On Tuesday afternoon, Thompson along with representatives of Bucktail Medical, its board of directors and municipal and county officials gathered at the facility in South Renovo, where he officially announced it would receive $262,740 in federal funding to help modernize its infrastructure.

The funding, which was secured by Thompson through Community Project Funding for 2026, will be used for radiology upgrades and new patient beds.

According to Thompson, the medical center will see its radiology room improved through wiring and its patient table and ten patient beds would be replaced with new, modernized beds and mattresses.

“I was pleased to secure this funding for Bucktail to enhance the delivery of health care services to the community,” Thompson said Tuesday morning. “I spent nearly 30 years working in rural health care before coming to Congress. I understand the benefit of increasing both patient safety and experience. I’m grateful for Bucktail and the care they provide to the surrounding communities.”

LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS U.S. Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson is pictured with local officials following a press conference on Tuesday. They are, from left, Clinton County Commissioner Jeff Snyder, Thompson, Bucktail Medical Center CEO Laura Murnyack, Medical Director Dr. Toni Marcheskie, Commissioner Angela Harding, Renovo Mayor Gene Bruno and Commissioner Jim Russo.

Bucktail Medical Center is the only full-service hospital in Clinton County and serves surrounding rural communities including in Cameron, Centre, Clearfield and Potter counties.

Bucktail’s CEO Laura Murnyack and her team thanked Thompson for securing this funding.

“We will be able to improve the patient experience at our facility by making some key upgrades to our radiology equipment and inpatient rooms,” Murnyack said. “Support of our rural healthcare facilities is vital to our rural communities to help ensure essential services and access to care are maintained.”

Murnyack noted the upgrades to Bucktail Medical’s radiology will ensure “earlier detection, more accurate diagnosis and faster treatment decisions.”

The upgrade to inpatient beds, she said, would enhance the safety, dignity and comfort for those they serve and support the hospital’s staff.

LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS U.S. Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson announces that Bucktail Medical Center would receive $262,740 in federal funding to upgrade its radiology equipment and replace 10 inpatient beds at a press conference on Tuesday morning at the hospital.

She also emphasized that access to healthcare isn’t a luxury, but a necessity, noting rural communities can often face higher rates of chronic disease, lower income, transportation barriers and workforce shortages.

“Without intentional investment those barriers only widen,” Murnyack said.

This access to crucial medical care was emphasized by other officials who spoke at the press conference Tuesday, including Bucktail’s Medical Director, Dr. Toni Marcheskie.

Marcheskie described an instance where access to important medical care in rural areas could have saved the life of her father-in-law living in the rural mid-west.

She explained that he’d suffered a stroke and, due to rain, wasn’t able to be airlifted to a hospital. Ultimately, due to a nearly an hour trip for EMS to get to his home and then another hour to get him to the nearest hospital, he passed away.

LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Bucktail Medical Center CEO Laura Murnyack offers her thanks on behalf of the hospital to Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson after it was announced it would receive over $200,000 in federal funding to upgrade its radiology and replace 10 inpatient beds.

“That is a perfect example of why we need rural healthcare, we need energy, we need this support for our patients,” Marcheskie said.

She said she wished everyone within the healthcare industry would see the importance of supporting rural healthcare much like Thompson and those on the BMC board of directors, its staff and local officials.

She added, with the upgrades to inpatient beds, it would give Bucktail Medical the opportunity to receive patients from areas like Lock Haven and beyond.

In closing, she thanked Murnyack for her dedication to the facility.

“If it wasn’t for our CEO this place would not be here. I’ve never seen anybody in all my years… with the dedication that she has, that sits there and makes sure the bills get paid and the lights stay on. This hospital would have been closed if it wasn’t for Laura stepping into that position,”

LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS U.S. Congressman Glenn "GT" Thompson speaks to county officials and representatives of Bucktail Medical Center following a press conference on Tuesday morning.

Also speaking at the event was Renovo Mayor Gene Bruno and Clinton County Commissioner Angela Harding.

Harding thanked Thompson for the funding award, noting she and her fellow commissioners have been dedicated to help Bucktail Medical since after the pandemic.

“(We) have been steadfast in making sure we are always available for Bucktail Medical Center in any way that we can help in our capacity,” Harding said.

She noted the county’s VA Director Todd Warner and Assistant Director Jeff Croak have been in talks with the Altoona VA Hospital to try and find opportunities to bring to Bucktail Medical Center to promote sustainability.

She also thanked Murnyack for her continued dedication to Bucktail Medical and its staff for continuing to choose a career at the facility as it continues to strive for sustainability.

LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Dr. Toni Marcheskie, medical director at Bucktail Medical Center, speaks about the importance of supporting and growing rural healthcare at a press conference on Tuesday morning.

The hospital’s board of directors also received kudos.

“Your leadership and being here is also very crucial to the success of Bucktail Medical Center,” she said.

In closing, Harding emphasized the mission for staff and local officials in the room — to keep the hospital in the community.

“Let’s all continue to work towards sustainability of Bucktail Medical Center,” she said.

Bruno reflected on his four years serving as mayor.

“I’ve watched this institution struggle and I sit back and watch the teamwork that took place almost immediately,” he said.

He noted the board of directors were quick to contact the county commissioners “who have been in this game since day one” and assisted however they could.

The board also spoke with Senator Cris Dush’s office later on, and soon enough the commissioner, Thompson and others were joining the discussion.

“The bottom line is, anytime there’s any success whatsoever, it is because of the fact that people do work together,” Bruno said.

In his closing remarks, Thompson also touched on Bruno’s statement regarding teamwork.

“It is about making a difference and that takes a team to do that. I’m so appreciative of the team here. From those of you here at the hospital — our medical director, CEO, the county commissioners, the economic partnership, the council here,” he said. “Any one of you could have walked away from this. Let’s use this project as a way to continue to build that momentum for success.”

LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Clinton County Commissioner Angela Harding speaks during a press conference held by Congressman Glenn "GT" Thompson, where he announced Bucktail Medical Center would receive over $200,000 in federal funding to upgrade its radiology and replace 10 inpatient beds.

LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Renovo Borough Mayor Gene Bruno speaks about the teamwork that he's witnessed over the last four years to ensure Bucktail Medical Center's sustainability during a press conference held by Congressman Glenn "GT" Thompson on Tuesday morning.