Health Care Mergers/Closures

Physicians employed by health care systems, or treating patients at system-owned facilities, face distinct challenges concerning the physician health care system relationship. Health care system sales, mergers or closures, or the mere possibility of any such occurrence, each harbor the potential to negatively impact physician wellness.

PAMED stays committed to staying up to date on the latest developments and information and providing resources to help impacted physicians get the answers they need.

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Resources

Tower Health Timeline

Timeline
On July 30, 2021, Tower Health announced its plans to establish a strategic alliance with Penn Medicine.
On Sept. 28, 2021, Tower Health announced plans to close Jennersville Hospital on Jan. 1, 2022. Until Jan. 1, Jennersville Hospital and its emergency department will remain open and continue to care for patients and the local community. In a press release announcing the closure, Tower Health stated its full commitment to placing as many impacted employees and physicians as it can into other positions within Tower Health for which they are qualified, or through priority consideration for open positions at Penn Medicine.
On Sept. 28, 2021, Tower Health also announced a non-binding letter of intent with Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic to evaluate and plan for the transfer of ownership of Chestnut Hill Hospital and more than a dozen Tower Health urgent care centers across the surrounding region.
At that time, Tower Health said it was working with local and state agencies to help secure the long-term future of St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. In addition, Tower Health also said it was continuing to evaluate options to determine and define the future of Brandywine Hospital in a way that best meets community needs.
On Nov. 22, 2021, Tower Health announced that it was working with Canyon Atlantic Partners LLC on a sale of Brandywine and Jennersville Hospitals that would keep both hospitals open.
On Dec. 9, 2021, Tower Health announced in a press release that the sale of Brandywine and Jennersville Hospitals to Canyon Atlantic Partners LLC had fallen through and both hospitals would now close—Jennersville will close effective December 31, 2021, at 11:59 p.m., and Brandywine will close effective January 31, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. Tower Health states that it will work transition as many team members as possible to other positions for which they are qualified within Tower Health and that Penn Medicine has also committed to offering priority consideration to employees for open positions within its network.
On December 31, 2021, Jennersville Hospital closed.
https://6abc.com/jennersville-hospital-closing-brandywine-chester-county-hospitals-closures/11410102/
On January 31, 2022, Brandywine Hospital closed.
https://whyy.org/articles/closing-brandywine-hospital-creating-a-chester-county-health-care-desert/
On June 15, 2022, ChristianaCare announced it will purchase and reopen Jennersville Hospital. https://whyy.org/articles/jennersville-hospital-christianacare-tower-health-acquisition/
On January 1, 2023, ownership of Chestnut Hill Hospital was transferred to Temple University Health System. The transfer comes after Tower Health sold the facility to Temple, Redeemer Health, and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-chestnut-hill-hospital-reopens-new-temple-health-leadership-ownership/

On March 28,2023, ChristinaCare announced its plans to open a micro hospital by late 2024 to restore health care services at its West Grove campus, formerly Jennersville Hospital.
https://delawarelive.com/west-grove-micro-hospital-open-late-24/
In June 2023, University of Pennsylvania Health System (Penn Medicine) signed a letter of intent to purchase Brandywine Hospital in collaboration with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs but ended up terminating its agreement in early 2024.
https://whyy.org/articles/penn-medicine-brandywine-hospital-coatesville-agreement-terminated/
PAMED will continue to provide updates via our various communication channels and the Tower Health resources webpage as additional details are known.
Advocacy
PAMED advocated on behalf of affected physicians and coordinated collaborative efforts with county medical societies and other stakeholders to address physician concerns. The effort included PAMED encouraging collaboration and offering resources via a May 2021 letter to Tower Health and a response from Tower Health.
Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc./Crozer Health Timeline
Crozer Health website: Crozer Health
On June 28, 2016, Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc. acquired Crozer Health switching it to a for-profit health system. Crozer Health consists of four Pennsylvania hospitals: Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Drexel Hill, Springfield Hospital in Springfield, and Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park.
In February 2022, Wilmington-based ChristianaCare Health System signed a letter of intent to acquire Crozer Health from its parent company, Prospect Medical Holdings. After months of negotiation, ChristianaCare decided not to buy Crozer Health.
In November 2022, the Pennsylvania Department of Health closed Delaware County Memorial Hospital for inadequate staffing. According to the Crozer Health website, this hospital continues to remain temporarily closed. Review the Crozer Health website for updates on this hospital.
On August 7, 2024, Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc. signed a letter of intent to sell Crozer Health to a New Jersey real estate company CHA Partners, LLC. The plan calls for CHA to work with Healthcare Preferred Partners, an affiliated company, on the management of Crozer and its conversion back into a nonprofit. Click here to review the Letter of Intent Between Prospect Medical and CHA Partners, LLC | Crozer Health
On October 29, 2024, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced the filing of a lawsuit against Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc. The lawsuit alleges Prospect Medical has broken an Asset Purchase Agreement, approved by a court in 2016, by cutting services and closing facilities, while diverting funds to private shareholders and investors, rather than supporting the healthcare network. The lawsuit is also seeking a preliminary injunction to preserve existing service lines, the appointment of a receiver to manage the Crozer Health System for the immediate future to avoid additional closures and cuts to services. Click here to read the press release, complaint, and injunction.
On October 31, 2024, Prospect took action to transfer the case to federal court.
On November 12, 2024, the federal court set a timeline for the parties to respond to the initial case filings and invoked a state statute that will prohibit Prospect from any service cutbacks prior to July 1, 2025.
You can read The Dose articles for more details here:
- Attorney General Sues to Prevent Crozer Service Cuts
- Federal Court Puts Possible Crozer Cuts on Hold
Does PAMED have mental health resources for physicians or residents struggling with stress and anxiety?

