Sudden Hospital Closures Could Lead to Death, Chesco Lawmaker Says

CHESTER COUNTY —Standing in front of the closed Brandywine Hospital on Friday afternoon, state Rep. Dan Williams called for a law that would prevent sudden hospital closures in the future.

“Hospitals like the one behind me are crucial for communal survival,” Williams said. “Without close proximity to facilities like the one behind me, it’s not too dramatic to say people will die.”

Williams said that hospitals in urban, suburban and rural are negatively impacted when a hospital closes without warning.

Tower Health closed Brandywine Hospital in Caln Township on Jan. 31. Jennersville Hospital, Penn Township, closed on Dec. 31, 2021.

Williams said that residents in the 74th district have been heavily affected by this closure and the looming loss of EMT services slated to occur in September.

Tower Health to cut emergency medical services – via Medic 93 – to Parkesburg and Coatesville starting in September. Medic 93 served the areas of the two hospitals.

“Now is a better time than ever to act and announce legislation geared toward providing safeguards and a series of checks and balances that would protect residents from future losses and closures,” Williams said.

The proposed bill will require the state Department of Health’s approval for future hospital closures, as well as introduce price transparency requirements.

The legislation will also require public hearings and impact statements before granting approval to close a hospital.