LOWVILLE, New York (WWNY) – Jerry Cayer spent nine years leading Lewis County Health System through a pandemic, a rebrand, and the largest modernization in the organization’s 90-year history.
He retired last Tuesday and is looking back on what changed — and what it took to get there.
From general hospital to health system
When Cayer took over as CEO in 2017, the organization was known as Lewis County General Hospital. The board’s primary goals at the time were to revitalize the medical-surgical unit and expand access to primary care. It didn’t take long for Cayer to see a bigger picture.
“At that time it was Lewis County General Hospital. It became very clear to me, we are so much more than a general hospital, and it was this rebranding or doing business as Lewis County Health System, because there are several pieces,” Cayer said.
Pandemic, maternity ward and growth
The COVID-19 pandemic hit during Cayer’s tenure, leading to a two-year pause of the hospital’s maternity ward. The ward reopened in 2023, and the numbers have grown steadily since.
“That first year, if I remember correctly, we might have had about 65 deliveries. But this year, as of last week, we were over 160 deliveries, with quite a line-up for the next several months,” Cayer said.
$32 million modernization
Cayer also oversaw the revitalization of the hospital’s medical-surgical and critical care units and the construction of a new surgical pavilion — a $32 million investment and the largest modernization in the health system’s 90-year history.
Looking back, Cayer said the accomplishments belong to more than just his leadership.
“I’ve heard a lot of ‘thank yous’ and ‘atta boys,’ but at the end of the day, you’re only as good as your board, and I think our health system has been blessed with an incredibly engaged board,” Cayer said.
New CEO named
Jeffery Hellinger has been named the health system’s new CEO. Hellinger previously served as the organization’s chief financial officer.
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