Crozer Health workers demand Pennsylvania hospitals stay open after Prospect announces closure
Hours before a federal bankruptcy judge in Texas authorized Prospect Medical Holdings' plan to close the Crozer Health system in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, health care workers pleaded for the hospitals to remain open while a new owner is found.
Dozens of Crozer Health caregivers and state representatives gathered outside Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland on Tuesday, saying that closing the hospital would "devastate our entire community."
"We have tried everything we could. We've had so many of our legislators out here to help us save this health system and save these patients. I still, in my heart, don't believe it's over," Peggy Malone, a longtime Crozer Behavioral Health nurse and president of the Crozer-Chester Nurses Association, said. "I still, in my heart, believe somebody is going to help us."
Malone, along with other caregivers and state representatives, spoke at Tuesday's news conference before a 2:30 p.m. ET emergency closure hearing in the United States Bankruptcy Court in Northern Texas, where Prospect asked a judge to approve its motion to close Crozer Health.
State Rep. Leanne Krueger (D-161) called on the judge to be the "hero" Crozer needs to keep the health system open. Ultimately, the judge authorized Prospect's plan to close Crozer Health, meaning the California-based health care company can move forward with closing Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Taylor Hospital and an unspecified number of outpatient facilities and practices across Delaware County.
"The road in front of us is now clear with what we have to do," Judge Stacey Jernigan said during Tuesday's hearing. "I just hate the widespread consequences here. I lose sleep over this case. Unfortunately, it looks like the only option before us is closure."
"Today, we know this isn't over. They may close Crozer. We're all very well aware of what the reality here," Malone said, "but this can never happen again in this city, in this state, in this country. For-profit cannot come in and take away all of the rights of the people in a poor community."
On Tuesday afternoon, a Temple University Health System helicopter landed at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, which hospital workers and sources confirmed was the start of transferring patients out of the hospital's burn unit. Sources said that approximately 150 patients remained at Crozer, and nurses in the ER at Taylor Hospital stated that they were still busy.
Prospect Medical Holdings to close Crozer Health hospitals
On Monday, California-based Prospect filed a motion to close the final two hospitals it owns — Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital — as well as an unknown number of outpatient facilities and practices across Delaware County, within 30 days in the United States Bankruptcy Court in Northern Texas.
In an emergency closure hearing on Tuesday, a federal judge authorized Prospect's plan to close the system. During the hearing, attorneys for Prospect claimed that closing the system is the only remaining option. Prospect argued that, due to existing staffing issues, patient care would be at risk if the hospitals were to remain open.
Neither side could agree on terms that would have allowed for a $5 million donation from Penn Medicine to keep the system operating. According to testimony, the system has $19 million on hand. The closing of Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital could cost upwards of $30 million.
Propect expects the full closure of Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland and Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park to be complete within 30 days. Thousands of employees in the Crozer Health system received emails Monday morning notifying them of the shutdown.
According to the motion filed in court, Crozer Health would begin diverting patients from its emergency departments starting at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, while the hospitals would cease inpatient admissions. Patients will be discharged or transferred to other hospitals for further care.
"I don't believe that in this world, where we are struggling so bad with humanity, that nobody sees what we see and how desperate these patients need care," Malone said. "They may say they're closing us, and they're trying to do it so rapidly. What's going on in the building, trying to get patients out and get patients discharged, it's unbelievable."
Three thousand people will be out of work with Crozer Health's closure.
A spokesperson for Prospect said the ambulatory surgery and imaging centers at Brinton Lake, Broomall, Haverford and Media would stay open.
Last week, the University of Pennsylvania announced a $5 million donation to extend negotiations for the sale of the system. However, in a letter from the receiver to hospital employees, it was stated that Prospect was informed that the Penn donation would no longer be available to allow for such an extension of time.
In 2022, Prospect closed the other two hospitals it owned in Delco, Delaware County Memorial Hospital and Springfield Hospital.
What's next for Crozer Health patients?
The closure of Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital means thousands of patients have to find somewhere else to get critical health care. With the two hospitals set to close, Delaware County will have only two emergency rooms remaining: Riddle Hospital in Middletown Township and Mercy-Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby.
The two hospitals are vital parts of their Delco communities. Now, patients must decide whether to follow their doctors to another location or find another provider altogether.
Crozer Chester Medical Center admits 19,000 patients, treats 53,000 emergency department patients and delivers 1,700 babies every year, according to officials.
Nearby hospitals like Riddle Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in University City and ChristianaCare Wilmington Hospital in Delaware are preparing to absorb patients from Crozer Health.
"Our patients have nowhere to go. They can transfer them all today. They're very proud of the fact that they're finding beds for everyone and sending everyone home. Where do they go tomorrow when the crisis center is gone? And the emergency room is gone?" Malone said. "University of Penn is not close. Riddle is not close. ChristianaCare is not close for any of us and for any of these patients. Where do they go? They die."
"This is going to devastate our entire community," Malone added. "I still have hope. I really believe that someone is still going to come in, and somebody is going to restore health care here in this building, in this community that we all love so much. … This was never about us. This has always been about the patients."
Following Prospect's announcement on Monday, Delaware County declared a seven-day disaster emergency to provide immediate support to those affected in the county.
"Please don't take our hospital"
Jason Alexander, a shooting survivor, goes to a doctor at Crozer-Chester Medical Center every three months. But with the hospital now shutting down, Alexander is worried he'll have to travel farther to get the care he needs.
"I got shot in my right eye," Alexander, of Upland, said. "I have a bullet in my head. I suffer with epilepsy. I can't travel here and travel there. That's too much for me."
Alexander was among several patients who attended a rally to fight the closure of the hospital, where an upside-down flag flew as a symbol of distress.
Lead medical assistant Melanie McKendry works in the oncology unit.
"To have to tell patients today that part of their support team is being let go is hard because you have patients who are crying to you," McKendry said, "and you don't have answers."
Delaware National Guard member Jeremy Taylor says his father is recovering from neck surgery at Crozer. He'll now have to be transferred.
"I feel sad right now because, first of all, my father is not walking right now. He's still in bed," Taylor said. "We are waiting to get him stabilized, and the news that the hospital is closing is devastating to me."
Many like Alexander are still holding out for hope.
"I need Crozer. I need them every day," Alexander said. "Please don't take our hospital."
