Hudson County Mayors Make Unified Plea to Maintain Three Area Hospitals

As Coronavirus makes its way into Hudson County, elected officials have joined together in the hope of ensuring that three area hospitals stay open to handle not only that threat, but the everyday needs of New Jersey’s most densely populated county.

The Mayors of Hoboken, Jersey City, and Bayonne stood alongside elected County and State officials to express their concerns to the owner of Alaris Health, Avery Eisenreich, for continuing to block the sale between CarePoint Health and potential buyers of local hospitals.

“It’s unthinkable that a company tasked with providing compassionate care would instead threaten the health and safety of our residents,” said Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop.  “I’m thankful for the support from every level of government as we work together to maintain residents’ access to quality healthcare, which is critical for the overall health and wellness of our community.”

For more than 140 years, Christ Hospital in the Heights has been serving the Jersey City community. The 362-bed facility treats 47,667 patients annually and is home to a state-certified stroke center and primary angioplasty center, emergency room team and a dedicated OB-GYN emergency department, specialty medicine for child and adult behavioral health, women’s health, heart and vascular care, dialysis, as well as a sleep center and surgical specialties.

photo via City of Jersey City

“We are committed to doing all we can to save the local hospitals and avoid the potentially damaging impacts,” said NJ Senator Sandra Cunningham.  “This company’s efforts to compromise the future of our healthcare system, regardless of the repercussions, is something that we need to demand action on to save our hospitals from closing.”

Bayonne Medical Center has served that community for over 100 years, providing heart care and cardiology, a primary stroke center, emergency room, and specialty medicine for child and adult behavioral health, wound care, transitional care, radiation oncology, dialysis, as well as a sleep center and surgical specialties.

“The communities of Hudson County must stand together to save our hospitals,” said Bayonne Mayor Davis.  “They are vitally important for the health and well-being of our residents.  We thank our Hudson County legislative delegation for supporting the efforts of our municipalities to keep our local hospitals in business.”

The county’s elected representatives have been communicating with hospital officials, employees, and all other stakeholders for the past several months to head off any possible disruption of healthcare to residents, meanwhile looking to maintain the jobs of hospital workers in all three locations.

“It is critical for the Hoboken University Medical Center to continue serving as a hospital,” said Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla. “I join our elected officials in calling on all parties, especially Alaris, to help facilitate the sale of the three Hudson County hospitals without delay so this can occur. Hoboken will continue to do everything possible to ensure residents have access to critical emergency health services in the years to come.”

The fight will certainly continue for Bayonne Medical Center, Jersey City’s Christ Hospital, and Hoboken University Medical Center. Officials, residents and personnel look to keep these facilities open and operational as a matter of public health and safety.

“As the fastest growing county in the state, it is imperative that residents have access to hospitals and emergency care in Hudson County,” said NJ Senator Brian Stack. “We cannot sit idly by and allow hospital owners to play games with the health of Hudson County residents.  CarePoint’s bankruptcy is imminent and we no longer have the luxury of time to sit back and watch as the lives of residents and employees are detrimentally impacted.  Avery Eisenreich’s continued obstruction of the sale of these hospitals is dangerous and reckless and continues to put lives at risk.”

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