In rural communities, access to dependable healthcare often depends on a small number of local providers and facilities. Keeping those facilities equipped to serve patients safely and comfortably is an important part of maintaining care close to home.
A 2024 grant from the Forest County Unrestricted Endowment helped the Titusville Area Health Center Foundation purchase two reconditioned exam tables for the Tionesta Health Center, a rural primary care clinic serving Forest County residents.
By combining the grant with additional funding sources, the clinic was able to replace aging equipment in two of its busiest exam rooms. The updated tables now support care for approximately 120 patients each month, improving comfort, safety, and accessibility while making examinations easier for both patients and staff.
Exam tables are used throughout nearly every day in a primary care clinic. They need to accommodate patients of different ages, mobility levels, and medical needs. When equipment becomes outdated, even a routine appointment can be less comfortable for a patient and more physically demanding for the staff members assisting them.
“Thanks to this grant, we were able to purchase a new exam table for the Tionesta Health Center, improving both patient comfort and clinical care,” shared Megan Miller, Practice Manager.
The new tables provide a more functional setting for examinations and can make it easier for patients, particularly those with limited mobility, to get into position safely. They also help reduce some of the lifting, reaching, and repositioning required of healthcare staff.
At the Tionesta Health Center, those improvements are experienced repeatedly as patients move through the clinic each month. A more accessible exam table may seem like a modest upgrade, but it affects the comfort and efficiency of appointments throughout the year.
“Support for rural health clinics like Tionesta has a direct and meaningful impact, allowing essential upgrades that improve care in medically underserved communities,” Miller added.
The project addressed a practical need rather than launching a new program or service. That does not make it any less important. Much of the work involved in maintaining quality healthcare happens through updates that patients may not think about until they need them.
For someone with difficulty getting on or off an older table, the difference is immediate. For clinic staff, more functional equipment can make examinations easier to complete and reduce physical strain. For the health center as a whole, replacing aging equipment helps create a safer, more supportive environment for care.
The Titusville Area Health Center Foundation was able to extend the reach of the grant by combining it with other funding sources. That approach allowed the clinic to purchase two reconditioned tables and direct the available resources toward rooms where they would be used most often.
The Forest County Unrestricted Endowment was established in 2010 and originally funded by Bill and Judy McDaid. It supports initiatives, events, services, and other activities identified as community needs in Forest County.
Since 2019, the endowment has awarded 40 grants to 20 unique grantees, distributing a total of $38,620. Because the fund is unrestricted, it can support a range of local priorities rather than being limited to one type of organization or project.
That flexibility allows Bridge Builders Community Foundations to respond to needs that are specific, timely, and sometimes highly practical. In this case, the need was not a large expansion or a new facility. It was the replacement of equipment used every day by local patients and providers.
The result can be seen in two updated exam rooms and in the approximately 120 patients who receive care at the clinic each month. It is the kind of investment that strengthens an existing service and helps a trusted local provider continue meeting the needs of the community.
For Forest County residents, having access to primary care nearby can reduce travel and make routine healthcare more manageable. Supporting the facilities that provide that care helps ensure they have the equipment needed to serve patients safely and effectively.
The grant to the Tionesta Health Center reflects the broader purpose of the Forest County Unrestricted Endowment: to place resources behind needs identified within the community and support improvements that make a practical difference in people’s daily lives.
Those who would like to support the Forest County Unrestricted Endowment may make a gift online or mail a check to Bridge Builders Community Foundations. For more information, contact BBCF at 814-677-8687.
