Deal reached: Heights University Hospital in Jersey City will stay open two more weeks
Projected financial losses of $30 million are behind plans to shutter the hospital in the Heights section of Jersey City.
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Heights University Hospital will not be closing its emergency department on Saturday. Ownership has negotiated a deal with Jersey City to keep it open for two more weeks.
Hudson Regional Health, the group that owns the hospital, says it’s being forced to close due to a projected $30 million loss - a loss it blames on cuts to Medicaid, less state aid and a lack of patients using the emergency department.
The majority of the hospital closed in November after reporting a $74 million loss, pointing to the fact that 65% of patients rely on charity care.
At the time, ownership agreed to keep the emergency department open.
However, neighborhood residents worry that losing this hospital could risk the lives of those who may have an emergency and need to get help fast.
“If you have a heart condition, or if you’re pregnant, that’s extra minutes," said Edward Fuentes, a resident of the Heights section of Jersey City.
Another resident also agreed with Fuentes.
"It could’ve been a mother that’s gonna give birth, it could be anything - a car accident. And what’s the nearest one…it would’ve been Christ hospital, but it’s not," said Agnes Martinez.
It's not clear what will happen to the emergency department or the hospital property after the next two weeks.
Hudson Regional Health says it'll help relocate employees who are willing to work within the system in Secaucus, Bayonne or Hoboken.
