Pottstown Nurses Rally As Reading Health System Takes Over

POTTSTOWN, PA — Nurses were joined by political allies and community members on Wednesday at a rally and press conference at the Pottstown Memorial Medical Center, urging the new owners of the hospital to implement better business practices.

Reading Health System recently purchased five area hospitals from Community Health Systems, including Pottstown.

Nurses were chiefly concerned that their new employers maintained nurse benefit standards and "prioritized patient care" instead of profits. The event was organized by a nurse's union, the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses & Allied Professionals. They alleged that Community Health "forced nurses to work in departments in which they were not trained" and that they also "demanded unsafe patient loads per nurse."

Patch has reached out to Community Health Systems for comment on this story.

"We formed our union to bring the focus of healthcare back where it belongs: on the patients," said Lori Domin, an Exeter resident and registered nurse who has worked at Pottstown for 30 years. "For far too long, (Community Health Systems) has ignored important issues affecting our community. I am looking forward to negotiating with Reading to improve patient care and safety."

In addition to Pottstown, Reading also purchased Phoenixville Hospital, Chestnut Hill Hospital, Brandywine Hospital in Coatesville, and Jennersville Regional Hospital in West Grove.

Patch file photo