Editorial for March 1, 2007 edition:


Baby love

Something about the pending closing of Jeanes Hospital’s maternity ward doesn’t add up. No, it’s not the claim by the hospital’s parent company that its financial losses are such that it must end business as usual and close its baby-making unit on May 31.

Have hospital officials done everything — EVERYTHING — in their power to keep the maternity ward open, or are they trying to take the easy way out, opting to quit while they’re behind?

Is there absolutely no company fat or waste whatsoever that could be cut? Are there any employees who maybe, just maybe, are grossly overpaid and can donate a portion of their compensation to help save the maternity ward?

Jeanes is a community hospital. Women who live in the community should not be forced to travel to Holy Redeemer, Nazareth or Abington hospitals to give birth. It’s not as though Northeast Philadelphia has an abundance of hospitals and a shortage of female residents of child-bearing years.

It’s not as though the law of supply and demand is working against Jeanes’ maternity ward — the hospital still has a great supply of medical infrastructure, and, unless men and women in Burholme/Fox Chase stop sharing their ultimate affections, the demand for the maternity ward is not likely to evaporate anytime soon.

Three months remain before the scheduled closing of the maternity ward. There’s still plenty of time for officials to put their heads together to try to find financial and strategic ways to abort the ill-suited plan.

Jeanes Hospital was founded by Quakers, who are generally known to be a quiet, peaceful people with good intentions.

Jeanes does a great job taking care of people. The community needs it to continue its fine service of helping to bring new life into the world. ••

Respond to this editorial . . .

Letters to the Editor . . .