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mmcilwain@sungazette.com
HARRISBURG The state Department of Health has made many efforts in mitigating the spread of the virus and to protect staff and residents of long-term care facilities during the ongoing pandemic, including direct assistance during outbreaks, education and resources for vaccinations as well as personal protective equipment.
“We knew early on that this group (seniors) was going to be particularly vulnerable so we took immediate steps to protect them,” said DOH Executive Deputy Secretary, Keara Klinepeter. “The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many Pennsylvanians, but the most significantly affected have been our vulnerable seniors and other individuals in long-term care facilities.”
Bucktail Medical Center (Soure: BMC Facebook)
EDITOR’S NOTE: Timothy J. Reeves has witnessed the pandemic on the front lines of the rural American health-care system. What follows are his personal reflections on that experience.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are the author’s views only and do not in any way reflect the views and opinions of the medical center, its board of directors, staff, other affiliated persons, or anyone directly or indirectly referenced within.
Bucktail Medical Center
Bucktail Medical Center is a 43-bed Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF), 16-bed Critical Access Hospital (CAH) community Rural Health Clinic (RHC), and Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance service. Located in the middle of Pennsylvania’s northern tier and within the Pennsylvania Wilds; BMC is likely the most remote health care facility in the state. The hospital dates back to 1909 as Renovo Hospital. In 1979 the facility was moved across the West Branch of the Susqueha
From staff reports
SOUTH RENOVO Bucktail Medical Center Nursing Facility was on day 11 on Tuesday with no new positive residents and staff, its CEO told The Express.
“Our goal is to be 14 days with no new resident or staff positives so we can return to ‘normal, ” said Timothy J. Reeves.
Reeves provided The Express with an update on the situation at the facility in western Clinton County, where there was an outbreak of COVID-19.
“On Dec. 29, the date of our first positives, we moved from testing all residents and staff twice weekly to testing all negative residents and staff daily. We will continue daily testing at least until we achieve 14 consecutive days with no new positives,” he said.