The Warner Hospital and Health Services Board of Directors earlier this week heard from CEO Paul Skowron on the projected budget for Fiscal Year '22. 

On the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, Skowron indicates the highlight of this year's budget is capital improvements. The hospital is targeting the continued renovation of the emergency room as well as the purchase of a new CT machine.

According to Skowron, COVID dollars are going to allow the hospital to purchase an emergency tent. He calls this not only a response to being better prepared for an event like COVID but also for other public health events that might require its use.

Skowron for some time has had aspirations for planning for a new facility in the community however, he points out COVID has slowed down their plans for that. He indicates they need to focus in the near term on getting people who continue to put off health-related appointments and procedures back to the hospital.

According to Skowron, one of the big changes the healthcare industry is going to have to look at as it relates to future care is telehealth. He indicates this became a very popular form of care during the pandemic and does not see it changing points out the federal government is starting to recognize it as a form of care is reimbursing it now.