Bucktail Medical Center Open House; Bankruptcy Ending; CT Scanner Coming
SOUTH RENOVO – A year ago there were community concerns that western Clinton County’s Bucktail Medical Center may be closing its doors. Enmeshed in federal Chapter 11 bankruptcy, rumors circulated the days could be numbered for the medical center, a needed and valued longtime community institution.
But the Bucktail Medical Center has survived to the point it is about to leave bankruptcy protection and move ahead with the installation of a CT Scanner, equipment which will improve service to the greater Renovo area community.
The momentous occasion was marked Monday with what administrator Tim Reeves called a “Moving Forward” Open House. Reeves said BMC hoped to be out of Chapter 11 by Monday’s community event but the medical center is still awaiting paperwork from the bank to make it official. The open house was also a chance to show the progress toward getting the new CT Scanner and to host a job fair for people looking for employment. The program recognized the end of a two-year process to work through the bankruptcy that began on October 2, 2015.
In an era of hospital consolidations, Reeves talked of the medical center’s stand-alone status, not affiliated with any other hospital. He said they are a community-owned hospital, meaning community members can buy a membership which makes them a corporate board member; corporate board members have an annual meeting every April. Any major decision goes before these members for voting. From among this group an Operating Board is elected; the Operating Board members meet monthly and make decisions regarding the operation of the facility.
Reeves detailed for The Record three revenue-generating plans in the works as the Bucktail Medical Center moves out of Chapter 11:
1) CT Scanner. Demolition work is underway; they took two hospital rooms that were connected with a bathroom and removed the bathroom and gutted the two rooms to make it one big room where the CT Scanner will be located. The room will house both the CT Scanner and a control booth for the technician.
BMC has secured an agreement with Captive Radiology. Captive Radiology will provide the refurbished 16 slice scanner, install the equipment, provide service and maintenance, and train BMC staff to use the scanner. BMC is ready to move ahead as soon as the bank papers are signed and they exit Chapter 11. An engineer is currently working on the plans for the project to submit for approval.
With a CT Scanner in Renovo, patients can be diagnosed more quickly, treatment can start earlier, and patient outcomes will be improved. The scanner will be available for both inpatient and outpatient use. This will both eliminate the need for travel to have the testing done and will allow the medical center to admit and treat more patients at the medical center.
Reeves talked about the importance of being able to diagnose patients quickly to improve patient outcomes. Aside from the CT Scanner, the hospital has been using a point of care blood analyzer that allows testing right on site for blood chemistries, cardiac enzymes, and other vital tests for patients in the ER, the physician to quickly determine the best treatment options.
2) The medical center will also be implementing a 340-B Pharmacy Program. This program allows the hospital to purchase medications from drug manufacturers at a discount for all outpatient prescriptions through a local retail pharmacy. Both BMC and Mountain View Pharmacy already completed the application process and have been approved to participate in the program. The program provides that there will be no change to patients with prescription coverage and the pharmacy will be paid a fee to dispense the medications equal to their current cost; the remainder of the discount will come to the medical center as revenue.
340-B programs can be designed to meet the needs of the communities they serve. Because of this flexibility, patients with no prescription coverage will also be offered a discount so they can get medications they might not be able to afford otherwise. This program design will generate income for BMC while helping uninsured community members.
3) BMC is working to get the Clinic certified as a Rural Health Clinic, a process that is estimated to take about nine months. Certification will allow the medical center to get a higher reimbursement for both Medicare and Medicaid patients, again with no cost increase to the patient. These higher reimbursements will also offer new revenue to the medical center.
It is his belief that with these three programs in place it will generate additional revenue the medical center never had before, providing a dependable and steadier stream of revenue.
Visitors to the open house noticed many recent improvements. When you walk in the doors you are greeted by new colors and finishes. More than 40 Dominion employees volunteered their time and painted the walls, adding some color that makes a more pleasant atmosphere, refaced the nurses station and the reception desk, and moved a lot of equipment and supplies to storage to help clean up to make better use of their workshop.
The walls feature beautiful artwork which was created by and/or donated by local residents and artists. The medical center plans to display art by local community members to highlight the talent in our community.
Reeves started the position of Administrator on August 15, 2014, just a little over three years and he said “while the progress has been a little slower than we hoped, we (George Gerber, the Chief Financial Officer and I) want to do our best to make sure it is done right. We have already completed a lot of the background work for the three projects and believe we can get them implemented pretty quickly”.
Once again, Tim expressed his appreciation to both community members and organizations that work hard to support the medical center.
