Hahnemann closes trauma center, nurses say supplies in short supply at hospital

By John George  – Senior Reporter, Philadelphia Business Journal

Jun 29, 2019, 8:55pm EDT

Hahnemann University Hospital has notified the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation that it is de-designating the medical center as a Level 1 and Level 2 trauma facility, effective immediately.

The Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, known as PASNAP, say nurses at Hahnemann lack basic supplies to provide quality care and the union has asked the state to appoint a temporary manager to ensure patient safety.

Both actions come days after Hahnemann University Hospital’s owner, American Academic Health System, decided to close the Center City medical center because of mounting financial losses approaching $5 million a month.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Thursday ordered American Academic Health to “cease and desist” its closure for Hahnemann until an orderly plan to shutdown the 496-bed medical center is prepared and approved. The company said on Wednesday it intended to close Hahnemann on or about Sept. 6.

“After reviewing our plan of closure and in consultation with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, we felt this move is in the best interest of patient safety,” said Dr. Alexander E. Trebelev, chief medical officer at Hahnemann, Saturday on the decision to decertify the hospital’s trauma center. “Unfortunately, we are facing clinical and operational challenges. We cannot continue to serve trauma and [heart attack] patients under these conditions.”

Trebelev said the emergency department at Hahnemann will continue to remain open but will not be accepting trauma patients.

“We realize the impact this move, and the closure of Hahnemann has on the city of Philadelphia and surrounding neighborhoods, and most importantly, our staff,” said Ron Dresin, who is serving as interim CEO of AAHS subsidiary Philadelphia Academic Health System, owner of the hospital. “We wish there could have been a more positive outcome for all. In spite of our best efforts and meetings with numerous city, state, union, insurance carrier and university officials, a financial solution could not be achieved.” 

Philadelphia Academic Health is the parent company of Hahnemann and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, both of which AAHC acquired from Tenet Healthcare Corp. in January 2018. St. Christopher's is not affected by this situation.

Hahnemann's Charles C. Wolferth Trauma Center, completed in 1986, was Philadelphia's first designated-Level I trauma center for adults.  

Despite this closure, Philadelphia has four other level 1 trauma centers at Temple University Hospital, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Einstein Medical Center. The region also has four Level 2 trauma centers and two Level 1 pediatric trauma centers.

Both level I and Level II trauma centers provide 24-hour immediate care to injured patients with coverage by general surgeons, as well as coverage by the specialties of orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology and critical care. Level I trauma centers also provide advanced tertiary care and serve as a referral resource for communities in nearby regions.

On the issue of supplies at Hahnemann, PASNAP, the nurses organization that represents 800 nurses at the hospital, alleged Saturday the owner of Hahnemann is failing to replenish supplies as they run out. Hahnemann's owner had no comment on the nurses allegations.

“We’re working like crazy and treating every patient that comes in,” said Hahnemann emergency room nurse Kira Prendergast. “But we desperately need supplies and the current management is just ignoring the shortages.”

PASNAP said the state Health Care Facilities Act grants the Secretary of Health the authority to appoint a temporary manager to oversee operations of a hospital in the interest of the health and safety of patients. For example, Department of Health exercised this power last year by installing a manger to run nursing homes previously operated by Skyline.

“We’ve got enough experience and dedicated nurses in the hospital to treat every single case,” said Hahnemann operating room nurse Dawn Andonian. “We need the state to get in here and make sure we have supplies so we can do our job.”

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