Health & Fitness
Two People Arrested During Protest Of Hospital Closing In Jersey City: Official
The new owners of Christ Hospital (rebranded Heights University Hospital) in Jersey City gave an update about their intention to close.
JERSEY CITY, NJ — Two people were arrested while protesting the impending closure of a hospital in Jersey City Saturday, an official said.
Despite Jersey City officials saying they'd get an injunction to prevent the closure of Heights University Hospital in Jersey City — the former 154-year-old Christ Hospital — the new owners continued their plan to close the facility for good at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Protestors sat in the parking lot holding a "die-in" earlier Saturday. Two of them were arrested, but later released, said Jake Ephros, a councilman for the Heights neighborhood of the city, overlooking Hoboken.
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"Our council office is deeply disappointed by the closure of Christ Hospital and by the state's and Governor Sherrill's inaction in preventing it," Ephros wrote on social media on Saturday. "We are also deeply concerned by the manner in which two protesters were arrested outside Christ Hospital today. While we are relieved that both have since been released, we affirm the right to free speech and freedom of assembly."
The hospital's owners said they'll place an ambulance outside the facility for two weeks, and they've issued a list of where some of the doctors are going, along with a list of other doctors who treat the underinsured (see the lists below).
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On Saturday evening, Vijay Chaudhuri, a spokesperson for Hudson Regional Health, confirmed to Patch that the owners still intended to close the Emergency Room, the last open department, at 7:30 p.m.
HRH released this statement:
"Since taking over the CarePoint Health system following its declaration of bankruptcy in November 2024, HRH has invested several hundred million dollars to revitalize its hospitals in Bayonne, Hoboken, and Jersey City. These efforts have successfully stabilized the previously distressed facilities in Bayonne and Hoboken.
"Unfortunately, in Jersey City as a result of a majority underinsured payer mix, cuts to state and county aid, an aging and neglected facility, and other factors led to unsustainable losses at Heights University Hospital of more than $74 million last year, with over $30 million projected this year. These losses ultimately jeopardized healthcare operations across the HRH network in Bayonne, Hoboken, and Secaucus.
"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.
"HRH will continue to explore all options, in partnership with all interested parties and government partners, in building a future, sustainable healthcare system in the Heights that provides quality care the community deserves, in a way that is financially sustainable."
Earlier Saturday, a spokesperson for Mayor James Solomon said he has instructed city lawyers to file an injunction to prevent the facility from closing.
Read prior coverage below.
Prior Coverage And History
As the new owners of a hospital in Jersey City prepare to close its Emergency Room for good on Saturday — the last open department at the 154-year-old facility — they announced a partnership to provide some care to the community.
They also said they will place an ambulance outside the facility for two weeks to take anyone with an emergency to another hospital.
(See a list at the end of this story of where some doctors will be moving, as well as agencies and practices that accept uninsured and underinsured patients.)
The former Christ Hospital, renamed Heights University Hospital by its new owners, was purchased along with two other area hospitals in September as part of bankruptcy proceedings. Hudson Regional Health, a company that had already owned Meadowlands Hospital in Secaucus, bought Christ Hospital, Hoboken University Medical Center, and Bayonne Medical Center.
HRH argued last year, when they said they would close most departments, that the hospital was not fiscally viable, and did not have enough funding from the state to continue.
But critics argued that HRH knew about the financial situation when the acquired the facility. Local activists were also concerned that HRH might redevelop the land into housing, since the hospital sits on valuable property with a views of the New York skyline and an easy commute down the hill to Hoboken.
Jersey City Mayor James Solomon and other officials have condemned the impending closure.
On a city government page called "Rush to Close Christ Hospital," officials said the owners didn't follow the proper procedure to close the bulk of the departments last year. In fact, the Jersey City Times reported in January that the owners had been fined by the state for the closure.
The new owners originally said last month that they would close the ER within three days, but after officials pleaded, they gave the building a two-week stay.
When Exactly Will It Close?
The Emergency Room will close Saturday at 7:30 p.m., said HRH spokesman Vijay Chaudhuri on Thursday.
"Alliance Community Healthcare, a Federally Qualified Health Center, has entered into a partnership with HRH to provide a broad range of healthcare services to the Heights community," says a release. "ACHI will utilize space in HRH's Heights Medical Office Building at 142 Palisade Ave. in the near future, expanding access to primary and preventive care for area residents." (See the list below of where the physicians at HRH have gone, and of other organizations seeing uninsured or underinsured patients.)
Several physicians, medical residents, and obstetrics fellows have already moved to that location, Chaudhuri noted, "ensuring continuity of care and preserving the provider relationships that Heights residents depend on. This partnership will provide additional hours and access to medical professionals to this community."
Officials have said that the hospital, in a landlocked part of the city, contains many needy residents who visit the hospital.
