Closure Of Delaware County Memorial Hospital Challenged

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — About a week after Crozer Health announced its plan to close Delaware County Memorial Hospital, officials are taking action to halt the facility's shuttering.

The Foundation for Delaware County recently filed a petition for an emergency injunction from the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas to suspend the hospital's planned closure.

According to officials, the court ordered a hearing on the matter be held Friday, Oct. 7.

"Both the County and the Foundation agree that the Sept. 21 Prospect Crozer announcement regarding its intention to close DCMH within 60 days and transition the facility to an outpatient behavioral health center with reduced services and a greatly reduced staff was not only damaging to the public health of County residents, but also not in accordance with the terms of the agreement signed by Prospect," a joint statement from county officials and the foundation said.

While Delaware County and a number of county stakeholders and local elected officials oppose the plans to close the long-serving hospital, the Foundation for Delaware County has legal standing to formally oppose the closure.

This is due to the terms of the July 1, 2016 sale of the Crozer-Keystone Health System to the California-based Prospect Crozer, according to officials.

Per the terms of the sale, Prospect Crozer committed to operating the hospital for a period of no less than 10 years, and the foundation has the authority to enforce the agreement.

If all goes according to Crozer's plan, the facility will close 60 days from Sept. 21 and then reopen as an in-patient behavioral health facility by spring 2023.

"More than 100 patient beds will be dedicated to behavioral health services including a crisis care unit, inpatient acute psychiatric care, acute detox/rehabilitation, and geropsychiatry/senior behavioral health," according to Crozer. "This opening of behavioral health beds and services will aid in the behavioral health crisis in the county and the region."

The plan drew immediate concerns from county officials.

"While this plan aims to stabilize the system, Council is concerned that the proposed plan may limit access to health care in the eastern Delaware County communities," the council said in a statement. "The health and safety of residents is a main priority to Council and the County will continue its focus on ensuring that a wide range of health services and options remain available to Delaware County residents. All residents deserve access to quality healthcare."

After the petition was filed, county officials spoke more about their concerns over the closure.

"Closing Delaware County Memorial would be catastrophic for our residents that have depended on its services for generations," said Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor. "And, over 300 high-quality jobs would be lost due to this hastily announced plan, developed without input from the County. It is an unacceptable course of action by Prospect Crozer, and the County remains committed to ensuring that the public health needs of our residents are a priority over the financial considerations of a for-profit corporation."

Officials say Crozer's plan "constitutes a public health emergency that would subject the residents of Delaware County to seriously degraded health services—especially those residents in eastern Delaware County, including those in Upper Darby, who would find it more difficult to access an emergency room."

Additionally, officials said they are concerned about how the closure would impact more than 330 workers.

A letter sent by Prospect Crozer to its employees includes a target date of Nov. 26, meaning that many employees may face termination on the Saturday of the Thanksgiving holiday, according to the county.