Warren General Hospital is launching the public phase of its Building on Success campaign – and it’s one that the public should support.

The hospital is trying to raise $7 million for technological and facility improvements that include replacement of MRI, CT Scanner, Fluoroscopy, and Ultrasound systems; renovation of the Cancer Center Pharmacy “Clean Room” and elevator replacements and renovations to Warren Medical Group physician offices. For more information, visit www.wgh.org/capital-campaign or contact Rick Allen, who is leading the campaign, at rallen@wgh.org

Local foundations and donors have already begun committing funding to the effort. Now, it’s our turn.

The hospital has received good news from the federal government by attaining a Critical Access Hospital designation that brings long-term higher reimbursements for Medicare and Medicaid care at the hospital. The designation will help the hospital’s bottom line model that allows the hospital to receive higher, cost-based payments from Medicare and Medicaid over time. It also means the hospital can focus more on improving care with bottom-line finances less tenuous now that higher federal reimbursements have been secured.

We’ve seen what’s happening to rural hospitals both in Pennsylvania and around the country. Warren General Hospital is an important piece of health care infrastructure for tens of thousands of people in our region who struggle to travel to Jamestown, Erie or Pittsburgh.

That’s one reason this campaign is so important. WGH fills an important niche in the health care framework in our little corner of the world. These investments will help position Warren General Hospital for the future. They’re worth your support.