Preventive health outreach programs are stepping in to provide critical screenings and wellness education to Chester residents, offering a vital safety net as the community navigates the widespread healthcare gaps left by the closure of Crozer-Chester Medical Center.

This weekend, Chester City Councilman Shyquan Davis hosted Black Men’s Wellness Day at Chester Memorial Park, bringing community members together for conversations centered on health education, prevention and wellness. The event comes one year after Crozer Health’s closure, which left many Chester and Delaware County residents without access to healthcare services in their communities. As local healthcare options continue to change, events like Black Men’s Wellness Day create opportunities to connect residents with resources, encourage preventive care and highlight the importance of Black men prioritizing their health.

Why Building Trust is Important

Argument: Communities should invest more in accessible health education, outreach, and support programs specifically designed to encourage Black men to prioritize their health.

Some may argue that community wellness events, while helpful for education and outreach, cannot replace the healthcare services Chester residents lost after Crozer’s closure. Critics may argue that the focus should instead be on expanding permanent healthcare infrastructure, increasing medical providers, and ensuring residents have consistent access to primary and emergency care.

However, community-based events serve as an immediate step toward addressing healthcare gaps while larger solutions are developed. Wellness programs can connect residents with available providers, encourage preventive screenings, and help rebuild trust between healthcare systems and communities that have experienced barriers to care.

This matters because Black Men shy away from healthcare because of a low trust in the medical field. It’s not just a Pennsylvania thing, but around the United States. According to the American Lung Association, there was a Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male which there were 600 participants from 1932 to 1972. Men were targeted for free primary care from local physicians in the south and were denied medication. This historically roots a trust issue for black men receiving medical attention.

Counter Argument: Some may argue that healthcare is an individual responsibility and that residents should seek care wherever services are available rather than relying on community-based programs.

Resolution : The Bigger Picture

While individuals are responsible for making decisions about their own health, accessibility plays a major role in whether people receive preventive care. The closure of Crozer Health facilities does not mean healthcare has disappeared, but it has created additional barriers for residents who relied on familiar providers and trusted healthcare relationships built over time. Community programs help address these challenges by bringing health education, resources, and support directly to residents in spaces where they feel comfortable seeking help.

According to the CDC : “In 2018, in the United States, the death rate for African Americans/Blacks was higher (16.3 per 100,000) compared with any other racial/ethnic group. ” Black Men face significant health challenges and often experience barriers that prevent them from seeking preventive care and addressing health concerns early. 

Today, community wellness events like this are helpful in building a bridge of trust to the community, it encourage our fellow neighbors to seek local preventive care. They also make spaces available for local providers to reach areas they haven’t been able to due to the Crozer Hospital Shut Down.

Crozer announces full diversion amongst all campuses

In May 2025, Crozer Made The following announcement to the public: ” As of 8:00am ET on April 23rd, 2025, the Crozer Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital were on full diversion and closed to ambulances.  

The crisis center at Crozer will be on full diversion and closed to ambulances starting on Monday, April 28th at 8:00am ET. “

Although residents can travel to facilities such as ChristianaCare or local urgent care centers, transportation, familiarity with providers and longstanding community relationships remain barriers for many Chester residents. Healthcare and medical emergencies at Everest Urgent Care in Chester or traveling to neighboring cities for Primary Care Physicians and Medical emergencies. Just a month ago, ChristianaCare opened a local hospital in Aston, PA. But this still leaves Chester with a heavy question. What are we going to do about building a local healthcare system inside the city?

Call to Action

Preventive health outreach cannot replace the hospitals, physicians and emergency services Chester residents lost after Crozer’s closure. However, these programs provide an immediate way to connect residents with health education, resources and preventive care while larger healthcare solutions are developed. Community leaders, healthcare providers and residents should continue supporting outreach efforts that improve access to care and help rebuild trust within Chester’s healthcare system.