Crozer Health will keep mental and behavioral health services open at least through the summer in Delco

Crozer Health agreed in court to keep its mental and behavioral health services open through August, reversing an earlier announcement that most units and clinics providing psychiatric and addiction treatment would close in June.

Crozer’s four-hospital system in Delaware County had announced in April that most of its behavioral and mental health services: including a crisis center, outpatient psychiatry and addiction treatment – would close, fanning Concerns from patients, officials and Crozer staff over loss of scarce services in a time of great need.

On May 18, Delaware County filed a petition for precautionary measure in court in an effort to push Crozer to maintain services, claiming that a closure would violate a recently passed county ordinance that required a transition plan at least 120 days before a hospital closed “significant impact” services.

” READ MORE: Crozer Health plans to close mental health services. Delco patients are struggling.

On the same day, Crozer Health CEO Kevin Spiegel announced to behavioral health staff that the health system will keep services open. At the time, Spiegel told The Inquirer that the decision to remain open was intended to recognize the importance of services to the community and to show good faith while Crozer discusses funding with the county.

On May 24, the health system agreed in court to voluntarily will keep your behavioral and mental health services through at least August 31. The parties will meet in court in late August.

crozer has been removing services since its for-profit owner, Prospect Medical Holdings Inc., decided to sell Delaware County hospitals.

Prospect has been in talks with ChristianaCarea large Delaware-based nonprofit health care system, about the possible sale of Crozer as early as February.

” READ MORE: Delaware’s largest health system moves to Pennsylvania to buy Crozer Health

“We are relieved that Prospect Crozer has heard our concerns about the devastating impact the sudden loss of mental health services would have on our community and have agreed to the county’s proposal to maintain these services while we continue to negotiate.” Delaware County Council President Monica Taylor said in a written statement. In addition to negotiations with Crozer, the county has been reviewing and approving contracts with other behavioral and mental health providers to expand services.

State Representative Mike Zabel, a Delaware County Democrat who joined the Pennsylvania Association of Nurses and Allied Professionals rallies against the closures, is proposing a bill that would impose a moratorium on the sale of hospitals to for-profit entities. He said that he believes it was the petition the county filed with the court, not Prospect’s goodwill, which led services to remain open for now.

“It’s a positive thing to pause the closures,” Zabel said, noting that the county is now trying to reduce its reliance on a single vendor. “This is an opportunity for Delaware County, particularly in behavioral health, to review how these services are being provided from the ground up.”