SPRINGFIELD, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Crozer Health announced plans Wednesday to close regular operations at Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Drexel Hill and replace it with a mental health facility by spring of 2023 as part of a county-wide restructuring.
The Delaware County-based hospital network says the new facility will provide behavioral health inpatient services with more than 100 patient beds, a devoted crisis care unit, acute psychiatric care, acute detox/rehabilitation, and geropsychiatry/senior behavioral health.
Crozer said in a statement that its new plan would set up health care access and services based on “post-pandemic operational realities and community needs,” centering on the patient, focusing on essential services, and expanding behavioral health care services.
Crozer Health CEO Anthony Esposito said they’re trying to provide better access to patients while “addressing the changing nature of health care today.”
Related
Within 60 days of the plan’s approval, the hospital’s emergency department and all other services will be discontinued so Crozer can transition the building.
In addition, Springfield Hospital will be converted to an outpatient facility by the end of this year, with services including urgent care, advanced surgical care, rehabilitation and diagnostic imaging, as well as primary and specialty care physician practices, all which do not require the patient being admitted.
Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland and Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park will continue to provide acute medical care.
Delaware County Memorial has been cutting services for months. In January of this year, staffing shortages and a COVID-19 surge compelled Springfield to temporarily close its emergency room.
Crozer Health’s new plan requires approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and other agencies.
Since Wilmington-based ChristianaCare announced in August it would back out of a deal to purchase Crozer, the Delaware County-based hospital network has been looking for the best way to stabilize itself.
The plan needs approval from both the state and Delaware County.
County officials say they’re concerned the changes might limit healthcare access in the eastern part of the county. As for a recently-passed ordinance that requires 180-day notice before a hospital closes major units, county officials say they’re analyzing the plan and assessing legal options.