Latest news with #BridgetKosierowski
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Regional Hospital remains open amid negotiations with potential buyer
Regional Hospital of Scranton will remain open amid ongoing negotiations with a potential buyer to acquire the health care facility, according to a state representative who has advocated for the city hospital. 'The hospital is OK right now, not closing,' state Rep. Bridget Kosierowski, D-114, Waverly Twp., said in a phone interview Wednesday. 'We're still actively working with an all-hands-on-deck situation with a potential buyer.' Last month, union health care workers, elected officials and other stakeholders held a town hall forum aimed at saving Commonwealth Health's Regional Hospital of Scranton and its Moses Taylor Hospital campus following the late 2024 collapse of a sale considered by many to be a potential lifeline for the hospital. During that March 13 forum, advocates for the hospital, including members of the SEIU Healthcare workers' union, sought to preserve the critical services at Regional and Moses Taylor, along with the union jobs necessary to deliver that care. It was the second town hall since December. The for-profit Tennessee-based Community Health Systems Inc., or CHS, is Commonwealth's parent company. In a statement late Wednesday afternoon, Commonwealth Health spokeswoman Annmarie Poslock said work with Pennsylvania's elected officials to find another operator for Regional Hospital and its associated campuses, clinics and outpatient centers is continuing. 'We are happy to share that we believe we have reached a deal with the Governor's office and other groups that makes us optimistic about the future of our hospital,' Poslock said. 'We hope to share more details about this in the coming months. In the meantime, we will continue to focus on our patients and providing for the medical care they need.' Critical negotiations took place Wednesday morning, said Kosierowski, who is a longtime nurse and local leader on the issue of local health care access. Hospital and health system executives initially met at 10 a.m. Wednesday discussing the closure, Kosierowski said. Later meetings included the board and medical leadership, employee department leadership and finally all medical staff. Those meetings shifted to thanking Gov. Josh Shapiro and the health system's plan to keep Regional open until a new operator comes in, she said. The hospital is operating as usual, she said, emphasizing the importance of its continued operations. 'At this time, I can say that they are not announcing closure. Lots of active negotiating is still happening, and those that are at the table are still at the table,' she said. 'This place must stay open and operational for the community — it is catastrophic if it does not. ' Regional and Moses Taylor are separate facilities but operate under a single license following a 2022 merger, with operations coordinated across the two campuses. When advocates talk about saving Regional, they're referring to jobs and services at Moses Taylor as well. Last year, nonprofit WoodBridge Healthcare's interest in acquiring Regional Hospital, Moses Taylor, Commonwealth's Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and other health care assets appeared to provide a potential path to stability, but that fell through in November due to a lack of financing. With that sale dead, advocates quickly raised concerns that Regional could close if it were not acquired by new ownership, launching a search for a buyer. In a hospital data sheet hosted on its website, SEIU Healthcare contends that if Regional Hospital were to close, there would not be enough beds between Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton and Lehigh Valley Hospital — Dickson City to absorb the necessary patient care across Lackawanna County. While Luzerne County hospitals could absorb some of that care, closing Regional would diminish access to health care and increase travel times, including for life-threatening conditions, SEIU said. A 2023 Community Benefit Report for Regional and its Moses Taylor campus put the number of patient encounters there, at Commonwealth Health Physician Network clinics and other outpatient sites at 381,000 that year. Closing Regional would also create a significant void in birth and delivery services because Regional accounts for about 70% of births in Lackawanna County, according to an SEIU press release. SEIU officials had not heard news of a change of ownership or potential closure but said in a statement early Wednesday evening that union members continue to be concerned about the future of Regional, and they are deeply committed to doing whatever it takes to save their hospital. The healthcare workers' union attributed its remarks to Pennsylvania members Corinne Cianfichi, an occupational therapist with 30 years of service, and Sue Wiggins, a lab technician with six years of service. 'We stand ready to welcome any new owner and work collaboratively with them to preserve and expand services, protect good union jobs and ensure that community concerns are addressed,' according to the statement. 'Regional Hospital is absolutely critical for the health and economy of the entire NEPA area. Our population is older, sicker, and needs more complex care than ever before.' Any job losses would be devastating for working residents in Northeast Pennsylvania, the union said. The hospital provides more than 1,000 jobs, contributing $148 million in wages and benefits to local families, according to SEIU. 'We are calling on all stakeholders to continue working diligently together in good faith so that Regional can remain open and we can provide the quality healthcare that our community urgently needs,' according to the statement. As negotiations continue, Kosierowski stressed the importance of keeping Regional open while also pointing to support from community partners, from local foundations to legislators. 'When I say everyone is doing all they can, it's the truth,' she said. 'It's essential for everybody in the community to make sure we have access to Regional Hospital.'
