Save Northeastern Hospital

Northeastern Closure Haunts Temple

In the midst of a national health care reform battle, a small drama unfolds in northeast Philadelphia. Last week, the Pennsylvania House held up $175 million in additional funding to Temple University. Representative John Taylor described the move as a “wake up call for Temple University” to live up to their responsibility to the public.

The communities of Port Richmond, Kensington, Fishtown, Bridesburg and Juniata coalesced last December amid rumors Temple University Health System (TUHS) planned to close down the busy, full-service Northeastern Hospital. Despite the effort of community members and local lawmakers, Temple refused to discuss their plans. In fact, they would not even confirm their intention until they announced in March they would close the hospital. They gave two months notice, which is the minimum required by the state. Temple did the minimum.

Back in March a coalition of local legislators – Representatives John Taylor and Mike O'Brien, and Senators Mike Stack and Larry Farnese - found some leverage in the House's authority to grant supplemental funding to Temple University; they said they would hold the funding up come budget time. Temple believed they were bluffing. They apparently figured that since the hospital would cease admissions in mid-May, and be completely empty by end of June, that lawmakers would not have a motivation at budget time to follow through. They were wrong.

Temple reacted to last week's news by threatening to pass the costs onto their students via a 45% tuition hike, despite a balance sheet showing robust cash reserves (http://www.temple.edu/budget/documents/boardandauxiliarybudgets.pdf). The move is intended to inflame the public and pressure politicians to back down.

Temple Northeastern has ceased to admit patients

Fire Rescue ambulances are no longer accepted at the Emergency Room.

In a plush office on Temple’s campus, executives are toasting their success in eliminating a “service line” that lost them money. Corporate hatchet man Ed Notebaert achieved the goal that made him worth millions to Ann Weaver Hart and the other decision makers at Temple when they hired him last fall.

Not heard in that office are the pain and loss of hundreds of newly unemployed workers, and thousands of patients and their families who don’t know where to turn. Northeastern, the largest employer in Port Richmond, an institution that generations have relied on, is now an empty shell. No longer will nurses be taught in their community to serve their community. The Hospital you can walk to is gone. A few doctor’s offices under the guise of an “ambulatory care center” won’t fool anyone.

In a supreme act of cynicism, timed to the closing Temple has put up billboards in the service area advertising that their maternity service is “always there”.

Despite its dependence on public funding and status as a public institution, Temple’s corporate managers proved impervious to the efforts of local elected officials to force it to alter its plans. We appreciate especially the efforts of Representatives John Taylor and Michael O’Brien, and Senators Mike Stack and Lawrence Farnese. The indifference of other elected officials, including Governor Ed Rendell, helped Temple along. Temple’s conduct cannot be forgotten, and the question of its accountability is still open.

Northeastern is "Shovel-Ready"!

video courtesy of Media Mobilizing Project

Dr. Alan Steinbach, Northeastern Hospital's Director of ICU describes the need Northeastern serves in the community and asks people to contact Ann Weaver Hart of Temple as well as elected officials to ask them how the need will be accounted for in the city if the hospital closes.

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Northeastern Closure Haunts Temple

Temple Northeastern has ceased to admit patients

Northeastern is "Shovel-Ready"!

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