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Crozer’s possible closure spurs Chester planning for ambulance coverage and alternate care routes
Summary
City officials and the health commissioner told residents Crozer Hospital has a short lifeline; council and county partners are coordinating ambulance coverage and alternative care options while community groups assemble resources.
City of Chester officials and the municipal health commissioner on March 12 told residents they are preparing for possible service disruptions if Crozer Hospital closes, focusing first on maintaining ambulance coverage and directing residents to alternate care sites.
Mayor Roos and Kristen Motley, the city health commissioner, said Crozer had a reported two‑week lifeline at the time of the meeting and that county and regional partners are working to identify where Chester residents can go for urgent and nonemergency care if the hospital ceases operations. Motley said she has convened health systems and nonprofit partners — including Main Line Health, the Foundation for Delaware County, CHESPIN, Widener and the Delaware County Health Department — to compile information and resource lists for residents.
“We still have two weeks,” Motley said, summarizing ongoing coordination. She said the Delaware County Health Department has trained staff operating a hotline residents can call to find alternate health care resources; the number she provided is (484) 276‑2100.
Mayor Roos said the city has begun talks with neighboring municipalities and emergency services leaders because the city does not own ambulances and any local ambulance system would represent a substantial recurring expense. He told council a back‑of‑the‑envelope estimate previously developed for establishing a city ambulance service was about $2 million per year and that ambulances operate in a regional 9‑1‑1 system, meaning Chester ambulances would be dispatched beyond city limits when needed.
Officials said they are focused on several near‑term items: confirming ambulance coverage arrangements with neighboring jurisdictions, assembling transportation resources to reach alternate clinics, and providing public guidance on when to use urgent care versus an emergency department if Crozer ceases to operate. City staff said they would release communications for residents summarizing options and that county health staff will handle calls for immediate referrals.
Public commenters described personal experiences with ambulance billing and access and urged the city to press for solutions. Council members emphasized the city’s limited authority over hospital ownership and bankruptcy proceedings but said they will continue advocacy and coordination with county and regional partners.
The report and public comments left the situation unresolved but flagged ambulance coverage and patient transport as high‑priority operational matters requiring rapid follow‑up.
