Judge OKs Temporary Agreement to Keep MCP Hospital Open

Friday, January 9, 2004
by KYW's David Madden

There's another agreement between Tenet Healthcare and the ad hoc group hoping to keep Medical College of Pennsylvania Hospital from closing in March.

This one -- in writing and backed by a judge's order -- is supposed to keep things in place at the East Falls facility for now.

The four-page "stipulation and scheduling order" details what Tenet cannot do -- such as transfer patients or jam their emergency room to divert others elsewhere -- pending a hearing next month on a preliminary injunction.

Tenet claimed it wasn't doing those things. The "Association to Save MCP" produced evidence to the contrary.

But from now on, Tenet spokesman Jeff Jubelirer insists,

"We will abide by the judge's orders, and when there are issues that are in disagreement, we'll just have the judge and the legal proceedings determine the best way to move forward."

Jubelirer is also hinting Tenet is, in his words, "willing to listen" to offers to sell MCP -- a marked change in Tenet's earlier no-sell position.

There are efforts on several fronts to either find a buyer or form a nonprofit entity to take over the facility.