Heights University Hospital Cuts Services, Raising Concerns About Countywide Health Impact

Heights University Hospital has sharply reduced services after failing to secure the state funding it said was needed to stay fully operational, a move that could strain Hudson County’s already limited healthcare resources.

The hospital’s parent company, Hudson Regional Health (HRH), said the facility was losing more than $60 million a year and could no longer sustain full operations, resulting in the closure of a majority of departments, including ambulatory surgery, dialysis, and the neighborhood clinic, leaving only the emergency room open.

The Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE) union sharply criticized the move in their official statement: “Hudson Regional has made this decision illegally with no regard for Department of Health regulations or the WARN Act. What will happen to the patients in this community? Their employees have been left without a paycheck for two weeks of work and without future employment,” said HPAE President Debbie White, RN.

HRH, however, maintains that the hospital’s downsizing has followed proper legal and regulatory procedures. A spokesperson for the network said the decision was part of an “orderly transition” intended to preserve critical services while ensuring the remaining operations comply with state and federal rules.

County officials are examining possible funding solutions, including state or federal support, though no plan has been finalized. Nearby hospitals in Jersey City, Hoboken, and Bayonne may need to absorb additional patients, raising concerns about wait times and access to care.

Heights University Hospital, known for more than a century as Christ Hospital, has served Jersey City since 1872. Its downsizing marks one of the most significant disruptions to Hudson County’s healthcare network in decades.