A spokeswoman for the Jersey City Medical Center confirms they have seen an increase in patients and are looking to expand capacity after the closure of Hudson Regional Health’s Heights University Hospital (HUH) in March.
By Dan Israel/Hudson County View
In lieu of an interview, RWJBarnabas Health Assistant Vice President of Strategic Marketing Communications Stacie Newton Hunt told Hudson County View that the healthcare provider network continues to work in close collaboration with Mayor James Solomon and other relevant officials as they continue to serve the city.
“RWJBarnabas Health and Jersey City Medical Center (JCMC), as Hudson County’s flagship acute care hospital, are in constant dialogue with elected officials in Jersey City and Hudson County,” Hunt said in a statement.
“We continue to invest in services and infrastructure at JCMC, and have seen growth and increased patient volume.”
Following HRH’s “improper and illegal closure” of their Heights hospital, JCMC became the only hospital in a city of roughly 300,000 people.
This has prompted outcry from the local community that erupted at an impromptu town hall after HRH sued to prevent the mandated state hearing to properly close the facility.
In the wake of the closure, officials and residents have reported hours-long wait times in the overburdened Emergency Department at JCMC, as well as other impacts realized by the increased demand the facility faces without HUH to share the bulk of patients.
For example, the cost the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office incurs to pay officers to wait and monitor inmates being treated at the facility for extended durations.
The community, especially those who remember how JCMC flooded during SuperStorm Sandy, remain adamant that it cannot remain the sole hospital in the city in part for that reason.
On the other hand, HRH CEO and President Dr. Nizar Kifaieh insists that HUH can reopen with the right support, claiming that not everyone has the facts on the situation straight.
Meanwhile the Jersey City Planning Board is weighing utilizing eminent domain on HUH to “bring healthcare back to the Heights” following a City Council vote, JCMC is analyzing some type of potential expansion.
According to Hunt, RWJBarnabas is looking to up patient capacity to help the healthcare supply in Jersey City meet the growing demand with only one hospital. However, the details on what that may look like are scarce.
“We are also looking at ways to increase capacity at JCMC and stand ready to work with the NJDOH [New Jersey Department of Health] to address the changing healthcare landscape,” she noted.
Hunt also reiterated that RWJBarnabas Health, the JCMC operator is, “by two times,” the state’s largest provider of charity care and of care to beneficiaries of the Medicaid program.
“We will continue to support the health care needs of all Hudson County residents, as we always have,” Hunt concluded.
This year, JCMC celebrated an “A” hospital safety rating from The Leapfrog Group, citing that they are “deeply committed to protecting patients from harm.”
Yesterday, RWJBarnabas Health announced $1.7 million in grant funding awarded to various Hudson County organizations to address barriers to care, food insecurity, and economic stability, as HCV first reported.
Meanwhile, the Jersey City City Council unanimously approved (9-0) a resolution last week seeking a fair contract for JCMC resident physicians and fellows after more than a year of negotiations between the 100 resident physicians and their employer.
RWJ Barnabas should build an Emergency care facility similar to the one that is in Bayonne on the site of the old Christ Hospital location. This would be a win, win for everyone, it would provide emergency treatment services for the north east end residents of Jersey City. It would take the burden off of the Medical Center Hospital and the new facility would be smaller in size than the old Christ Hospital which developers could still use for re-development.