Crozer Health is temporarily suspending its 14-bed intensive care unit and surgical services at Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Drexel Hill at the end of May, writes Harold Brubaker for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The hospital’s outpatient services will be suspended April 5.

The cutbacks take place amidst a preliminary acquisition deal for Crozer Health from ChristianaCare.

Inpatient units and the emergency department at the 133-bed hospital will remain open.  

Inpatient surgeries will relocate to Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland and Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park.

“Due to ongoing staffing issues across the industry impacted by COVID, we need to take these actions and reallocate resources to other locations,” stated a Thursday Crozer Health announcement.

Crozer employs about 4,000 people and is one of Delaware County’s largest employers. It is owned by the for-profit Prospect Medical Holdings Inc. in Los Angeles.

In January, Crozer closed the 17-bed maternity ward at Delaware County Memorial and suspended inpatient services at Springfield Hospital. 

It closed the 10-bed hospice unit at Taylor Hospital on Feb. 11.

Crozer laid off about 100 employees in February, including the CEO and most of the executive officers.

The preliminary offer by ChristianaCare to acquire Crozer Health came soon after.

Read more at The Philadelphia Inquirer.