Hudson Regional Health announced on Friday that unless it receives financial support from the state and other public entities, it will suspend non-essential services at Heights University Hospital, formerly known as Christ Hospital.
The Jersey City institution was one of four Hudson County hospitals officially taken over by Hudson Regional Health earlier this month. Hudson Regional Health said the decision was made in consultation with the state Department of Health.
The Secaucus-based health care group said in a statement that “without substantial financial support from the State of New Jersey and other government entities, it will pursue an anticipated plan to suspend non-essential services at Heights University Hospital, formerly known as Christ Hospital.”
Hudson Regional has notified staff that there will be layoffs. The health-care system has made a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act request to the Department of Labor. The WARN Act requires that workers receive an advance notice of 60 calendar days of a plant closing or mass layoff.
“HRH executives claim that they can no longer afford to keep Heights open and are
seeking to renege on their commitment by threatening to serve workers at the hospital with layoff notices,” said Debbie White, president of the Health Professionals and Allied Employees, which represents union workers at Heights University Hospital. “Union leaders were presented with no plan for the future but were encouraged to tell the Department of Health and the governor that they need money to keep Heights Hospital afloat. According to the Hudson Regional administrators, if they don’t get state funding, they will be forced to either lay off staff, reduce services or close the hospital. However, they gave the union no specifics. This decision by HRH is disgraceful and shows a complete disregard of the
workers or the people of Hudson County.”
Hudson Regional Health said the suspension of non-essential services would take effect in the next 30 days if public financial support is not forthcoming. The health-care provider did not say who would be losing their jobs or what is considered to be a non-essential service job and that union and non-union jobs would be impacted.
“Since the takeover of the CarePoint system and the transition of the system out of bankruptcy, we have been working relentlessly to create the best possible healthcare system for residents of Jersey City and the broader community,” said Hudson Regional Health Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nazir Kifaieh. “Despite over $300 million in investments in just 10 months, with a major portion dedicated to Heights University Hospital, it was determined in recent days after a thorough analysis, that the facility is unable to avoid continued financial distress. The anticipated losses of over $60 million per year at Heights University Hospital, without public support, is simply unsustainable to maintain.
“Nonetheless, if we are not able to receive support from the State and other partners in government, the board of directors has authorized a restructuring of the system that will pave the way for health care to be maintained to the community, following the anticipated suspension of services at Heights, in a way that is financially and structurally sound. We look forward to continuing to work with the Department of Health and our partners in government to finalize a long-term solution.”
The decision to possibly suspend non-essential services at Heights University Hospital comes less than two weeks after Hudson Regional Health formally introduced itself as the new owner of the institution at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Heights University Hospital had been facing possible closure after its previous owner, CarePoint Health System, filed for bankruptcy in 2024. CarePoint, which had been under financial duress for years, owned three of the five acute care facilities in Hudson County.
Kifaieh said at the ribbon-cutting event that “$75-$100 million in new investments have been made to upgrade services and equipment,” according to Jersey City Times.
The other facilities under the Hudson Regional Health aegis are Bayonne University Hospital (formerly Bayonne Medical Center); Hoboken University Hospital (formerly Hoboken University Medical Center); and Secaucus University Hospital (formerly Hudson Regional Hospital).