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘We need to do better': Lessons learned 5 years after COVID-19 Pandemic
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – Five years ago, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Days later, former Democratic Governor Tom Wolf announced the Commonwealth would shutter non-essential businesses in an effort to slow the spread. The executive order prompted backlash from Republicans and some Pennsylvanians, who voted in favor of a Constitutional amendment to limit the governor's powers during an emergency. 'We were flying the airplane while we were building it. It was a completely unknown crisis,' Democratic Representative Bridget Kosierowski, who is also a registered nurse, said. Kosierowski said she believes it was necessary to shut down multiple businesses deemed 'non-essential' in the state. Republicans fought adamantly against this, citing government overreach. 'It was a draconian step,' Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill of York County said. 'Pennsylvania suffered under some of the most restrictive rules based on executive orders.' Since 2020, Pennsylvania has recorded over 3.5 million Coronavirus cases. 50,000 of those individuals died, according to John Hopkins University. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Legislators confident Regional Hospital won't close as work to secure next operator continues
Union health care workers at Regional Hospital of Scranton, elected officials and other stakeholders are continuing their public push to save the facility following the late 2024 collapse of a sale many considered a potential lifeline. Efforts to safeguard lives and livelihoods at Regional and its Moses Taylor Hospital campus have been ongoing since the nonprofit WoodBridge Healthcare's would-be purchase of those Commonwealth Health facilities, Commonwealth's Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and other health care assets fell through for lack of financing. The sale's collapse in November renewed concern that Regional could close absent acquisition by another buyer and prompted an ongoing search for the next potential owner. Against that backdrop, the SEIU Healthcare workers' union and other advocates held Thursday another town hall aimed at preserving critical services at Regional and Moses Taylor and the union jobs necessary for the delivery of care there. It was the second such town hall held at the Hilton Scranton and Conference Center since December, when Democratic state Rep. Bridget Kosierowski — a longtime nurse and local leader on the issue of health care access — reported that other health care organizations had expressed interest in potentially taking over the Scranton hospital facilities. Regional and Moses Taylor are separate facilities but operate under a single license following a 2022 merger, with operations coordinated across the two campuses. When advocates talk about saving Regional, they're referring to jobs and services at Moses Taylor as well. 'I feel a little bit of déjà vu,' Kosierowski told the crowd at Thursday's town hall. 'We were here in December, and we were very hopeful (that) by now we would be able to have an announcement about where our future is with Regional. I do know and I am very confident to say that we are going to keep this hospital open. These doors will remain open, because the service lines that are provided and the staff that provides those service lines — specifically OBGYN, cardiac and emergency room — are vital to this community and it would be catastrophic if they were to be taken away.' Finding another organization to take over the hospital and service lines remains an active effort, she said, stressing the adverse impact a closure would have on a local health care landscape already grappling with inpatient capacity constraints, crowded emergency rooms, workforce pressures and other challenges. A 2023 Community Benefit Report for Regional and its Moses Taylor campus put the number of patient encounters there, at Commonwealth Health Physician Network clinics and other outpatient sites at 381,000 that year — demand SEIU and other advocates argue surrounding facilities would be unable to absorb should the Commonwealth facilities close or cut services. A closure would also create a major void in terms of birth and delivery services, as Regional accounts for about 70% of the births in Lackawanna County, SEIU said in a press release. Kosierowski told the crowd at Thursday's town hall that Geisinger and Lehigh Valley Health Network, which operate Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton and Lehigh Valley Hospital–Dickson City, respectively, are 'as desperate as you are' to make sure Regional stays open. 'Because we all know the waiting time in those hospitals now is at a high level,' she said. 'They're overrun, they're stressed, their workforce is stressed, so for them to have to entertain the possibility of Regional closing is just as frightening and stressful for them as it is for you all here in this room.' As the push for a new operator continues, organizers announced Thursday the launch of a 'Coalition to Protect Regional Care and Jobs' that handed out window signs for residents and businesses. The coalition also launched an online open letter at expressing a commitment to work collaboratively with the hospital's next owner, whoever it might be, to improve and expand care, preserve union jobs and address community concerns related to health care. While acknowledging the uncertainty, anxiety and unease many workers and patients feel, Democratic state Rep. Kyle Mullins shared Kosierowski's confidence that Regional will remain open. 'To the extent that you can trust us, and that you're willing to, I'm sitting here telling you that leadership (at) the highest levels of our state government are working to ensure that these doors of Regional Hospital will not close,' he said. 'There are multiple nonprofit, reputable operators at the table, and I'm looking all of you square in the eye and telling you I don't know who they are. We are not privy to that … at this point in the process because there are nondisclosures and things involved.' But Mullins said he and others have repeatedly been reassured that the parties involved in those behind-the-scenes conversations are negotiating in good faith. He also noted that local state legislators working with the governor's budget office secured funding for a facility assessment providing prospective buyers with a better idea of what type of investment Regional might require — information meant to inform a potential deal. 'There are really, really good people in all parts of this conversation trying mightily to bring this to a resolution,' Mullins said.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Medicare Town Hall Seminar held in Lackawanna County
