Crozer Hospitals to close in Delaware County

Delaware County, Pa (WPHL/WJET/WFXP) —After months of legal proceedings and last minute attempts, Crozer Health System is set to shut down as early as May 2.

The systems owner, Prospect Medical Holdings, which filed for bankruptcy in early January, filed for the closure of its Pennsylvania hospitals Monday. Prospect currently owns two Pennsylvania hospitals, Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland and Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park, both in Delaware County.

In response to the filing, Delaware County issued a seven-day emergency declaration,

which “allows the county greater flexibility in hiring, procurement, emergency medical services dispatch, and in tracking and potentially recouping expenses related to the ongoing hospital closures.”

Delaware County filed an objection to the closure filing, noting that “facing the possibility that the Debtors [Prospect] services or close altogether in 2022, the County adopted an ordinance that required the Debtors to adopt a Closure Plan.” The ordinance requires a healthcare provider like Prospect to provide an adequate plan with 180 days’ notice to the county. The county says that, to date, Prospect has failed to do so.

It is expected that patients will be transferred to surrounding healthcare systems with discharge dates after April 25, and all outpatient appointments after April 25 will be canceled.

According to court documents, Prospect says that, despite efforts by the company and the Pennsylvania AG to secure funding or purchasers for the hospital, they were unable to secure a viable bidder, operator or funding source to maintain the hospital’s operations. They say that this has left them with “no choice” but to close the Pennsylvania hospitals.

“Prospect’s decision to move forward with the closure of the Crozer Health System is a devastating and disgraceful blow to our communities, our healthcare workers, and every patient who has ever relied on our local hospital system,” said Rep. Leanne Krueger (D – Pa. 161st District). ” We are furious for the thousands of nurses, doctors, and staff who’ve put up with so much abuse for the sake of their patients just for their efforts to come to this, and saddened for all the people in our community who depend on Crozer for their emergency and routine medical needs.”

In a statement from Delaware County, they echo the hard work of the healthcare workers, saying, “…it should be noted that Prospect currently employs more than 3,000 hard-working and dedicated healthcare workers who have tirelessly served their patients while Prospect’s owners served themselves.”

Millions of dollars were spent to prevent the closure of Crozer Health, but now, there’s no money left. Just days after, the CEO of Crozer Health resigned from his position after serving for more than five years as the head of the health network.

The closure comes despite the fact that millions of dollars have been injected into the hospital system to keep it open.

Prospect is seeking an expedited transaction and says that several parties have expressed interest in certain assets, including several imaging sites and surgery centers.

Prospect has established a dedicated call center for inquiries related to the hospital transition, including requests regarding patient transfer and care. The email address is CrozerPAInquiries@omniagnt.com and the telephone number is: (888) 801-2338.

Delaware County residents are encouraged to seek additional assistance through the Delaware County Health Department’s Wellness Line at (484) 276-2100 for help navigating local healthcare resources. Residents in need of emergency services can continue to call 9-1-1. Delaware County residents can also consult a dedicated webpage for updates on the situation at DelcoPA.gov/Prospect.

Crozer Health Closure Timeline

Prospect outlined its closure plans in its most recent bankruptcy filing over the coming weeks for the PA hospitals:

First Steps:

• File the Closure Plan with the appropriate regulatory authorities
• Deliver WARN Act notifications to all implicated Crozer Health employees and related unions.
• Collaborate with nearby healthcare systems to develop transfer plans for patients with discharge dates after 4/25
• Call all patients to cancel all outpatient appointments after 4/25

Beginning Wednesday, April 22, 2025

• Emergency Department to go on diversion – all patients will be treated and released or treated and transferred
• Post notice of closure at all entrances.
• Cease elective inpatient admissions.
• Cease trauma, surgical, obstetrics and gynecology, burn, behavioral health, oncology, and outpatient services.

Beginning Monday, April 28, 2025

• Close all ambulatory services (ambulatory services will remain open according to staffing and scheduling needs until this time).

Ongoing:

• Discharge patients in the ordinary course, identify appropriate alternative locations for any patients who will need ongoing care and arrange for transfer.
• Participate in any required public hearings.

Upon Closure of Emergency Department:

• Submit Application to MAC to voluntarily terminate Medicare enrollment.

Plan for Employees

• The Debtors intend to provide WARN Act notices to substantially all non-unionized employees of the Closing Hospitals and, with respect to unionized employees, the Debtors intend to provide WARN Act notices to each of the relevant union representatives, contemporaneously with the filing of this Motion.
• With regard to any unionized employees at the Pennsylvania Hospitals, the Debtors intend to provide appropriate notice and engage in effects bargaining with the relevant labor unions upon such union’s request, as well as discuss shutdown plans with such unions.

Plan for Transfer/Discharge of Patients

• The majority of currently-admitted patients will be discharged in the ordinary course and, if necessary, provided with information and assistance to make follow-up appointments with replacement providers.
• Inpatients will be notified of the anticipated closure and will be transferred, along with their medical record information, to a hospital in the area or a hospital of their choice.
• The Debtors will complete the transfer or discharge of acute care patients prior to closure.

Plan for Transfer and Storage of Medical Records

• The Debtors intend to contract with a medical records custodian to ensure records are properly stored and patients can access their medical records after the closure.
• The Debtors will send written notification of how to locate patient records to all practitioners currently on the active staff of the respective hospitals.
• The transfer and discharge of all patients shall be conducted in a manner that ensures the protection of patient health, privacy, and safety.

Plan for the Disposition of Personal Property, Including Pharmaceuticals, Hazardous Materials, and Medical Waste

• The Debtors will manage and dispose of pharmaceuticals, hazardous materials, and medical waste in accordance with state and federal guidelines.
• Medications, radioactive materials, chemicals, medical waste, infectious materials and other hazardous materials will be identified, secured and inventoried, then destroyed, disposed of, returned to vendors, or transferred to other providers as appropriate.
• Each hospital has hired vendors to manage the disposal of medical waste and infectious materials. After termination of services, the Debtors will also retain an outside vendor to decontaminate hot rooms.

The hearing regarding the closure filing is set for Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.