A Union City emergency medical technician says the closure of Heights University Hospital in Jersey City could slow emergency medical care for residents in nearby communities.
Marco D. Navarro shared those concerns in a letter to the editor published March 31, 2026, warning that the loss of the facility could increase transport times for patients in Jersey City Heights and surrounding areas.
- Union City EMT Marco D. Navarro said the closure of Heights University Hospital could increase emergency transport times for patients in Jersey City Heights and nearby Union City neighborhoods.
- Heights University Hospital at 176 Palisade Avenue closed on March 14, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. after a judge rejected Jersey City’s emergency request to stop the shutdown.
- Hudson County officials launched an investigation into the hospital’s closure while healthcare providers plan limited services in the area, including primary care and mobile health programs.
EMT Letter Raises Public Safety Concerns
Navarro wrote that Heights University Hospital, long known locally as Christ Hospital, served residents in Jersey City Heights and nearby neighborhoods for many years.
“As a local Emergency Medical Technician serving in Hudson County, I can tell you plainly: this facility was not optional. It was essential.”
Navarro explained that in emergency medicine, the time it takes to reach a hospital can influence survival. With the hospital no longer serving the area, ambulance crews responding in Jersey City Heights and nearby parts of Union City must transport patients to other hospitals in the region.
Navarro wrote that patients experiencing medical emergencies such as heart attacks, strokes, serious injuries, or breathing problems could face longer travel times to reach care.
“Emergency medical care is non-negotiable, it is a human right.”
Hospital Closure and Legal Effort
Heights University Hospital closed on March 14, 2026. The facility at 176 Palisade Avenue stopped operations at 7:30 p.m. after a legal attempt by Jersey City officials to keep the hospital open failed.
Earlier that day, the Jersey City Corporation Counsel filed an emergency injunction intended to stop the shutdown and maintain access to healthcare services. A judge declined to issue the order, and the hospital proceeded with its closure.
Jersey City Mayor James Solomon criticized the process, saying the operator failed to follow rules required under state law for closing a hospital. Solomon also said the company proposed keeping the facility open if the city agreed to speed up approvals for a residential development on the site. He said the city rejected that idea.
Financial Issues Behind the Closure
Hudson Regional Health, the company operating the hospital, said financial losses forced the decision to close. The organization reported losses exceeding $74 million during the previous year and projected more than $30 million in additional losses. Officials said factors included a high number of underinsured patients, reductions in public funding, and costs tied to maintaining an aging building.
Hudson Regional Health began operating Heights University Hospital in November 2024 and acquired the property along with Hoboken University Medical Center in April 2025 through bankruptcy proceedings involving CarePoint Health.
In September 2025, the operator announced plans to suspend non-essential services at the hospital. The New Jersey Department of Health said the facility could not close immediately and would need to work with state officials to plan the process.
In October 2025, hospital leaders requested $25 million in state funding to keep the hospital open. The state provided $2 million, which the hospital’s chief executive described as a stopgap measure.
Development Plans and Zoning Dispute
During the same month, redevelopment plans surfaced for the property. The proposal included two residential towers containing 2,200 housing units and 1,150 parking spaces across several 10-story buildings.
The Jersey City Council approved an ordinance in December 2025 restricting how the property could be rezoned. City officials said the change aimed to keep the district focused on hospitals, acute care facilities, and related medical services.
In February 2026, the hospital owners filed a lawsuit against Jersey City over the zoning changes, arguing that the council’s decision violated the city’s Master Plan.
Alternative Healthcare Plans
Before the closure, Hudson Regional Health announced plans for alternative healthcare services in the Heights community. Alliance Community Healthcare, a federally qualified health center, partnered with the operator to provide primary and preventive care in the Heights Medical Office Building at 142 Palisade Avenue.
The company also stationed an ambulance outside the hospital for two weeks following the shutdown to transport patients needing emergency care to other hospitals. Additional services will be offered through the HRH Foundation Mobile Health Unit in partnership with community groups in Jersey City.
Officials Raise Concerns
Local officials say the closure will increase patient demand at nearby hospitals.
Hoboken Mayor Emily Jabbour said the process surrounding the hospital closure lacked transparency and that no clear state-approved transition plan had been communicated. She said patients will now be redirected to Hoboken University Medical Center and Jersey City Medical Center.
The Hudson County Board of Commissioners voted on March 12 to create an investigatory committee to examine events connected to the closure. The group will review the hospital’s operations, finances, governance, and quality of care.
The committee will include experts in healthcare, finance, law, and clinical governance. Members have the authority to request documents and financial records, interview hospital staff and stakeholders, and review reports and audits.
The committee must submit a written report within 30 days with findings and recommendations.