Chaudhuri said that AHRH will also provide certain medical services on the HRH Foundation Mobile Health Unit in partnership with local community groups over the coming months.
The following organizations are available for non-life-threatening healthcare needs in the Jersey City Heights area, said HRH, noting that people should call 911 for emergencies. The below list includes some doctors and organizations that accept uninsured or underinsured patients (not necessarily for free). Patients should always call first to confirm insurance participation, hours, and more.
Alliance Community Healthcare:
Services offered: adult medicine, dental, behavioral health, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics and teen health, tele-visits, community services.
Location 1: 115 Christopher Columbus Drive, Jersey City
Location 2: (coming soon): 142 Palisade Ave.
Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 8-3. Phone: 201-451-6300
Website and more information: https://www.alliancech.org/
Places That Accept Patients Without Insurance:
- North Hudson Action Corporation:
Services offered: Discounted services in internal medicine, women’s health, pediatrics, dental.
Location: 324 Palisade Ave. Phone: 201-210-0200
Website and more information: https://nhcac.org/
- Concentra Urgent Care:
Services offered: urgent medical care, physical therapy, wellness services, injury treatment, occupational health, drug screenings, physicals, biometric testing, telemedicine
Location: 574 Summit Ave., 4th Floor, 201-656-7678
Website and more information: https://www.concentra.com
- City MD
Services offered: urgent medical care needs including allergies, asthma, coughs/colds, cuts/wounds, influenza, insect bites, minor burns, migraines, physical exams, pediatric care, rapid lab tests/screenings, sinus infections, sore throat, skin conditions, sprains/strains, urinary tract infections, vaccinations, x-rays
Location: 32 Journal Square Plaza, 201-354-1955
Website and more information: http://www.citymd.com
Hudson Regional Health services at the Medical Office Building and Within the Region:
HRH Medical Group
Services offered: general surgery, gastroenterology, primary care, nephrology
Location: 1 Journal Square, 201-216-3030
Apex Cardiology
Services offered: Cardiology
Location: 143 Palisade Ave., 973-916-0002
Website and more information: https://www.apexheartandvascular.com/
The Nephrology Group
Services offered: Nephrology
Location: 142 Palisade Ave., 973-325-210
Gastroenterology Medical Associates
Services offered: Gastroenterology
Location: 142 Palisade Ave., 201-792-7788
Website and more information: https://gastrospecialistsnj.com/
Bergen Hudson ENT
Services offered: Ear, Nose and Throat
Location: 142 Palisade Ave., 201-659-4706
Website and more information: https://www.bergenhudsonent.com/
Dr. Meron Debesai
Services offered: Gastroenteroloy
Location: 142 Palisade Ave., 201-821-8776
Dr. Ravikumar Brahmbhatt
Services offered: General surgeon
Location: 142 Palisade Ave., 201-714-4767.
Dr. Bennetta Miller
Services offered: General surgeon
Location: 142 Palisade Ave., 201-795-8596
Dr. Prakash Paragi
Services offered: Bariatrics
Location: 142 Palisade Ave., 201-821-8776
Dr. Jeffery Raskin, Dr. Paul Stoopack and Dr. Harold Tepler
Services offered: Gastroenteroloy
Location: 142 Palisade Ave., 201-792-7788
Judith Gang, FNP
Services offered: Family Nurse Practitioner
Location: 142 Palisade Ave., 201-792-7788
Dr. David Principe
Services offered: Obstetrician/Gynecologist Maternal Fetal Medicine
Location: 142 Palisade Ave.,201-479-5202
Dr. Babak Behin
Services offered: Ear, Nose and Throat
Location: 142 Palisade Ave., 201-659-4706
Dr. Dilip Shah
Services offered: Psychiatry
Location: 142 Palisade Ave., 201-963-6363
Dr. Sameh Elias
Services offered: Internal medicine
Location: 142 Palisade Ave., 201-863-5696
Dr. Joel Abramowitz
Services offered: Urology
Location: 142 Palisade Ave., 201-656-4104
Dr. Jayeshkumar Patel
Services offered: Internal Medicine, Nephrology
Location: 142 Palisade Ave., 201-209-1802
Dr. Ketan Shah
Services offered: Podiatry
Location: 142 Palisade Ave., 201-963-5557
Dr. Margaret Ciechanowska
Services offered: Endocrinology
Location: 142 Palisade Ave., 201-963-5557
Andrade Medical NY PC
Services offered: Plastic surgery
Location: 1 Journal Square, 929-229-7139
Dr. Peter Wong
Services offered: Cardiology
Location: 1 Journal Square, 201-217-7999
Interventional Neuro Associates
Services offered: Neurosurgery
Location: 1 Journal Square, 201-387-1957
Foot & Ankle Specialists of NJ
Services offered: Podiatry
Location: 1 Journal Square, 908-232-3346
Always call first to confirm hours, costs, insurance information, location, and services offered.
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