North Philadelphia hospital to close
The closing of St. Joseph's Hospital at 16th and Girard street could result in as many as 700 layoffs. (Emma Lee/WHYY)
St. Joseph’s Hospital, part of North Philadelphia Health System, is closing.
The hospital, founded more than 100 years ago at 16th and Girard streets, sees about 20,000 patients a year through its emergency department. About 675 people work there.
The announcement to close follows a state decision to scale back aid to the facility. Now the financially troubled health system will focus on its behavioral health operations located at a nearby campus, said spokesman Kevin Feeley.
“It is certainly a difficult decision both for the patients who use the St. Joseph’s Hospital, who visit St. Joseph’s Hospital, and of course for the employees and their families who work there,” said Feeley. “North Philadelphia health system intends to do whatever it can to lessen that impact by working with the employees who were affected.”
The closure could happen in the next 90 days and result in about 700 layoffs, Feeley said.
Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services is working with the health system to minimize any disruption, according to a representative of the state. The change is part of a larger plan to coordinate health services among the hospitals and providers in North Philadelphia.
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