Watch live: Crozer Health workers to demand Pennsylvania hospitals stay open after Prospect announces closure

CBS News

22-04-2025

One day after Prospect Medical Holdings announced the
closure of the Crozer Health
system in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, health care workers will hold a news conference today to demand that the hospitals remain open while a new owner is found.
You can watch the news conference at noon in the video player above or on our
CBS News Philadelphia YouTube channel
.
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.
An emergency closure hearing before a federal judge is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. The motion filed Monday will have to be approved by the judge.
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.
Three thousand people would be out of work if the bankruptcy judge approves the plan.
A spokesperson for Prospect said the ambulatory surgery and imaging centers at Brinton Lake, Broomall, Haverford and Media would stay open.
"PMH recognizes the impact this action will have on patients as well as team members. We've worked tirelessly with the Pennsylvania Attorney General and other parties to do everything possible to prevent this outcome," a Prospect spokesperson said in a statement. "Unfortunately, we were unable to reach a viable alternative. At this time, the focus at Crozer Health remains on seamlessly transitioning patients to other health facilities so that they can continue to receive the critical, uninterrupted care they require, and to support Crozer Health team members as they seek to identify other employment opportunities."
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
.
With Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital set to close, Delaware County will have only two emergency rooms remaining: Riddle Hospital in Middletown Township and Mercy-Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby.
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.
"Main Line Health is prepared to care for the patients impacted by the announced Crozer Health closing," a Main Line Health spokesperson said in a statement.
Following Prospect's announcement on Monday, Delaware County
declared a seven-day disaster emergency
to provide immediate support to those affected in the county.
Prospect has established a dedicated call center to handle inquiries related to the hospital transition, including requests regarding patient transfers and care. The email address is [e-mail], and the telephone number is: 888-801-2338.
Residents are encouraged to seek additional assistance through the Delaware County Health Department's Wellness Line at 484-276-2100.
This is a developing story and will be updated.