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A community seminar focusing on protecting essential programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP from potential funding cuts was the focus on Monday at Lackawanna College. Organizers admit there's no immediate threat to those programs right now. They believe in being educated and prepared for the worst. The event, led by several local politicians, hoped to inform the public on what steps to take if funding is ever reduced, especially since these programs support the most vulnerable populations. Preparations underway for 2nd Annual Saint Patrick's parade Attendees also shared firsthand stories from locals who rely on these benefits and why they are important to keep funding. 'I want people to have access to health care, and I want people to understand what would happen if there were any forms of a tax or lessening of insurance. You need insurance to access health care,' said Democratic State Representative of Pennsylvania's 114th district, Bridget Kosierowski. 'Vast majority of people who have Medicaid are hard-working people. They're children, they're moms, they're just ordinary people trying to do their best,' Luzerne County resident Susan Yugovsky explained. Those in attendance were able to voice concerns while asking questions of both Pennsylvania representatives and senators. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Health care advocates to hold town hall forum aimed at keeping Regional Hospital of Scranton open
The SEIU Healthcare workers' union and other advocates will hold a town hall forum next week focused on sparing Regional Hospital of Scranton from possible closure. Ads published recently in The Times-Tribune promoting a 'Save Regional Hospital' town hall March 13 at 4 p.m. at Hilton Scranton & Conference Center, 100 Adams Ave., in Scranton, say SEIU hospital employees, patients and residents of the Scranton area are 'united in our commitment to save Regional Hospital.' The ads contain over 1,400 names and an 'open letter to our elected officials' that addresses the uncertainty the institution faces, saying, 'We must save Regional Hospital for this and future generations of Scranton area families.' Those who will attend the the town hall are asked to sign up online at Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. and the event will be held in the Electric City Ballroom. It's the latest development regarding financial difficulties of the for-profit Commonwealth Health system, which is Regional's parent firm, that have clouded the future of both Regional Hospital and its nearby sister campus, Moses Taylor Hospital. Regional and Moses Taylor are separate facilities but operate under a single license following a 2022 merger with operations coordinated across the two campuses — such that Regional's fate determines Moses Taylor's fate. Last summer, a nonprofit called WoodBridge Healthcare announced plans to purchase Commonwealth Health's financially struggling hospitals from subsidiaries of Tennessee-based Community Health Systems Inc., which is Commonwealth's corporate parent. That plan fueled cautious optimism among health care workers, patients and local elected officials. But its collapse in late November renewed concerns that Regional and Moses Taylor could close if not acquired by another buyer. Workers and other stakeholders voiced such concerns at a packed town hall forum in December, when officials revealed that other health care providers had expressed interest in the Commonwealth facilities. At that town hall, state Rep. Bridget Kosierowski, D-114, Waverly Twp., expressed confidence that a new deal would arise to spare Regional, and possibly by the end of that year. State Rep. Bridget Kosierowski speaks the Electric City Ballroom of the Hilton Scranton and Conference Center in Scranton Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) That did not come to pass. In January, Kosierowski, a longtime nurse and leader on the issue of health care access locally, said discussions were still ongoing and had the attention of Gov. Josh Shapiro; and she remained confident that Regional ultimately would be saved. In a phone interview Monday, Kosierowski said she looked forward to attending the upcoming town hall meeting and again said she believes Regional Hospital will survive. Several nonprofit entities have come forward as potential buyers and have received facilities' assessments that they are reviewing, she said. These entities all continue to discuss a potential acquisition and transitioning away from Commonwealth Health, she said, noting she could not be more specific. But she expects that one of the suitors could soon emerge from the group as the successful buyer. 'I'm anticipating an announcement very soon,' Kosierowski said. 'I can say with certainty we're not closing. This institution is not closing. Everyone is still at the table.' The ad for the upcoming town hall said, 'The collapse of the proposed sale of Regional Hospital to WoodBridge Healthcare left many in our community worrying about what will happen to the hospital, but we must press forward and secure a future for this essential institution.' Other details in the ad included that Regional: • Delivers 70% of the babies in Lackawanna County. • Cares for 36,000 patients in the emergency department each year. • Is the only hospital in the county with a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit and a geriatric behavioral health unit. • Employs over 1,000 people and contributes nearly $150 million a year in local wages and family benefits. 'The loss of these jobs would be devastating to the families of Regional employees and to our local economy. Other local hospitals cannot absorb the number of workers who would be displaced,' the ad says. It also says that other local hospitals already have emergency department wait times above the national average and simply do not have the capacity to take on all of Regional's patients. A closure of Regional would mean 'a severe reduction' in access to care and a dangerous increase in travel time for patients seeking critical or lifesaving care. Kosierowski also said a closure of Regional would be catastrophic for the local health care landscape. 'As a nurse I tend not to be an alarmist, but people will die — babies and mothers are going to lose their lives if we do not keep these doors open,' Kosierowski said. Meanwhile, Kosierowski also will host an unrelated public forum titled 'Hands Off Our Healthcare: A Town Hall on Medicare & Medicaid Cuts,' on Monday from 6-8 p.m. at the Peoples Security Bank Theater at Lackawanna College, 501 Vine St. in Scranton.
