Hudson Regional Health says they have a Heights University Hospital stabilization in the works that will save services and jobs, but their primary employee union remains skeptical about the foreseeable future.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Over the coming days, we will ensure that emergency services remain active at Heights University Hospital including an emergency room, critical care and medical-surgical services, adequate operating rooms, behavioral health, and others, while winding down a limited number of non-essential services,” HRH CEO Dr. Nizar Kifaieh said in a statement.
“All current patients will continue receiving uninterrupted care, and HRH will fully comply with State regulations throughout this process. For employees affected by the restructuring, we anticipate that the majority will be offered continued employment within the HRH system.”
He further stated that HRH will host job fairs on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, information that all employees will receive, as well as that the stabilization plan is expected to receive state support.
To date, HRH invested about $300 million, largely from Chair Yan Moshe, into the three former CarePoint Health hospitals in Bayonne, Hoboken, and Jersey City since they acquired them throw a bankruptcy process in April.
The new plan to keep Heights University Hospital, formerly Christ Hospital, open, will include “a significant, new investment” from Moshe, according to Kifaieh.
“While the next several days will serve as a transition period, this stabilization plan will allow Heights Hospital to continue as an acute care facility, provide the pathway to reintroduce key specialty services in the future, and secure long-term viability with the support of the State, our elected officials, and community stakeholders,” he concluded.
“Together, we will ensure that quality care continues for the residents of Jersey City and strengthens the entire Hudson Regional Health network.”
His remarks come about 24 hours after Ward E Councilman James Solomon, a mayoral candidate, hosted a press conference exclaiming that HRH “plans to demolish the hospital for luxury development,” as HCV first reported.
He showed a rendering of a two-tower, 10-story effort to build 2,200 units around the hospital, which would create a “wall” that blocks the views of Manhattan in the Heights, according to Solomon.
While HRH acknowledged the plan was submitted to the Jersey City Division of Planning, they said the downtown councilman made “baseless accusations” that “flies in the face of reason and is beneath contempt.”
Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE) President Debbie White said in a statement today reiterated that HRH said under oath in bankruptcy court that they had the funds to operate the three CarePoint facilities, but that obviously wasn’t true.
“HRH assured both the Department of Health and the employees’ unions that it had the funds, resources, and commitment necessary to turn the system around. We call on state officials and regulators to act now: hold HRH accountable, demand full transparency, and ensure a thorough public review before any major changes are implemented. The health and well-being of our community is at stake,” she declared.
“Despite just recently receiving a $2 million cash infusion from the State to support vital services … HRH’s plan to convert hospital land into luxury condos raises serious doubts about their true intentions and suggests they are being disingenuous about any real commitment to continue operating Heights University Hospital.”
She added that the union is considering legal action to force HRH to comply with a prior court order to make a million dollars in delinquent employer contributions to HPAE members’ 401k retirement plans, as well as to replenish money taken from their paid time-off banks.