The basics:
- Heights University Hospital‘s emergency department closes March 14 after court denied city injunction
- Hudson Regional Health cites $74M losses in 2025, projected $30M in 2026
- Jersey City officials, community leaders criticize shutdown; explore legal, government interventions
- County, state authorities working to redirect patients, ensure emergency care for affected residents
The emergency department at Heights University Hospital in Jersey City closed Saturday evening. The March 14 shuttering of the former Christ Hospital came after a judge denied the city’s request for an emergency injunction to keep the facility open.
The end followed weeks of mounting opposition from local officials, labor groups and community advocates. The organizations warned the move would leave Jersey City significantly short of hospital capacity. They said it would also limit access to emergency care for residents in the Heights neighborhood.
Hudson Regional Health acquired the hospital out of bankruptcy in 2025. HRH said steep financial losses forced this decision.
The health system said it invested several hundred million dollars to stabilize hospitals across its network. However, it faced mounting deficits at the Jersey City facility. HRH highlighted an underinsured patient population, cuts to state and county aid, as well as the cost of operating an aging building.
According to the company, Heights University Hospital lost more than $74 million last year. HRH projected it would lose another $30 million this year.
‘No alternative’
In a statement, Hudson Regional Health said: “With the State of New Jersey and the City of Jersey City stating yesterday they are not willing to provide funding or other measures to support HRH in operating the facility, HRH has been left with no alternative but to suspend operations and continue the Certificate of Need for closure.
“While this outcome is extremely disappointing, the decision was made to preserve the stability of the hospitals in the system and ensure the continued delivery of care within the HRH Hudson County network.”
The system said it will continue exploring options with government and community partners to develop a future, financially sustainable health care facility in the Heights.
Jersey City officials had sought a court order to stop the shutdown. They argued the hospital owner failed to follow the state’s required process for closing a medical facility. Following the ruling, Mayor James Solomon said the city would continue to pursue options to restore services.
“The court today denied our request for an injunction. We disagree with the ruling, but we respect it,” Solomon said. He added the city is also exploring additional legal avenues. That includes the potential use of eminent domain to take control of the facility.
Continuing to fight
Assemblywoman Katie Brennan, D-32nd District, joined nurses, city officials and community members at a sit-in outside the hospital Saturday. She also condemned the shutdown.
“This was an illegal closure. We have state laws that should prevent what just happened at Christ Hospital,” said Brennan. “The owners of Heights University Hospital closed this facility without following the procedures required under state law and without any plan to make sure Jersey City residents can access the care they need. They acted in bad faith and they should be held accountable.
“This fight is far from over.”
Officials have urged the Sherrill administration to intervene.
Ahead of the closure, a Sherrill spokesperson told NJBIZ on March 13, “Hudson Regional Health has routinely circumvented statutory and regulatory requirements throughout the process of closing Heights University Hospital, accruing tens of thousands of dollars in penalties owed to the State – which we intend to collect. As Heights University Hospital illegally closes its Emergency Department, we are working to inform the community of this abrupt closure and mitigate any negative impacts.
“New Jersey Department of Health staff are actively engaged to ensure patient safety and access to care, and ambulances will be on site to redirect any patients as needed.”
The state has not announced any new action since the facility closed Saturday. The Sherrill administration had no further comment following the closure.
Preserving Hudson County care
Solomon stressed that no option is off the table when the lives of Jersey City residents are at stake.
“The residents of Jersey City’s Heights neighborhood will feel the consequences of HRH’s decisions tonight,” said Solomon in a March 14 statement. “Longer ambulance rides. Fewer beds. A community left without the care it was promised. The people in the Heights deserve better, and my administration is committed to restoring comprehensive, high-quality health care to the neighborhood.”
Longer ambulance rides. Fewer beds. A community left without the care it was promised. The people in the Heights deserve better …
—Jersey City Mayor James Solomon
In a March 14 statement, Hudson County Executive Craig Guy said, “I support Mayor Solomon’s efforts to keep emergency medical services open at Heights University Hospital. Most importantly, I have spoken with Gov. Sherrill’s office to ensure any medical emergencies that show up at Heights University Hospital will be safely transported via ambulance to a neighboring hospital.”
Please stay with NJBIZ for the very latest on this developing story.
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