Yes, the Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society has a Physicians' Health Program (PHP). The PHP offers physicians and other eligible health care professionals mental health services to assist with issues such as stress and anxiety. To learn more, the PHP can be contacted at (866) 747-2255 or php-foundation@pamedsoc.org.
For additional resources, please click here.
You can also login to your Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) account and click here to find resources on PAMED’s Physician Wellness page.
What should physicians know about the credentialing process?
In order to be credentialed for a new position you will need the following:
- Current CV signed and dated
- 5X7 signed copy of all your state licenses
- Copy of DEA registration
- Current copy of current professional liability insurance coverage face sheets indicating limits, dates of coverage
- Copy of CME documentation for the past (2) two years
- Copy of your professional school diploma
- Copy of internship/residency/fellowship certificate(s)
- Copy of specialty board certificate(s)
- Past insurance companies for ten (10) years. Names, addresses, and policy numbers
- Minimum of three (3) professional references. Names, addresses, city, state, zip and emails
- Complete description of liability claims – Claims history for ten (10) years is required
- Written explanation of any gaps in time from time of graduation from medical school
- Government issued photo (clear passport photo or clear copy of driver's license photo)
- Recent 3x5 photo for scanning purposes
- Immunization and PPD testing in accordance with the hospital requirement as well as Influenza Vaccination
- ACLS/BLS Recertification certificate
How can I make sure my CAQH record is up to date in order to facilitate the insurer credentialing process?

You can login to CAQH to check your information at https://proview.caqh.org/Login/Index. CAQH offers answers to frequently asked questions here.
For additional assistance, you can contact the CAQH Help Desk via live chat or by calling 1-888-599-1771. Live chat can be accessed by logging in to your account and clicking the chat icon at the top of the page. CAQH Live chat hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. (EST). CAQH phone hours are Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. (EST) and Friday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.(EST).
Are there area attorneys I can contact for legal guidance and advice?

For assistance with this question, please complete the “Tell Us About Your Ongoing Concerns” form found on the right side of this page, and someone will be in contact with you.
If PAMED provides you contact information for an attorney, it should not be construed as a recommendation, referral, or endorsement.
PAMED can connect you with an attorney to review and comment on the language and terms of your contract, including grounds for termination, non-compete clause, on-call requirements, and benefits.
Learn More.
How can I reach out to my local county medical society?
You can contact these county medical societies in Tower Health serviced communities by using the telephone numbers below:
- Berks County Medical Society- (610) 375-6555
- Bucks County Medical Society – (866) 855-7664
- Chester County Medical Society – (610) 389-42222
- Delaware County Medical Society – (610) 892-7750
- Montgomery County Medical Society – (866) 442-2364
- Philadelphia County Medical Society – (215) 563-5343
What additional resources are available for residents and fellows with questions?

Resources from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) for residents and fellows can be accessed here. For International Medical Graduates (IMGs), resources from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) can be accessed here.
Residents and fellows can also share their specific questions and concerns with PAMED via the “Tell Us About Your Ongoing Concerns” feature on this page.

The webpage is intended to be a resource for physicians. PAMED is not collecting payment from the attorneys or firms included on the site. PAMED’s inclusion of the contact information will not constitute PAMED’s endorsement of any of the services the attorney or law firm may provide. PAMED will make no representation, guarantee or warrantee (express or implied) as to the legal services provide by any of the attorneys or firms listed on the site. PAMED is not a third-party to any agreement formed and will not pay for any of the services received as a result of the information provided on this site.

The information contained on this webpage is for informational purposes only. This information is not intended and should not be construed to constitute legal advice.

Tools to Protect Employed Physicians

To assist physicians with their questions, PAMED has developed two webinars with McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC to address physician questions and legal considerations.

Watch The Webinars