Released: April 29, 2022
Since January, Delaware County Council and County leadership have expressed concern that Crozer’s announcement to eliminate services and prevent access to care for residents would be detrimental to the community.
Delaware County remains actively engaged in working to maintain required medical services for the County’s residents. County leaders are in daily contact with leadership at Crozer Health, trying to achieve a resolution which is fair to ownership, but which also keeps vital services open.
The passage of an emergency ordinance last week demonstrates that County Council recognizes the implications of any sudden and unplanned closure of significant facilities and services and will take all required steps to ensure such closures do not happen.
“We are in an emergency response situation. The consistent reduction of services and programs over the past few months from the largest hospital system in the County has left our community with a void of resources,” said Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor. “This ordinance allows our county and the stakeholders within our county time to prepare and find alternatives for vital services such as maternal care, drug and alcohol services, and advanced life support coverage to hopefully avoid any gaps in services.”
Even with the passage of the ordinance, the County remains open to a mutually acceptable resolution of its issues with Crozer Health.
Delaware County Executive Director Howard Lazarus is in specific and targeted discussions with Crozer CEO Kevin Spiegel on how critical services can be sustained responsibly.
The Delaware County Department of Human Services has been proactively working with new providers to offer mental and behavioral health services and drug and alcohol treatment to residents to prevent any gap or loss of coverage in these vital services to residents. The Department is also working with and investing in existing providers to expand services that they are already offering to residents.
Council has been working with state and federal legislators to identify funding opportunities to keep vital services in operation.