New Jersey hospital closes, officials ‘deeply disappointed’

A hospital serving Jersey City for more than 150 years has closed, stunning area residents and leaving New Jersey state regulators frustrated.

Hudson Regional Health closed Heights University Hospital over the weekend. The facility was formerly known as Christ Hospital. Hudson Regional Health took over the hospital after its previous owner, CarePoint Health, went into bankruptcy.

While the hospital is closed, Hudson Regional says it will maintain an emergency department at the facility. Hudson Regional also says patients will be able to get care at the system’s three other hospitals in northern New Jersey.

“The Heights University Hospital Emergency Department remains open and fully operational for all emergency needs. We are committed to continue providing safe, reliable, and timely care to our community,” the system said in a post on Facebook.

In another message posted on Facebook Monday, the system said the emergency department would be open around the clock and supporting services would ensure care.

Hudson Regional also pointed to an inability to secure needed funding from state officials.

“Despite the best efforts of HRH leadership and advocacy from a number of elected officials, the governor’s office declined to provide the necessary funding to continue operations at Heights University Hospital as an acute care hospital,” the system said on Facebook.

About 700 employees are affected by the closure, but Hudson Regional says the “majority” of those employees have been, or will be, offered positions at the system’s other three hospitals. “All earned wages and benefits will be provided,” the system said.

Hudson Regional cited “unanticipated setbacks” in the decision to close the hospital, including losses in charity care and the challenges of caring for a patient population that has lower incomes. The system said nearly two-thirds of its patients have little or no insurance.

The health system said it recognizes the need for a strong healthcare facility in the Jersey City community and says it will work with local officials to bring that to fruition. The system also points to the investment of over $300 million in its facilities and other efforts to improve the facilities.

The New Jersey Department of Health indicated its dissatisfaction over the closing of the hospital.

In an email to Chief Healthcare Executive Monday, a department spokesperson said the department said it was notified last week that Hudson Regional “failed to fund their payroll and started transferring its patients to surrounding hospitals.”

The health department said it advanced nearly $2 million to the hospital to avoid a disruption in services, and another $2 million grant last month to help make payroll and avoid an abrupt closure. The state also gave over $10 million to the former CarePoint system to support it through bankruptcy.

The department also said Hudson Regional didn’t follow a restructuring plan approved by a federal bankruptcy court.

“And it has not followed through on its commitments to the community it serves and to the State to turn things around after taking over the hospital,” the department said.

Hudson Regional had filed an application with state regulators to close the hospital. The department said it was still reviewing the petition, “yet Heights University Hospital has closed acute care services without the Department’s approval.” The department said it will continue to ensure the emergency department remains functioning.

“We will continue to hold Heights University Medical Center and Hudson Regional Hospital accountable through this closure with patient health and safety as our top priority,” the health department spokesperson said.

CBS New York reports the swift closure of the hospital stunned neighbors. “This is beyond devastating,” a nurse said.

Hudson County Executive Craig Guy said in a post on X that he was “deeply disappointed” by the closure of the hospital.

“This acute care facility has been a lifeline for Jersey City and Hudson County residents for generations, and its loss will have a real and immediate impact on residents who rely on timely, accessible emergency and inpatient care,” Guy said.