Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min<\/p>\n
Three major Philadelphia-area health systems are exploring an alliance to support financially struggling<\/a> St. Christopher\u2019s Hospital for Children in North Philadelphia<\/a>, its leaders announced Wednesday.<\/p>\n The proposed alliance would involve Nemours Children\u2019s Health, Jefferson Health<\/a>, and Temple Health, a St. Chris statement said. <\/p>\n St. Chris\u2019 ownership would not change from the current 50-50 partnership between Drexel University<\/a> and Tower Health. <\/p>\n Under the alliance, Wilmington-based Nemours would provide highly advanced, or tertiary, care. Nemours is Jefferson\u2019s primary pediatric partner in the Philadelphia area. <\/p>\n The preliminary agreement announcement provided no timeline to form the alliance. It also did not mention specific financial support for the North Philadelphia institution, which has received millions from local health players following a 2019 bankruptcy and steep losses during the pandemic.<\/p>\n St. Chris\u2019 board chair, P. Sue Perrotty, said the 150-year-old hospital will remain a \u201cgateway\u201d to care for families. <\/p>\n \u201cOur goal is to preserve what makes St. Christopher\u2019s so special while strengthening our operations, so our community-focused mission will endure,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n \u201cWhether care is delivered at St. Christopher\u2019s or through our partners when clinically appropriate, our team will continue to coordinate every step of a patient\u2019s journey, providing families with a seamless experience and a trusted guide throughout their child\u2019s care.\u201d <\/p>\n Beyond the critical health services St. Chris provides, the institution also plays a vital part in medical education for area medical schools, including those at Drexel, Thomas Jefferson University<\/a>, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Temple University<\/a>. <\/p>\n It serves as a safety net for healthcare in some of Philadelphia\u2019s lowest-income communities. About 85% of its patients in recent years have been insured by Medicaid<\/a>, the highest percentage of any children\u2019s hospital in the nation, according to St. Chris.<\/p>\n Twice in the past four years, a coalition of Philadelphia nonprofits provided financial lifelines for St. Chris. <\/p>\n Children\u2019s Hospital of Philadelphia, Jefferson, Temple, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Independence Health Group, and private donors provided $50 million over two years<\/a> starting in 2022. Two years later, the same group, minus Independence, contributed another $30 million<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jefferson and Temple were also part of a consortium<\/a> that considered bidding for St. Chris in 2019 during its parent company\u2019s bankruptcy. They backed out before the auction, which Drexel and Tower won<\/a> with a $50 million bid. <\/p>\n Nemours spokesperson Shelley Meadowcroft said there was no financial support included in the agreement. <\/p>\n