Tenet trying to prematurely close MCP hospital, group argues
The Associated Press
1/17/2004, 3:15 p.m. ET

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A judge is scheduled to hear testimony Thursday on claims that Tenet Healthcare Corp. is seeking to prematurely close Medical College of Pennsylvania Hospital by diverting emergency patients elsewhere.

Lawyers for the Association to Save MCP, a group trying to prevent the hospital's scheduled March 31 closing, asked Common Pleas Judge Matthew D. Carrafiello on Friday to fine Tenet $1 million a day for violating his order not to shut the facility prematurely.

Tenet announced last month that it planned to close the 379-bed hospital, saying the facility had been losing $5 million a month and was projected to lose another $35 million in 2004.

The group argues that Tenet has continued to use the emergency room for patients who should be admitted and has refused to put back equipment taken to other Tenet hospitals. The actions could violate Carrafiello's Jan. 8 order that Tenet not shut the hospital before its scheduled closure date.

"These actions put both the community and the patients in the emergency department at serious risk of life and limb, and display a reckless and wanton disregard for human life," the group's petition said.

Dr. Nancy Pickering, an MCP cardiologist, said hospital administration declared a state of "internal disaster" on Monday because of a critical staff shortage. The following day, she said, Tenet told the city's police and fire departments that it was on "divert" status and that emergency patients should be taken to other hospitals.

Tenet's lawyer, Robert Nicholas, said the company has complied "in all respects" with the court's order. He said the divert status was lifted at 7 p.m. Thursday and was only temporary.

Carrafiello set a hearing for Thursday to weigh the allegations.

MCP began in 1850 as the teaching hospital for the nation's first medical college for women, and started admitting men in 1970. The hospital provides general and psychiatric services, and is used by Drexel University to teach medical students.