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Nonprofits warn Crozer hospital closure is disrupting victim services and travel for Chester residents
Summary
A community violence intervention coordinator told council that the closure of Crozer hospital has reduced Chester Community Coalition's ability to reach and counsel gunshot victims, created transportation challenges for families and staff, and raised concerns about SEPTA route cuts and coordination with area hospitals.
At the May 27 deliberative meeting, a community violence intervention coordinator for the Safer Schools, Stronger Neighborhoods Collaborative told City Council that the recent closure of Crozer hospital is making it difficult for Chester Community Coalition (CCC) and other nonprofits to provide services to gunshot victims.
The coordinator said CCC previously operated out of Crozer and relied on being notified when victims arrived there; with the closure, CCC no longer has a Delaware County hospital base and is often not notified when Chester residents are transported to hospitals outside the city. That gap, the coordinator said, hinders immediate counseling and victim support and increases travel demands on nonprofit staff.
The coordinator also raised concerns about SEPTA service cuts under consideration, saying potential discontinuation of routes would create additional hardship for residents who need to travel to medical and behavioral‑health appointments. The speaker said the collaborative is working on a plan to engage hospitals and other stakeholders and has reached out to Health Commissioner Ball to request meetings with area hospitals so CCC and chaplains can maintain access to Chester victims treated outside the city.
Council members acknowledged the issue and discussed possible training or information sharing with hospital security staff to help them manage family members arriving at hospitals unfamiliar with the volume of people that can accompany a shooting victim. One council member characterized the effort as possibly inviting hospital security staff to training led by Chester officers with experience handling large crowds.
No formal council action or directive is recorded in the transcript; the coordinator asked for assistance and follow‑up meetings, and indicated she would appreciate council support in arranging hospital contacts and security training.
