The healthcare landscape in Delaware County is bracing for a dramatic shift as Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc. announces the impending closure of Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital come March 2025. While the exact date is not set in stone, officials have indicated that funds will only sustain operations until March 14th.
"Our county government has spent months hard at work to prepare for the possibility that these hospitals would be closed," Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor stated in a recent release. An orderly and comprehensive process has been promised by the council to assist in transitioning patients to alternative facilities. The county has taken proactive measures, including establishing a dedicated webpage to keep residents informed about the status of the bankrupt healthcare provider and related resources — all aimed at buffering the shock to the community's medical services system.
"The closure of Taylor Hospital and Crozer-Chester Medical Center wasn’t inevitable, it is the direct result of greed and incompetence from Prospect’s corrupt ownership group," Richard Womack, the County Council Vice Chair, told the official county release.
As the reality of job loss looms for thousands of Crozer Health employees, Delaware County Council Member Elaine Paul Schaefer addressed their concerns. "For thousands of our friends and neighbors, going to work for years meant going to a Crozer facility and putting their time and talent into healing people and getting them back on their feet," she said to the press. The county is providing resources, including directing impacted workers to the county’s PA CareerLink® for re-employment support, ensuring the workforce finds new opportunities.
For residents concerned about medical services following the hospital closures, the Delaware County Health Department has released a guide delineating when to seek emergency care versus urgent care. The council urges residents to use existing emergency services by dialing 9-1-1 for immediate health emergencies.
