This means Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland and Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park could shut down in a matter of weeks.
The timeline was revealed in a bankruptcy filing by Crozer Health's owner, Prospect Medical Holdings.
Crozer Health to shut down, and operations could cease by early May
The closure would leave patients having to travel further for treatment, and thousands of employees out of a job.
The closure comes despite the fact that millions of dollars have been injected into the hospital system to keep it open.
"How does this make sense? It feels like there's money to bail out airlines and auto industries and SEPTA, but theres no money to save this hospital for this community?" said Crozer Nurses Association President Peggy Malone.
Crozer Health plans to start diverting some patients as soon as Wednesday, and the system could be shut down as early as May 2.
The timeline is outraging officials who have been fighting to keep the hospitals open.
"They're going forward with an expedited closure, a closure faster than what the regulations permit," said Rep. Leanne Krueger (D - Pa. 161st District)
"They need to be held responsible," Krueger continued. "The former owners have extracted hundreds of millions of dollars, and that bankruptcy judge needs to hold them accountable."
The move will impact up to 3,000 workers at both hospitals, including nearly 400 Registered Nurses, according to nurses union president, Peggy Malone.
"We're still going to have the multiple trauma, the violence that we have in Chester and Upland. You know, stroke victims and heart attack victims now are going to have to do 30 minutes to get care, people die in that time," said Malone.
CROZER HEALTH CLOSURE TIMELINE
Prospect outlined the timeline for closure in a bankruptcy court filing on Monday:
First Steps:
-File the Closure Plan with the appropriate regulatory authorities.
-Deliver WARN Act notifications to all implicated Crozer Health employees and related unions.
-Collaborate with nearby healthcare systems to develop transfer plans for patients with discharge dates after 4/25
-Call all patients to cancel all outpatient appointments after 4/25
Beginning Wednesday, April 23, 2025
-Emergency Department to go on diversion - all patients will be treated and released or treated and transferred
-Post notice of closure at all entrances.
-Cease elective inpatient admissions.
-Cease trauma, surgical, obstetrics and gynecology, burn, behavioral health, oncology, and outpatient services.
Beginning Monday, April 28, 2025
-Close all ambulatory services (ambulatory services will remain open according to staffing and scheduling needs until this time).
Ongoing:
-Discharge patients in the ordinary course, identify appropriate alternative locations for any patients who will need ongoing care and arrange for transfer.
-Participate in any required public hearings.
Upon Closure of Emergency Department:
-Submit Application to MAC to voluntarily terminate Medicare enrollment.
Plan for Employees
-The Debtors intend to provide WARN Act notices to substantially all non-unionized employees of the Closing Hospitals and, with respect to unionized employees, the Debtors intend to provide WARN Act notices to each of the relevant union representatives, contemporaneously with the filing of this Motion.
-With regard to any unionized employees at the Pennsylvania Hospitals, the Debtors intend to provide appropriate notice and engage in effects bargaining with the relevant labor unions upon such union's request, as well as discuss shutdown plans with such unions.
Plan for Transfer/Discharge of Patients
-The majority of currently-admitted patients will be discharged in the ordinary course and, if necessary, provided with information and assistance to make follow-up appointments with replacement providers.
-Inpatients will be notified of the anticipated closure and will be transferred, along with their medical record information, to a hospital in the area or a hospital of their choice.
-The Debtors will complete the transfer or discharge of acute care patients prior to closure.
Plan for Transfer and Storage of Medical Records
-The Debtors intend to contract with a medical records custodian to ensure records are properly stored and patients can access their medical records after the closure.
-The Debtors will send written notification of how to locate patient records to all practitioners currently on the active staff of the respective hospitals.
-The transfer and discharge of all patients shall be conducted in a manner that ensures the protection of patient health, privacy, and safety.
Plan for the Disposition of Personal Property, Including Pharmaceuticals, Hazardous Materials, and Medical Waste
-The Debtors will manage and dispose of pharmaceuticals, hazardous materials, and medical waste in accordance with state and federal guidelines.
-Medications, radioactive materials, chemicals, medical waste, infectious materials and other hazardous materials will be identified, secured and inventoried, then destroyed, disposed of, returned to vendors, or transferred to other providers as appropriate.
-Each hospital has hired vendors to manage the disposal of medical waste and infectious materials. After termination of services, the Debtors will also retain an outside vendor to decontaminate hot rooms.
You can read the full filing from Prospect here.
'Devastating and disgraceful'
The Delaware County Legislative Delegation put out a statement Monday saying, in part:
"Prospect's decision to move forward with the closure of theCrozer Health System is a devastating and disgraceful blow to our communities, our healthcare workers, and every patient who has ever relied on our local hospital system."
We saw employees and community members left in tears on Monday.
Among them was Dejauna Leath, who beat colon cancer here 10 years ago. She can't believe the hospital will close its doors for good.
"It's just crazy to know that we're not going to have this hospital," she said.
Earlier this month, the University of Pennsylvania donated $5 million and Delaware County donated $1 million to temporarily keep the health network open.
Prospect said the money would help fund operations for seven to 10 days while work continued to find a solution, the company said in bankruptcy court.
A few days later, Tony Esposito announced his resignation as CEO after serving for more than five years as head of the health network.