Brookhaven emergency services prepare for possible loss of Crozer Hospital ALS coverage

Brookhaven fire officials warned borough council on April 7 that uncertainty over the future of Crozer Hospital could remove advanced life support (ALS) coverage for the borough and surrounding communities, forcing a near-term reworking of ambulance and paramedic plans.

The fire chief said the borough and fire department are preparing for the possibility that Crozerwhich currently provides ALS paramedic service and ambulance assetscould be sold or change operations, and that the resulting gap would require either an expensive local ALS program or a regional solution shared among neighboring municipalities.

The chief told council the department has been pursuing a regionalized approach as the least-cost option. "If we did that by ourselves, it would be $750,000 a year," the chief said, adding that a single ALS paramedic car would represent roughly 12% of the borough's annual budget. "That's a heck of a burden," he said.

Why it matters: ALS coverage provides on-scene paramedic care and certain drugs and procedures that basic life-support ambulances cannot provide. Without an ALS provider nearby, Brookhaven ambulances could face longer transports to more distant hospitals, longer turnaround times, and reduced local ambulance availability.

What officials described

- Unknown buyer and timeline: The chief described ongoing uncertainty about whether a buyer will preserve Crozer's ALS services. He said there were reports a buyer might be identified at a meeting the following day but emphasized the borough and fire department had no firm confirmation.

- Interim contingency planning: Brookhaven is working with Middletown Township, which offered a short-term license option that could allow a regional "chase car" or paramedic response while a longer-term arrangement is negotiated. The chief said some neighboring municipalities (Aston, Upland, Parkside, Chester Township) had been contacted about regionalizing coverage.

- Costs and scale: The chief estimated operating an independent ALS unit locally would cost about $750,000 per year and constitute about 12% of the borough's budget. Officials said shared regional coverage would lower the per-jurisdiction cost but could require multiple cars if many towns participate.

- Grants and timing: Officials noted potential state grants, but said the next grant round would not open until September and competition would be high. "You can forget about grants" as an immediate fix, the chief said, because of the timing.

- System impacts: Council heard that if Crozer's ALS capacity drops, ambulances may need to transport patients farther (to Philadelphia, Christiana, Penn, or other facilities), increasing out-of-service time and straining mutual-aid partners. Officials warned the county has limited ability to impose a regional model; local municipalities will need to negotiate intermunicipal agreements.

Council reaction and next steps

Council members and fire leadership said they are acting as if the borough will lose ALS to avoid a service gap while continuing to seek confirmation from Crozer and county partners. The chief said the department has been part of county calls and has identified options that could be implemented quickly if needed, including partnering with Middletown for a license-based stopgap.

The borough will continue contingency planning, seek participation from neighboring municipalities, and monitor news from Crozer. No formal council action was taken on April 7 beyond direction to continue planning and coordination.

Ending

Officials urged residents to be aware of the situation but noted no immediate change in local ambulance service had been announced. The fire chief said the department would provide updates as more information becomes available.