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Potsdam, also has conducted programs with E.J. Noble in the past, but spokeswoman Rebecca J. Faber had little comment on whether an additional alliance is coming.

“I’m not able to comment on an affiliation at this stage,” she said. “We’ll have to see how the talks proceed with the state.”

Thousands of readers like you have made Northern New York Newspapers the number one ranked website* for local news and sports coverage in the north country.

You can continue on to this article in a few seconds, or you can visit one of our websites:

• Watertown Daily Times
• The Ogdensburg Journal
• Daily Courier-Observer