The company that provides about a quarter of the paramedic services in the Garden State is strapped for cash and closing some operations.

MONOC, the Monmouth Ocean Hospital Service Corporation, runs the around-the-clock mobile intensive care unit in Kearny. MONOC officials say they can?t afford to keep the unit operating overnight. Residents were upset to hear their paramedic service hours are getting cut back. MONOC maintains ambulances will keep running, but paramedic services from other towns will help out.

Kearny officials say since the only hospital emergency room closed years ago, MONOC made a deal that 24-hour care would be provided in the mobile intensive care unit. The Kearny mayor says the Office of Emergency Medical Services of the New Jersey Department of Health must ensure that MONOC continues to meet its obligations or that another provider is found to replace MONOC.