PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Chester County officials are scrambling after getting word that two hospitals in the area are set to abruptly close.
Tower Health told Chester County commissioners and other officials that their deal to sell Jennersville and Brandywine hospitals feel through.
Jennersville will close, as originally planned prior to the deal, on Dec. 31, and now Brandywine will close on Jan. 31, 2022.
Last month, Tower Health announced it was selling Brandywine and Jennersville to Canyon Atlantic Partners, but the company said that deal has since fallen apart.
Marian Moskowitz, chair of the Chester County Board of Commissioners, said Brandywine and Jennersville hospitals serve an enormous territory in southern and western Chester County.
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“The ambulance is going to have to spend, at a minimum, 30, 40, 50 minutes driving one way — one way,” she emphasized, “with somebody who is in an acute emergency position. Somebody’s having a heart attack, somebody who’s had a car accident. You can imagine all things.”
Not to mention, Moskowitz said, the strain it puts on ambulance crews, EMTs and everyone who is losing their jobs.
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In a statement, Tower Health said officials had initially thought they found the right fit with Canyon Atlantic Partners.
“Unfortunately, despite our understanding at the time the agreement was signed — and after multiple requests and extensions over the last three weeks — Canyon Atlantic Partners has ultimately not demonstrated the necessary regulatory and operational preparedness, nor validated its financial ability, to complete this transaction and operate these hospitals,” the statement says.
“We are deeply saddened by this turn of events, however, no viable options remain for the continued operation of these facilities.”
