Pottstown Hospital cutting 160 jobs. Tower Health is planning expansions to its emergency room and behavioral health services. PUBLISHED: July 28, 2026 at 5:25 PM EDT POTTSTOWN - In the wake of an announcement of a new affiliation with Jefferson Health, Tower Health has announced it is cutting 160 jobs at Pottstown Hospital. In its announcement of the new affiliation, Tower said in a statement both companies have a "shared commitment to expanding access to high-quality care close to home and improving the health of the communities we serve." The job cuts "are across a broad area, including clinical, management and operations," said Bill Tierney, senior vice president at Bill Communications, who contacted a reporter in advance of the 1 p.m. announcement by Tower Health. The simple reason, he said, is "they are overstaffed now for the volume of patients they have." He said the job cuts, which were announced to staff this morning, should not impact services patients receive at the hospital. "As publicly reported, for the first nine months of the current fiscal year, Pottstown Hospital had a loss of $28.2 million, improving a bit from a $32.2M loss during the same time period the year prior," according to the statement issued by Tower Health. The news is not all bad, however. Tower Health is also planning expansions to its emergency room and behavioral health services to reflect the services patients at the hospital need most. When those departments are prepared, 38 positions will be opened up. There was no information available about whether employees being laid off will have first preference for the new jobs when they become available. The emergency department will be increasing in size and capacity between 20 and 25 percent. Behavioral health beds will be increased from 28 to 52, an 86 percent increase, according to the statement. "The behavioral health expansion is intended to address a growing community need while improving access to care for patients and families.Patients receiving behavioral health services will have dedicated clinical space and a separate entrance that supports privacy, dignity and individualized care," according to the Tower Health statement. The hospital also announced that "Community Health and Dental Care will enter into a long-term lease and establish its primary Pottstown location on the hospital campus, strengthening coordination between community-based primary care and hospital services for thousands of patients." According to the statement, "total square footage of renovations at Pottstown Hospital (does not include CHDC space) is 45,000 square feet. Also, "the third floor will benefit from significant enhancements designed to provide patients and families with a more comfortable, welcoming, and healing environment." "We recognize today's announcement also includes difficult workforce decisions affecting valued members of our team. These decisions were not made lightly and are not a reflection of the dedication, compassion or professionalism of the individuals affected," said the Tower Health statement, which was not attributed to any individual. "No clinical programs are closing. Pottstown Hospital will remain a full-service community hospital providing: - 24/7 emergency care - Advanced inpatient medical and surgical services - Diagnostic imaging and laboratory services - Interventional radiology - Inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services - A broad range of outpatient and specialty care," the statement noted. However, the hospital is not what it once was. In 2017, the hospital closed its pediatric ward, citing low admissions. In 2020, the hospital closed its maternity ward, eliminating 30 nurses, one nurse educator and two support staffers. And in 2025, Tower Health closed the hospital's intensive care unit, cancer unit and endoscopy suite as part of the elimination of 130 positions across its entire hospital and health network. (In March, Pottstown Hospital was cited by the Pennsylvania Department of Health for shuttering intensive care services 13 days before it was scheduled to close the unit, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Tower said the closure was because it did not have enough remaining nurses to safely run that department for 13 more days.) In announcing the closings last year, Tower Health's statement said the cuts "were made out of necessity to ensure that we can chart our own pathway forward and continue serving our communities. Our commitment to award-winning, high-quality care and patient safety remains unwavering." In its statement issued Tuesday, Tower Health wrote, "our commitment to Pottstown and the surrounding communities remains unwavering. These changes are designed to strengthen the hospital's ability to serve local residents for generations to come by preserving access to the services patients need most, investing in the areas of greatest community need, and ensuring Pottstown Hospital remains a strong, sustainable community hospital for the future." Tower Health has an overall loss of $3.6M through the first nine months of fiscal year 2026, according to the statement. That loss was not greater, said Tierney, because Reading Hospital turned a profit in the same period. MediaNews Group contacted the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, which represents 200 frontline nurses at Pottstown Hospital through Pottstown Nurses United, for comment about the layoffs. A spokesperson issued the following comment: "We are working to ensure the best possible outcome for Pottstown Hospital's frontline nurses and the patients and families who depend on them for lifesaving care. Throughout this process, our priority will be, as it always is, protecting safe, high-quality patient care and advocating for the skilled professionals who deliver it every day," the statement said. "We have been in touch with hospital management to better understand the context for and impact of the proposed layoffs and to push hard for solutions that protect both patient care and the dedicated nurses who serve the Pottstown community," the statement further said. "We strongly believe that staffing decisions should be guided by what patients need and by the expertise of the frontline caregivers who know the hospital and patient population best. Our commitment is to ensure that the health and well-being of the Pottstown community remains at the center of every decision."

