Main Line Health plans to acquire OB/GYN practices from Crozer Health.
Main Line Health is developing a strategy to integrate the women’s health services and patients of Crozer Health, which is currently navigating bankruptcy. This announcement was made public on Friday following a recent bankruptcy hearing. During the proceedings, a representative from Prospect Medical Holdings, the for-profit entity that owns Crozer, confirmed that the obstetrics and gynecology practices would transition to another health system, though specifics regarding which system were not disclosed.
The intent behind Main Line Health’s initiative is to address the growing demand for obstetrical and gynecological services in the region. Main Line Health emphasized its commitment to facilitating a smooth transition for patients, ensuring that they continue to receive care from familiar clinicians and support staff. However, details concerning the financial aspects of this transition, the status of Crozer clinicians, and the management of medical residency training remain unclear. Currently, Crozer is home to 12 residents specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, while Main Line’s Lankenau Medical Center has 17 residents in this specialty.
Amid the dire situation facing Crozer Health, local officials and competing healthcare systems are urgently seeking a sustainable solution, as the largest health system in Delaware County may close by the end of the month if a new owner does not emerge. Crozer operates multiple women’s health offices across Upland, Media, Glen Mills, Springfield, Broomall, and Ridley Park, employing 18 clinicians, including three nurse practitioners.
Main Line Health has indicated that it is positioned to accommodate a greater volume of deliveries at three nearby hospitals. Data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health reveals that obstetrics occupancy rates at Lankenau Medical Center stand at 41%, Bryn Mawr Hospital at 66%, and Riddle Hospital at 48%.
A notable hurdle in this transition process is Main Line Health’s lack of a contract with UnitedHealthcare’s Medicaid plan in Pennsylvania, which covers a significant number of births in the region. This raises concerns for the approximately 10,300 Delaware County residents insured under this plan.
As part of its comprehensive restructuring plan, Main Line Health is also bracing for a potential influx of patients seeking a range of services, including primary and specialty care, as well as urgent care. Riddle’s emergency medical services are actively participating in county meetings to ensure continuity of care in light of uncertainty surrounding Crozer’s operations. Concurrently, Penn Medicine is assuming control of Crozer’s medical offices in Broomall and Glen Mills, providing million primarily as a contribution to prevent immediate closures of Crozer-Chester and Taylor Hospital.
The situation remains fluid, with all stakeholders focused on navigating this complex transition in Delaware County’s healthcare landscape, preserving essential services for the community as they adapt to the changing dynamics of local healthcare systems.
