Mayor James Solomon, Councilmember Jake Ephros, and Health Professionals & Allied Employees (HPAE) today announced they are jointly supporting an emergency resolution, introduced by Councilmember Ephros, to the Jersey City Council condemning Hudson Regional Health’s (HRH) decision to close Christ Hospital – also known as Heights University Hospital – this weekend. The resolution represents the strongest unified action yet taken by Jersey City’s elected leadership and the hospital’s healthcare workers against what they describe as a reckless, and unconscionable closure that endangers the lives of more than 300,000 Jersey City residents.
“This closure is unacceptable, and an injunction to prevent this reckless action must be put in place,” said Mayor James Solomon. “HRH is attempting to shutter a critical community hospital before the full public review process for a hospital closure can even be completed, and without any
adequate plan for replacing emergency and critical care services in the Heights. Just one year ago, HRH’s own CEO said the future was bright for patients in the Heights. Now they are pulling the rug out from under an entire community. Immediate injunctive relief to stop this from happening and allow us to come up with a better plan that best serves our residents.”
“Healthcare is a human right. The closure of Christ Hospital directly threatens our community members in Ward D who will find themselves in a healthcare desert,” said Ward D Councilmember Jake Ephros. “This means extended travel times during emergencies, which puts lives at risk. I am emphatic in my
calls for the state to step in and do all that is necessary to keep the ED running, and to hold HRH accountable for their gross misconduct as operators of the hospital.”
“We strongly support the Mayor and Council's efforts to hold HRH accountable for illegally closing Christ Hospital,” said HPAE President
Debbie White, RN. “This employer has repeatedly violated laws and any penalty has failed to dissuade them from taking further illegal action. It seems that their business ventures come first even if it may put patients’ lives at risk. Our union members and our patients expect that the Government will
hold hospitals accountable when they put patients and workers in harm's way. We need assurances that Hudson County will not lose these much needed hospital beds.
THE RESOLUTION
The emergency resolution being proposed to the Jersey City City Council calls for the following:
1. Immediate Injunctive Relief: The resolution urges the New Jersey Attorney General and Governor Sherrill to immediately file for a court injunction to stop the closure of Christ Hospital before HRH can act on its reckless timeline.
2. Emergency Receivership: The resolution calls for the hospital to be immediately placed into receivership to maintain the Emergency
Department and work toward fully reopening hospital services, recognizing that HRH’s decision to cease operations without proper notice warrants state intervention.
3. Community Health Needs Assessment: The resolution demands that the New Jersey Department of Health conduct a full Community Health Needs Assessment – funded by HRH – before any closure can proceed, ensuring the public review process is completed as required.
4. Condemnation of HRH’s Mismanagement: The resolution formally condemns the mismanagement and illegal actions of Hudson Regional Health, which stated in bankruptcy court that it had sufficient funds and a viable plan to operate Christ Hospital – a commitment it has now broken.
5. Long-Term Hospital Viability: The resolution expresses the City Council’s support for a future plan to make Heights University Hospital a thriving institution, whether operated by HRH or another provider, and recognizes the need for collaboration with other hospital systems.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Christ Hospital is one of only two hospitals serving Jersey City’s population of over 300,000 residents. A population of this size requires a minimum of 700 or more hospital beds; Jersey City Medical Center has no more than 350. The closure of Christ Hospital would leave the entire city dangerously underserved, with devastating consequences for emergency response times, maternal care, and the health outcomes of the Heights community and beyond.
HRH has moved to close the hospital without following proper procedures, without providing adequate notice to the city, and without ensuring that the critical services currently provided by Christ Hospital will be replaced. The city has been kept in the dark, and the community has been harmed.
Upon adoption, certified copies of the resolution will be transmitted to the Governor of the State of New Jersey, the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey, the New Jersey State Department of Health, the President of the New Jersey Senate, and the Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly.
"While we understand financial constraints, stepping in to take over a hospital already in a dire situation indicated that HRH would be able to resolve the situation,” said Council President Denise Ridley. “Expanding the
issue so shortly after acquisition is unacceptable."
"By announcing the sudden closure of Christ Hospital, Hudson Regional Health is showing us that they think they can flout established procedures with impunity,” said Ward E Councilmember Eleana Little. “This action also raises serious questions about the accuracy of HRH's statements in court
when acquiring the health system. I stand with the community members and workers fighting to maintain critical healthcare access in the Heights."
“Christ Hospital has been a pillar of care for Jersey City families for generations” said Councilmember At-Large Michael Griffin.
“Keeping Christ Hospital open is about protecting patients, supporting Healthcare workers, and ensuring that every resident can get the care they need, close to their home.”
"This City must evaluate every avenue within the law and work with our partners in the Legislature to keep Christ Hospital open and to find an operator who shares in those values," said Councilmember Tom Zuppa. "The systemic dismantling of the hospital has left our residents without quality healthcare in the Heights which is unacceptable."
