CHESTER, P.A. (KYW Newsradio) — With the imminent closure of the Crozer Health System in Delaware County, county officials said they were moving forward with a long-planned contingency plan focused on residents, workers and providing healthcare options.
Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor said it involves working with the remaining healthcare providers in the area and the county’s two remaining hospitals.
“To try and stabilize crisis services, setting up agreement contracts with other supporters to have in-patients beds,” she said.
As for Mercy Fitzgerald and Riddle hospitals, growing their number of beds is the top order for officials ahead of Crozer’s closure.
“Helping them figure out what they need in order to expand their capacity, understanding that a majority of individuals are going to go to one of those two hospitals first as they are the closest,” said Taylor.
Crozer Taylor Hospital is set to close on April 28, with Crozer-Chester Medical Center following on May 2.
Taylor said the contingency plan also involves helping the 3,200 workers soon to be out of a job find new ones.
“We need to help them transition to other healthcare systems if possible,” she said. “We are working through holding virtual fairs along with coming on site with our workforce development team.”
On Thursday night, the Delaware County Health Department held a town hall at Chester City Hall about resources available to help people make a transition to a new medical provider.