Bike safety event coming to Reading. Program presented by Reading Hospital and Commute PA to promote accident prevention. PUBLISHED: May 14, 2026 at 10:45 AM EDT Reading Hospital is introducing its Bike Smart Safety Fest on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Reading Area Community College, parent company Tower Health announced. The free event, open to all in the community, will be held in RACC's parking lots A and C near the Yocum Library. No registration is required. Park in Lot A, 30 S. Front St. The program is the result of a hospital partnership with Commute PA to promote bike safety and accident prevention. Children are invited to bring their bicycles and ride through a course designed to build confidence and promote safety skills. Participants must wear helmets while riding. A limited number of helmets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for participants who do not have one. Activities include helmet decorating, a bike safety check and sidewalk chalk. There will be music and light refreshments and information available about the services provided by state police, Reading fire and rescue services and public works, and the hospital's trauma and community wellness departments. %5B%7B%22id%22%3A%22157%22%2C%22name%22%3A%22%22%2C%22description%22%3A%22%22%7D%5D Something went wrong, try again. Thanks for signing up! According to the hospital's announcement of the event, between June 1 and Dec. 31, 2025, the emergency department and trauma center treated 56 patients, including a 4-year-old, for traditional bicycle-related injuries, and 52 others were treated for injuries sustained on e-bikes. Safe Kids Worldwide reports that nearly 50 children visit emergency departments every hour for injuries related to bikes, scooters, skates or skateboards.

United Way of Berks surpasses goal, raises $11.1 million. Annual Celebrate United gathering honors volunteers, corporate partners and campaign leaders while announcing the success of the organization's 2025 fundraising effort. PUBLISHED: May 7, 2026 at 7:30 AM EDT The United Way of Berks County's 2025 campaign raised $11.1 million, successfully surpassing its goal, the organization announced at its annual Celebrate United event. The campaign co-chaired by Craig and Sue Perrotty exceeded the $10.75 million target, officials said, noting the funds support more than 80 local programs focused on education, food security, health and financial stability. More than 350 community leaders, nonprofit supporters and business partners gathered Tuesday at the DoubleTree hotel by Hilton, Reading, to celebrate the victory. The occasion also highlighted the organization's initiatives and honored the individuals and businesses supporting United Way's mission to improve lives and build a stronger community. One of the night's top honors, the Impact Award, was presented to Brentwood Industries for its ongoing support. The award celebrates individuals or groups that demonstrate exceptional dedication to improving education, financial stability, health, and community resilience. The plastics manufacturer, headquartered in Reading, operates multiple manufacturing and distribution facilities globally. Its leadership team and employees have consistently contributed through volunteerism, financial support and year-round engagement with the organization's work in the community, United Way officials said. The organization's highest honor, the 70th annual Doran Award, was presented to the Perrottys. The award recognizes individuals or couples for exceptional, long-term commitment to community service and philanthropy. Sue Perrotty is the retired CEO of Tower Health and has held leadership roles in banking and philanthropy. Craig Perrotty retired from the financial services field and continues to serve in leadership positions with several local nonprofit organizations. The couple was recognized for their decades of volunteer leadership and philanthropy, benefiting both United Way and Berks County. United Way also announced Brad and Tanya Stephenson as its 2026 campaign co-chairs. Brad Stephenson is co-owner and CEO of New Castle Lawn & Landscape and works as a consultant focused on leadership and business growth. Tanya Stephenson is a licensed physical therapy assistant. "Tanya and I are incredibly honored to share that we've been selected to Co-Chair the 2026 United Way of Berks County Campaign," Brad Stephenson wrote in a social media post. "This isn't just a title for us. It's personal... Berks County has given us so much: opportunity, relationships, support and purpose. Stepping into this role feels like a responsibility to return that gift in a meaningful way." United Way officials said the Stephensons have long supported local nonprofits and will be instrumental to the success of the organization's next fundraising campaign. "We believe in United Way because we know dollars are put to work with purpose and support programs that change lives every day," Brad Stephenson said at the event Tuesday, thanking the organization for the show of confidence. "We're excited, we're committed and we're ready to serve." United Way does the hard and often unseen work that strengthens families, supports those in crisis and builds a better future for all in Berks, he said. "To be trusted to help lead that effort is humbling," he said. The celebration also featured presentations focused on the organization's investments in early childhood education, literacy and teen leadership development. United Way representatives said the organization's efforts extend from kindergarten readiness and early grade reading proficiency to career pathway exposure and leadership opportunities for teenagers. The event was sponsored by Customers Bank, East Penn Manufacturing, EnerSys, Penske Transportation Solutions and UGI Energy Services. United Way of Berks County works to bring people together to strengthen families and communities by investing in local partner agencies and supporting initiatives that improve health, stability, education and crisis response throughout the county. RevContent feed.