Crozer-Chester, Taylor Hospital closure announcement draws swift response from workers, officials
Crozer-Chester, Taylor closure announcement produces strong reaction from workers, officials
The Pennsylvania Attorney General is urging the owner of Crozer Health system to find another way to stay open as workers, elected officials turned out to protest the closure announcement.
CHESTER, Pa. - Healthcare workers and elected officials are demanding accountability after Prospect Medical Holdings announced they would be closing Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Chester and Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park.
The latest decision comes after the California-based company filed for bankruptcy protection back in January.
They claim there is only enough money to keep hospitals open through March 14th.
Signs were held high on the lawn across from Crozer-Chester Medical Center in response to Prospect Medical Hold’s announcement to close Crozer-Chester and Taylor Hospital, in Ridley Park, this month.
Hospital workers, unions, elected officials gather to protest after Crozer, Taylor Hospital closure announcement
Paramedics and nurses spoke of the loss of 3,000 jobs and the community they say will be in a healthcare desert with other hospitals 20 or more minutes away.
Dozens of hospital workers, unions and elected officials gathered to protest what they called, "…a reckless decision."
Paramedics and nurses spoke of the loss of 3,000 jobs and the community they say will be in a healthcare desert with other hospitals 20 or more minutes away.
Crozer-Chester Medical Center navigating parent company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing
After Crozer Health System’s parent company declared bankruptcy, Crozer-Chester Medical Center is experiencing impacts to its ambulance service, hospital overcrowding, and will no longer accept new patients.
What they're saying:
"These closures are alarming and deeply unsettling for all of us," said Kate Denney who is a paramedic for Crozer Community Health System and the union president for Crozer Paramedics. She led a press conference outside Crozer-Chester Medical Center Thursday afternoon after the closure announcement.
"Now what is the staff going to do?" said State Rep. Carol Kazeem.
"It's going to cost a lot of lives and a lot of jobs," said Matt Pulinka who is the acting president of Taylor Nurses United.
The press conference consisted of health professionals, including nurses and paramedics. Elected officials stood in solidarity.
"In 2020, we were looking at the heroes that we used to talk about when COVID hit. I didn't forget," said Senator John Kane as the crowd applauded.
This past January Prospect Medical Holdings filed for bankruptcy protection. Prospect officials were back in court Thursday reportedly stating there is enough money to keep hospitals open until March 14th. Officials pointed out the announcement Thursday seemed imminent years ago.
"We have been fighting closures by Prospect for over three years, since the first closure of maternity and NICU services at Delaware Memorial Hospital in January of 2022," said State Rep. Leanne Krueger.
MORE RELATED COVERAGE:
- Ridley Park property taxes raised 17 percent to offset unpaid hospital taxes
- Delaware County in 'emergency response situation' as Crozer Health threatens more closures
- Delaware County passes emergency ordinance in response to recent Crozer Health closures
- Delaware County hospital gives families one-week notice before closing hospice unit
Others had harsh words for Prospect Medical Holdings, Crozer's for-profit owners.
"This announcement comes after Prospect Medical Holdings literally sold this land from out from under us. The asset that was an asset of this system, to pay themselves $440 million in dividends," said Krueger.
"There is no place in healthcare for private equity. I thoroughly believe that for-profit does not belong in health care," said Dr. Monica Taylor, chair of the Delaware County Council.
"We have stayed the course and we will continue to stay the course. They will not close these doors," yelled Peggy Malone a registered nurse and president of Crozer Nurses.
Delaware County Council responded to the announcement in a statement, saying in part:
"Our county government has spent months hard at work to prepare for the possibility that these hospitals would be closed. We remain committed to an orderly, calm and comprehensive process to helping ensure patients are transferred to other facilities that can provide the care they need."
FOX 29 reached out to Prospect Medical Holdings, and are waiting to hear back from them.
What's next:
The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office says a meeting with all parties is set for Sunday. A statement read in part, "Our office remains fully engaged in doing what it takes to save this healthcare system, and we hope all parties are considerate of the immense harm inflicted by a closure."
The Source: Information for this article was provided by Crozer Chester Medical staff, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, local and state elected officials.