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Medical Center’s Cash Flow Dwindles During Impasse

SOUTH RENOVO — A health care facility in Clinton County is looking to cure its budget woes as it waits for money being held up by the state budget impasse...

SOUTH RENOVO -- A health care facility in Clinton County is looking to cure its budget woes as it waits for money being held up by the state budget impasse.

In an emergency, every second counts. For folks in Renovo, Bucktail Medical Center is just a few minutes away. Without it, people may have to drive 40 miles just to get to a hospital. That is part of the reason why administrators at Bucktail Medical Center tell us their center won't close without a fight.

Take a walk through the halls of Bucktail Medical Center in South Renovo and you'll know why the staff here thinks of this place as more than just a hospital.

"It might be a little hospital but we have a gigantic heart and we love it here," said Susan Mills.

"There is a lot of people on this good green earth that wouldn't be walking around on it they would be in it if it weren't for this hospital," said Rod Davis.

Tim Reeves, an administrator at Bucktail Medical Center showed us around.

"This is where we do all the blood tests and that kind of stuff," said Time Reeves.

Reeves is open about the center's financial struggles that started back in 2014.

"We had to file for bankruptcy because of a couple vendors," said  Reeves.

Bucktail Medical Center reorganized its finances and seemed to be back on track financially. Now the state budget impasse threatens to throw the center off track again.

"Now we're facing a situation where we are not getting funds from the government. So it's been hit after hit after it. We've struggled," said Reeves.

Just this week, Bucktail Medical Center received this award for its professional medical care. Right now administration's big goal, save money where it can without ever having patients notice a change here at the hospital.

“We don't need to lose this hospital. Oh, good lord, no," said Gordon Kriner.

Gordon Kriner has lived in the Renovo area his entire life. Now just shy of 95 years old, he lives in a nursing home inside the Bucktail Medical Center where he hopes to stay

"We need this hospital. We need it bad and everything can be done to keep it we have got to do it," said Kriner.

At this point, Bucktail's administrator says closing is not an option. So far no jobs have been lost, but services and employee hours could be cut starting as soon as May. Staff members are urging people who want to keep the facility open to call the governor’s office in Harrisburg.

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