Temple University system's study of cost effectiveness has nurses' union riled

Temple University Health System has announced that it was studying how it could make its Northeastern Hospital more "cost effective," but a nurses' union believes the system is planning to "virtually close" the community hospital. Bill Cruice, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, said the hospital's chief executive officer told managers that the health system planned major cuts, including the elimination of maternity care and other services. One scenario was that the hospital would be reduced to just an emergency department and outpatient surgery. Rebecca Harmon, a spokeswoman for Temple University Health System, denied that Northeastern's CEO told managers about planned service reductions.