Million dollar-plus improvements underway at Bucktail Medical Center

SOUTH RENOVO, PA – The full $1.34 million upgrade for the Bucktail Medical Center is one step closer to reality after the Clinton County Revolving Loan Fund board has given its approval to a low interest loan to the South Renovo health care facility.

A $300,000 loan fund approval came at the RLF board meeting Friday and the request now goes to the Clinton County Commissioners for final approval.

The loan will go towards a series of BMC improvements. The bulk of the overall $1.34 million cost is coming from a USDA Emergency Rural Health Care grant. BMC applied for, and was awarded, the maximum grant of $1 Million. The RLF loan has been approved by the local SEDA-COG board.

According to Tim Reeves, BMC Administrator/Chief Executive Officer, there are several components to the projects included in the USDA grant.

• Rehabilitate four patient rooms in the hospital wing that have been damaged from a leak in the roof.
• Complete replacement of that roof covering the hospital wing.
• Replacement of the heating boilers in the original building – nearing 45 years old – and some associated equipment.
• Replacement of some water piping in the hot water return line that has been leaking.
• Purchase of medical equipment including a portable X-Ray machine.
• Purchase of an ambulance and equipment.

As Reeves explained, “The total cost of these projects is $1.34 million, so our responsibility is about $340,000. BMC has applied for a low interest $300,00.00 loan through the revolving loan program to help cover our portion of the costs. The remainder will be covered by other grants like the Clinton County Community Foundation grants for a cardiac monitor and a power loader for the ambulance. Securing a loan is the final step in implementing these projects.”

Reeves said work on the hospital wing has already started with removal of damaged drywall, ceiling tile, flooring, and other components. The roof replacement project is currently out for bid, and the design phase of the heating boiler and water line replacement is nearly complete. Purchase orders have been submitted for the medical equipment.

Originally, Reeves said, the ambulance was not part of this project. “With many ambulance services struggling to survive, we felt it necessary to ensure the hospital had ambulance services available and eliminated a different project to include an ambulance: Patient safety is jeopardized if we are not able to transfer critically ill patients.”

As for the planned ambulance service, Reeves said, service presently is being provided between Renovo and South Renovo, but “we are unsure how long Renovo plans to continue services. I’m putting a soft target date of April 30, 2023, to have our service operational.”

Currently, the lead time to purchase an ambulance can exceed two years. Reeves said BMC was fortunate, however, to find an ambulance that was scheduled for production but that had not yet been spoken for: “We put a down payment on that unit. The ambulance has finished production and is at Phase 2 Vehicle Specialties in Williamsport awaiting delivery to the medical center.”

Reeves finished, “We are excited to complete these projects in preparation for finalizing and implementing a master plan designed to transform the medical center into a facility that can meet the medical needs of our communities for the next twenty years.”