Delaware County’s access to behavioral health care services just became a bigger problem with Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital’s closing its inpatient psychiatric unit, writes John George for Philadelphia Business Journal.

The 21-bed psychiatric care unit closed Oct. 26, affecting about 30 hospital staff.

“After exhausting all available options, we made the difficult but necessary decision to close our inpatient behavioral health unit,” said Mary Wascavage, marketing and communications regional director for Mercy Fitzgerald owner Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic.  

Wascavage acknowledged that many people in Delaware County have relied on Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital for behavioral health services.

“Operational and financial challenges” forced the decision to close, she said.

Delaware County’s behavioral health care access has been hampered by service cuts, facility closings and health care worker shortages.

Mercy Fitzgerald started reducing some of its behavioral health services in 2019.

Delaware County Memorial Hospital, which offered behavioral health services, closed in 2022.  

The state has petitioned to take over the financially-challenged Crozer Health to keep the only 24/7 crisis center open in the county at Crozer Chester Medical Center.

Meanwhile, Delaware County officials are looking at building a new mental health center if it can find an acceptable location.

Find out more about Delaware County’s behavioral health service problem in the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Here’s one patients reaction when a Trinity Health mental health facility closed a year ago in Michigan.