Upland, Pa.-based Crozer Health has been using ambulances meant for emergency medical services in the region for nonemergent patient transfers following the loss of a vendor that normally handles transfer services.
Keystone Quality Transport, an outside transfers vendor, ended its contract with Crozer on Jan. 17. The transfer company said the health system owed it $267,000 before Los Angeles-based Prospect Medical Holdings, Crozer's for-profit owner, filed for bankruptcy Jan. 11, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer
Crozer Health's CEO, Tony Esposito, confirmed in a Jan. 24 statement to Becker's that the company has been using its EMS fleet for patient transfers since KQT stopped working with the system.
"It was reported that KQT Ambulance Services chose to no longer work with us, and we were forced to rely on our EMS fleet to manage patient transports," Mr. Esposito said in the statement.
"The situation arose when KQT requested a $150,000 retainer to continue their services. While we value KQT as a longtime partner and made every effort to negotiate, they referred us directly to their lawyer when we sought a resolution. Our administrative and EMS teams quickly mobilized to put a process in place to meet the needs of our patients and ensure continuity of care."
KQT had typically transported about 120 Crozer patients per week to other hospitals or long-term care facilities. Crozer is the largest EMS provider in Delaware County, and local officials have expressed concern that the move to pull ambulances for nonemergency transfers will put pressure on emergency service operations in the region, which are already facing ambulance and staff shortages.
Since Prospect acquired Crozer in 2016, the health system has reduced services significantly. Crozer is losing $160 million a year, according to the Inquirer. Prospect is working with state officials to finalize the sale of Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland to CHA Partners.