Healthcare workers, administrators, and advocates participate in hearing addressing hospital consolidation

BRANDYWINE, Oct. 12 –  Last month, Tower Health announced that it will sell Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia and close Jennersville Hospital in West Grove, Pa. With the fate of Tower’s Brandywine, Phoenixville, Pottstown, and Reading hospitals up in the air, local healthcare workers, administrators, and advocates discussed hospital consolidation and the impacts it has on quality and access to healthcare. A hearing, called Saving Community Hospitals: Keeping Care Close, took place at 11 AM on October 12 at East Brandywine Township Building, 1214 Horseshoe Pike, Downingtown, PA 19335.

Host + Testifiers: 

  • Hosted by: Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, will be joined by House Democratic Policy Committee Chair Ryan Bizzarro, D-Erie, and Rep. Dan Williams, D-Chester, to discuss hospital consolidation in Pennsylvania.  
  • Testimony by: 
    • Andrew Wigglesworth, Executive Vice President of Einstein Health Network/Urban Health Care Coalition 
    • Bill Ryan, Vice President of Einstein Health Network/Urban Health Care Coalition 
    • Steve Morris, Political Organizer, Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP) 
    • Jerry Silberman, Senior Staff Representative, Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP) 
    • Matt Yarnell, President, SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania 
    • Linda Heater, Unit Support Coordinator, Pottstown Hospital 
    • Lori Domin, President, Pottstown Nurses United 
    • Crystal Somerset-Bruce, Vice President, Pottstown Nurses United 
    • Antoinette Kraus, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN) 
    • Pat Bokovitz, Director, Chester County Human Services

Media Release + News Coverage

Hearing Video + Photos