By Matthew Avitabile
MARGARETVILLE — This article begins a series interviewing members of the Margaretville Hospital Board to help bring information to the public about critical services. We are starting with our first of nine board members about the hospital and board.
This week we spoke to Emilie Adams, who has been a member of the Margaretville Hospital Executive Board for five years. She has been chair for two years, previously serving as vice chair.
She paints watercolors, has chickens, ducks, dogs, children, and a husband. She said her husband describes her as “collecting living things that depend on you for survival.” Her family moved to the area in 2014. Adams’ husband is from Wales and Adams was born on the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwa Reservation in Minnesota. She is half Native American, but looks just like her German father.
“Health care was not really a thing,” on the Reservation. We had tribal healers and doctors and dentists that visited the reservation every month.”
Her mother had trained to be a police officer, moving to Portland, Oregon. She had a 25-year fashion career, living and working in Paris, before moving to New York City. Adams met her husband, had kids, and moved Upstate when her kids were young.
Adams said that she is most satisfied when “helping.”
Adams joined the board after being asked to serve by Jim Howie. Her experience as a birth doula and lactation counselor was valued, especially during the pandemic. She had time to serve, working virtually during this period. Adams was interviewed and while she didn’t seek it out, it was a valuable chance to serve the community, she said.
As a birth doula Emilie helps families navigate their healthcare throughout pregnancy, labor, delivery and the first few months postpartum She has done this over the last ten years. She provides “physical but not medical” assistance. She describes herself as a “really trained birth coach.” Emilie is also a certified lactation counselor, helping families nurse and feed their babies.
She said that she enjoys her leadership role but it “isn’t without its challenges.” Serving as chair means that there is a considerable amount of work to ensure people are being heard and needs are being met, for employees, patients, and the broader community.
She serves as co-chair on the Auction Committee, which takes up a significant amount of time but resulted in the very successful art auction, which raised thousands for the hospital. She cites the effort by the board members and Jim Howie’s idea in organizing the auction. Adams utilized her experience in the art world and in New York City art galleries to assist in the project.
The auction is growing annually and “we’re raising real money,” she said.
Adams has multiple conversations each week regarding the hospital and the nursing home.
Joining the board in her mid-40s, there is a significant perspective Adams brings to the table.
“The more diverse the board is,” the better the results, she said. “I’d love to see more diversity on the board.”
Volunteering on the board is a responsibility, but is not too much work for a dedicated volunteer.
The last five years has seen the board accomplish “a lot,” she said. The successes are not always as well-known and often occur “behind closed doors.”
This includes the role of bringing in a helicopter landing pad to simplify the process and shorten time to emergency services. While it was originally seen as “impossible,” the groundbreaking will happen later this summer.
Adams also cited bringing raises to all of the staff at Mountainside and the Hospital.
The board is working on making Primary Care more accessible to local residents. There is an active effort to bring another doctor to the hospital.
Sometimes there is a “lifestyle” difference that may make it more difficult to bring an outside doctor to a rural area, she said. Adams cited her own experience wanting to move from the city to raise her kids. New doctors and medical staff may also seek similar experiences.
“Staffing across healthcare is a big issue,” she said. Adams cited that being closer to New York City means that Margaretville hospital competes with medical centers in the region. Some pay more than locally, she said, which provides a significant challenge. “There’s a big difference between a massive high volume hospital in the city to a small rural critical access hospital like ours. That said, I am so proud of our staff and the services they provide.”
The board member said that the hospital offers a “great ER” and critical care access, as well as being a “safety net” for local care. She cited being part of a health network to help expand access.
“WMC is committed to rural healthcare,” she said. The hospital has a “reciprocal gateway” for certain healthcare access, including a cardiologist who comes up monthly.
“All of our accomplishments over the last few years feel like a big victory to me,” she said. Adams added that there is always a need for increased healthcare access in the area.
The board is also seeking to refurbish the Palen Building, she added.
The role has allowed Adams to meet a number of members of the community she hadn’t known before.
The hospital board is seeking members for volunteer committees, including for the annual art auction. There is a chance to donate, including as a substitute for a birthday gift for friends or family members. Such donations can help raise funds for important facets of the hospital. Goods can also be purchased or donated to the hospital thrift shop. Members of the public are also members on the Hospital Board, which does not require medical experience.
“Basically you have to be a great person who wants to help,” she said.
There are two boards with potential openings: the executive board and the foundation board.
The hospital is a critical access facility partially funded by the government, she said. It’s important to remember that local efforts and those of WMC Health are intended to keep the hospital open and expanded further.
She called the effort to expand a part of the “commitment” by WMC.
Anyone with questions or concerns are welcome to contact Executive Director Mike Hockman anytime about the hospital or nursing home. Members of the board are open to comments and said that anyone can “flag down a board member at the grocery store. Every time I go there I run into at least one board member!.”
“The role of the board is to be the conduit for the community and the staff of the hospital in a bigger network” and a chance to disseminate information back into the community.
“We’re community members,” Adams said.
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