Jersey City’s Heights University Hospital to Shut Down After a Century and a Half Amid Financial Crisis
Jersey City’s 150-year-old Heights University Hospital will close as an acute-care hospital due to financial pressures. Hudson Regional Health, its parent company, said an auxiliary building will house a 24/7 emergency department and some support services while the main hospital closes.
Hudson Regional Health leadership reports a weekly $1.5 million loss despite $300 million in system investments. The system submitted a “Certificate of Need” to state regulators to reduce services.
Not unexpected, the announcement. Hudson Regional threatened to cut non-essential services without state funding. Middle-October payroll relief came from New Jersey’s $2 million emergency aid. That amount is far below what hospital leaders say is needed to sustain the facility financially.
Unions and community activists worry. The Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE) union accused Hudson Regional Health of not notifying workers of layoffs legally. Hudson Regional’s plans to build residential housing on the hospital site raise concerns about its long-term commitment to medical services.
Politically, State Senator Angela McKnight called the hospital closure “a devastating setback for our community.” She said the health system broke takeover promises and warned vulnerable residents about limited care. Jersey City’s municipal council unanimously passed a Hudson Regional Health transparency resolution. The resolution emphasizes the hospital’s vital role for underserved and uninsured populations by requiring the company to disclose financial, census, and property plans.
Hudson Regional says admitted patients will receive uninterrupted care and many employees will be offered wider network positions at the transition. Still, losing full hospital services, including specialty care, is devastating to Jersey City’s healthcare infrastructure.
Communities saw Heights University Hospital as a safety net, not just a building. After its closure, who will replace it and will the remaining emergency services protect public health?
Sources
New Jersey Business Magazine; NJBIZ; Health Professionals & Allied Employees (HPAE); NJ Urban News; New Jersey Senate Democrats
