Hospital Closure in Pennsylvania Strains Health Care Delivery and First Responders.

The closure of Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Pennsylvania last November due to inadequate staffing by its owner, Prospect Medical Holdings, has strained the area's healthcare system, according to first responders. Emergency rooms in nearby hospitals are slammed, and call volumes are up about 25% this year because of the closure. Prospect Medical's financial moves, including taking out a $1.12 billion loan and paying themselves a $457 million dividend, have been criticized for leaving vulnerable residents without healthcare. The company has not paid its full rent this year, and its CEO said it is focused on aggressive cost-cutting measures to return the Pennsylvania market to profitability in 12 to 18 months.