Bucktail Medical Center Future Optimistic

by Barbara Mastriania

SOUTH RENOVO – Bucktail Medical Center officials presented an optimistic picture of the future for the medical facility during a recent public meeting.

It was a brighter outlook follow-up to a somber meeting some months ago when BMC board of directors said there was concern the center would have to file for bankruptcy. The board did not file for bankruptcy, but there was the need to have that option available if needed, a board member said.

Administrator Timothy Reeves said vendor payables are current and progress has been made with some vendors to work out payment arrangements.

Some therapy services have been brought back in house and other contract arrangements allow more equitable arrangements for Bucktail Medical Center. Housekeeping and maintenance services are in house and David Knauff has been promoted to director of environmental services.

BMC is proceeding to be able to provide services for veterans.

Reeves said employees have been very generous and understanding. In the past in December employees would cash out unused vacation days. This past December the amount of vacation time cashed in was twenty percent compared to previous years.

Reeves said that in 105 days, BMC has completed a formal organization plan, brought services back in house, is looking to add services it can provide, and has plans to bring in specialists on a regular basis.