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Earlier this week Temple University Health System announced a reorganization plan to employees that will go into effect in January. Called "Bold Ideas for a Brighter Tomorrow", it's really the same Old Ideas as yesterday. The plan includes severe cuts in services at Northeastern Hospital. The health provider claims that too many beds, relentless pressure from private insurers and Medicare to cut costs, difficulty of fair reimbursements and a decreasing population in its service area makes this reorganization necessary. According to the plan, Northeastern Hospital will essentially become a facility designated for outpatient use and to take on emergency outflow from Temple University Hospital. One casualty in the plan is the maternity care unit at Northeastern, bringing to 17 the number of maternity units Philadelphia has lost in the last 11 years. In the last decade, Temple University Health System acquired Episcopal, Newman and Northeastern Hospitals, all the hospitals to its east. It decided to close Episcopal and Newman but promised Northeastern would stay open to serve the community. More recently, Temple University Hospital spent millions to acquire property adjacent to the hospital, encouraging the surrounding community to defeat a proposal in City Council for a Walmart at that location. Temple profits last year were $53 million. The Pennsylvania Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals union along with other effected healthcare worker unions will be holding a candlelight vigil in front of Northeastern Hospital, at Tulip and Allegheny, Monday, December 22nd at 6:15PM. All concerned about the erosion of healthcare services in Philadelphia and especially in the Northeast should come out to call for reconsideration.
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