Hearing On Jersey City Hospital Closure Canceled After Judge Gives Order

JERSEY CITY, NJ — A state hearing to formally rule on the closure of a Jersey City hospital was canceled Wednesday night after the facility's owners said they were withdrawing their application to shut it.

Local activists had urged the public to attend the state hearing either way, but a judge granted a restraining order on Wednesday afternoon to cancel it, according to a spokesperson for Hudson Regional Health, the owners of Heights University Hospital in Jersey City.

The hospital actually closed three weeks ago, but HRH said this week that they may reopen it for some kind of health care use.

A medical workers' union said Wednesday that they believed the company was simply trying to stop the state Department of Health hearing from proceeding.

Wednesday night, HRH spokesperson Vijay Chaudhuri said in a statement, "Earlier this week, HRH withdrew its Certificate of Need application for closure, and is currently collaborating with its landlord to evaluate the restoration of healthcare services in the region. This afternoon, Hudson County Superior Court Judge Anthony D’Elia granted a temporary restraining order preventing a public hearing on the closure of Heights University Hospital.

"HRH remains committed to working constructively with their landlord, state officials, and elected leaders to rebuild and sustain healthcare access for the Heights community and the residents of Jersey City."

Last month, the Secaucus-based company — which took over three Hudson County hospitals during bankruptcy proceedings last year — closed the Emergency Room at the 154-year-old Heights University Hospital.

The former Christ Hospital , which the company had renamed, sits on valuable property. It's perched atop the Palisades cliffs, with views of Hoboken and the Manhattan skyline.

Jersey City officials have argued that HRH moved too quickly to close the hospital, and said the city may look at eminent domain to make sure the land is used for health care.

"When Christ Hospital closed, it left a real void for families in the Heights who depended on it," said Councilman Jake Ephros, who represents Jersey City Heights, recently.

Officials have said that the Emergency Room across town at Jersey City Medical Center has become overburdened because of the closure.

Hospital supporters urged the public to come to the state meeting this week.

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. In fact, the Jersey City Times reported in January that the owners had been fined by the state for the closure.

The "Public Hearing Notice for the Certificate of Need Application from Hudson Hospital OPCO, LLC. for the closure of Heights University Hospital" was slated to be held in the hospital's community room at 176 Palisade Ave. on Wednesday, starting at 5 p.m.

A public notice on Wednesday said the hearing would be moved Dickinson High School. But later in the day, it was shut down.

More information on the hearing and the original application to close is here.

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